To the Editor:
At the moment, tensions are running high due to Ebola, which last week resulted in its first U.S. death and this week resulted in its first U.S.-acquired case. Thousands are dead in West Africa, and many thousands more will probably die before the epidemic is brought under control. The global community is rightly concerned about this terrible disease.
But consider a similar frightening scenario. A virus emerges in Asia that, unlike Ebola, spreads by coughing and sneezing — no direct contact is required. Upon infection, the virus can be spread to others within as few as two days, even by those who are not yet exhibiting symptoms — quarantine isn’t an option. Over the next few months, the virus takes advantage of air, sea and land travel networks to spread around the globe, infecting hundreds of millions and killing hundreds of thousands.
In the United States, tens of millions are stricken with high fevers, chills, muscle aches and fatigue. Emergency departments and physicians’ offices are flooded with the sick, and hundreds of thousands require hospitalization for severe symptoms. Tens of thousands may die, including hundreds of children — though the true death toll is never really known because the infection is so common that it often goes unreported. Eventually the epidemic recedes, but only for a time: The following year brings another round of sickness and death, as does every year after that.
The plot to “Contagion 2”? No, the title of this movie, in the unlikely event it were made, would be “Annual Flu Season.” But unlike with Ebola, we have an inexpensive, safe and effective tool that can protect against this killer virus: the flu shot. Think that because you’re young and healthy the flu is no big deal? Ponder taking a final exam with a 103-degree fever. Worried about the flu shot causing the flu? It doesn’t, and that slightly sore arm the next day means your immune system is gearing up to protect you. Concerned about putting something “unnatural” in your body? What’s more unnatural, the small amount of dead virus in the shot or billions of live viruses hijacking your body and using you to spread disease to the people you care about? Afraid of needles? Nobody likes them — but it hurts a lot less than a piercing or a tattoo.
So no lame excuses: Just get your shot. Keep an eye on Ebola, but don’t fall prey to the flu!
Richard Bungiro PhD’99
Senior Lecturer in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
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