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Sarasota News Leader February 8, 2013 OPINION Page 64 air is no longer a defense for us. We are sitting would fly on a plane that had only a 60 percent chance of landing safely. ducks for the bug. Consequently, everyone reading this likely has been affected by the flu this season, either personally or through a loved one. The chills and fever, the aching, the cough, the congestion and sneezing, the wheezing … it is misery personified. Earlier in the flu season we were gratified that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had determined that the most prevalent strains actually were represented in the vaccine this year. Typically, it is something of an epidemiological crapshoot, since vaccines normally are developed months before a particular flu season, so the vaccine can be produced in needed quantities once the infection rate rises. Some years the vaccines simply do not provide much protection against the nasty bugs. But this year was supposed to be different. However, given the risk of complications of the flu, particularly in high-risk groups such as children, the elderly and those with immunocompromising diseases, the vaccine is a wise choice. And the odds still are much better than those for blackjack or the slots. If we get the flu, is there any shortcut to recovery? It appears not. Even the much-hyped Tamiflu and similar drugs have been oversold as a quick remedy for the flu. Recent research indicates that, on average, such antiviral drugs — known as neuraminidase inhibitors — shorten symptoms by only 21 hours. If the drugs are not administered within hours of the onset of symptoms, efficacy is reduced even further. So we find ourselves, despite being in a warm, sunny region, still exposed to a disease that, at best, causes days or weeks of misery and, at worst, can put victims in intensive care with life-threatening complications. Moreover, the drugs touted ubiquitously on TV as a quick That is, until you consider the caveats: Warn- solution to our suffering apparently do not deings of a severe flu season have created spo- liver on those promises. radic shortages of the vaccine. In addition, the The medical advice that has persisted for genflu vaccine must be taken at least two weeks erations still offers the wisest course: Stay in before exposure to the virus for one to be fulbed and drink lots of liquids — and be grateful ly protected. And even when one is "fully pro- you no longer live in a time when there were tected," the vaccine only reduces the odds of only three TV networks and they showed only getting the flu about 60 percent. That might game shows or soap operas all day. After all, sound OK to most, but we would wager few distraction seems to be the best balm of all. %