Seasonal Influenza (Flu)

What is Influenza (Also Called Flu)?

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent seasonal flu is by getting a seasonal flu vaccination each year.

Some people, such as older people, young children, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at increased risk for serious complications from seasonal flu illness.

Complications of Flu

Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.

How Flu Spreads

Flu viruses are thought to spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Even healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5-7 days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

Preventing Seasonal Flu: Get Vaccinated

The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get a seasonal flu vaccination each year. There are two types of flu vaccines:

The "flu shot" – an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle. The seasonal flu shot is approved for use in people 6 months of age and older, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
The nasal-spray flu vaccine – a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for "Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine"). LAIV is approved for use in healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.

About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that protect against influenza virus infection. Flu vaccines will not protect against flu-like illnesses caused by non-influenza viruses.
Flu shots are being made available to all residents and staff members.

H1N1

2009 H1N1 (referred to as "swine flu") is an influenza virus that causes illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009 and is different from the flu virus that is typically experienced in the US every flu season. In June 2009, the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic. A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. H1N1, a strain dubbed swine flu when it emerged from Mexico last spring, tends to target younger people, and people born before 1957 appear to have some immunity from it. Kendall said there is a third influenza vaccine in development that is available this year for pregnant women, children under three years old, and health care workers.

We have been told that the newly developed H1N1 vaccine will be made available to health care workers. Indeed, our management has placed an order for the vaccine and we will inoculate our staff as long as the supply lasts. The Center for Disease Control has advised us that the vaccine will not be made available for our residents because they believe that they already possess immunity from the flu.

In anticipation of concerns about this new virus and in response to questions about H1N1, Medicare, and Medicaid, CMS has and continues to develop information products including a comprehensive set of questions and answers with Original Medicare coverage and payment information, Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) information, and more (see downloads and links below). Check back frequently for updated information, including products for people with Medicare and people with Medicaid.

The HHS Pandemic Flu site below (see Related Links Outside CMS) also includes questions and answers about H1N1, including how the virus is spread and how to prevent it. In addition, we have a vigorous in-service education program underway to educate all of our employees on how to avoid influenza.

Downloads

H1N1 - Medicare FFS - Emergency Qs & As (9-25-09) [PDF 325KB]

H1N1 - Medicare FFS - Emergency Qs & As that May be Implemented Only with a § 1135 Waiver (10-2-09) [PDF 217KB]

MLN Matters SE0920: Medicare Fee-for-Services (MFFS) Billing for the Administration of the Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Vaccine [PDF 108KB]

H1N1 Fact Sheet-Medicare FFS Provider Billing (9-25-09) [PDF, 70KB]

EMTALA Fact Sheet [PDF, 166 KB]

2009 H1N1 Guidance for States [PDF, 128 KB]