Watch out for the real flu
By Jim Cornelius

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Miserable as it is, the viruses that are plaguing folks in Sisters are not really influenza.

So far, according to Dr. May Fan, Influenza A (the kind the flu shot is designed to fight this year) has been sparsely documented in Oregon; there is no flu epidemic.

Real influenza --Êas opposed to what folks commonly call "the flu" -- usually comes on with severe aches and pains, chills and a high fever, Dr. Fan said. The stuffy head and sore throat of run-of-the-mill viruses is not that apparent.

Those struck with influenza are usually bedridden --Êthey can't drag themselves off to work, coping with the aches pains and low grade fever of our current bug.

In fact, Dr. Fan reminded The Nugget, "people can die from influenza."

There is a way of treating influenza that has come into use over the past two years, Dr. Fan noted.

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"There is an anti-flu pill," she noted. It is specifically designed to fight the real strains of influenza, not the common viruses now hanging around town.

However, to be effective the treatment must begin within 48 hours of the first manifestation of symptoms.

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