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 washingtonpost.com > Health
Flu Q & A
Q. What is the flu?
A. A viral respiratory infection. Symptoms include headaches, dry cough, muscle aches and fatigue, and possible congestion, sore throat and fever.
spacer spacer Q. How do you treat the flu?
A. Rest, drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol and tobacco. Since the flu is a virus, antibiotics can't cure it.
spacer spacer Q. Who should get a flu vaccine?
A. People older than 65, children 6 to 23 months old, pregnant women and adults or children with chronic health conditions are at greater risk for severe illness.
• From The Post: Flu Q & A
Multimedia
• Video: The Food and Drug Administration is in "active negotiations" to obtain extra doses of flu vaccine, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
• Video: President Bush sought to allay fears about flu vaccination shortages in Florida.
• Video: Government health officials, seeking to calm fears about a shortage, said another 2.6 million doses of flu vaccine will be available.
• MSNBC Video: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Julie Gerberding outlines the plan to handle the flu vaccine shortage.
• Video: U.S. health officials are advising most healthy adults to delay or skip getting flu shots this year so that the elderly and others at risk can get scarce supplies.

Discussions
• Transcript: Kasey Thompson of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists discussed flu vaccine supply and reports of price gouging.
• Vaccine Shortage: Dr. Bruce Gellinof of the Department of Health and Human Services and Dr. Ray Strikas of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discussed this year's sudden vaccine shortage.
Web Resources
• Flu Vaccine Locator
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Global Influenza Surveillance
More Flu Strain Samples Are Destroyed
Most of the samples of a dangerous flu virus sent to laboratories around the world have been destroyed, easing concerns that the specimens might trigger a deadly pandemic, health officials said Friday.
In the News
Flu Strain Samples Remain at Large: Health Officials Race to Tighten Rules (Post, April 14, 2005)

Deadly Flu Strain Shipped Worldwide: Officials Race to Destroy Samples (Post, April 13, 2005)

Flu Season Arrives, Late but Potent: Sufferers Overflow Emergency Rooms, and 24 Maryland Hospitals Set Restrictions (Post, Feb. 11, 2005)

Health Groups Now Worry About Flu Shot Surplus: CDC Takes Unusual Steps to Dispense Vaccine (Post, Jan. 28, 2005)

Flu-Shot Confusion: Last Fall's Problems Raise Questions of Supply and Demand (Post, Jan. 25, 2005)

Vaccine Shortage Turns to Surplus: U.S. Is Likely to Lift Restrictions and Urge Flu Shots (Post, Jan. 22, 2005)

Fear of Flu Sparks Home-Remedy Sales: 'Natural' Products Take Advantage of Vaccine Shortage (Post, Dec. 22, 2004)

Federal Officials To Expand List Of Who Should Get Flu Vaccine (Post, Dec. 18, 2004)

After Flu Shot Crisis, Demand Dwindles: High-Risk Groups Do Without Vaccine (Post, Dec. 17, 2004)

Many Skipping Flu Shots This Season Despite Availability (Post, Dec. 16, 2004; 6:24 PM)

U.S. to Buy German Flu Vaccine: Report on Obtaining Cheaper Drugs Abroad to Miss Deadline (Post, Dec. 8, 2004)

Flu Shots Sold by Woman Called Authentic (Post, Dec. 6, 2004)

Flu Crisis Sparks Fresh Look at Vaccine Production (Post, Nov. 27, 2004)

A Painstaking Parceling: Communities Agonize Over Flu Vaccine Distribution (Post, Nov. 21, 2004)

U.S. Knew Last Year of Flu Vaccine Plant's Woes (Post, Nov. 18, 2004)

WHO Meeting Warns of Flu Pandemic: Experts Say Countries Have Not Done Enough to Prevent the Spread of Virus (Post, Nov. 13, 2004)

Spray Flu Vaccine Comes at a Trickle: Despite New Doses, FluMist Could Be as Elusive as Shots (Post, Nov. 13, 2004)

CDC Announces Plan To Ration Flu Vaccine: States to Get Doses Based on Risk (Post, Nov. 10, 2004)

Pandemic Risk Spurs Flu Vaccine Planning (Post, Nov. 1, 2004)



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