Technology to the rescue, or at least to the forefront of a new study that reveals some interesting data about the flu. Virologists at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, while trying to understand how the flu spreads, have recently discovered that influenza viruses actually spread faster at colder temperatures.

The temperature at which the virus is said to be stable or more active is 5 to 20 degrees Celsius or 41 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. This explains why so many areas across the globe see massive influenza outbreaks at the onset of winter or even throughout the winter.

In wintertime, the droplets of water and virus, released by the act of coughing or sneezing are dried in the air almost immediately. This allows the virus to remain in the air for a longer period of time. Add in the use of central heat, commonly found in many buildings, and you have a very efficient way to spread the virus around.

Low humidity in winter makes the situation even worse. In cold, dry conditions, people’s nasal passages dry out faster. Tiny cracks can result in a person’s mucosa, and this enables the virus to adhere to the lining of the nasal cavity much easier and get into the host’s system much faster.

In one study, microbiologists found that low humidity (in the range of 20%-30%) causes a much quicker spread of influenza. Also noted in the study was the opposite effect found at humidity of 80% or higher. Interestingly, in Humboldt County, we hover between 60 -90% humidity nearly year round, but we still have a vigorous flu season. As we all know, the flu hits us hard every winter just like everywhere else.

The best prevention for the flu is avoiding it through conscientious lifestyle choices and yearly flu shots. However, once you have the flu, experts tell us that the best treatment is to consume lots of liquids, use over-the-counter treatments (if safe to do so), get enough rest, and let the virus run its course.

Recent advances in technology have made it possible for doctors to do what is called a rapid flu test. The rapid flu test can be conducted in a doctor’s office with a simple swabbing of the inside of the nose. The results are obtained within 30 minutes as compared to conventional testing that takes five days.

Getting the test results right away is important, because when patients come in with flu-like symptoms, many practitioners prescribe antibiotics, either because they assume it’s not the flu, or the caregiver suspects there could also be a bacterial issue, such as pneumonia. Unfortunately, antibiotics are not effective against viruses. And, influenza is a virus. Over-prescribing antibiotics is becoming a prevalent problem in many sectors of the population. Many people are becoming antibiotic resistant, which means that antibiotics no longer work for them.

With the rapid flu test, fewer antibiotics will be prescribed to people who don’t need them. This will then cut down on the problem of antibiotic resistance. Faster testing means better, quicker results that can lead to more effective treatments.

So, it seems that the general belief about there being a “flu season” is true. Researchers have recently learned that wintertime cold weather actually causes an increase in the spread of influenza. Technology makes advances like the rapid flu test possible, so the sick can get the best diagnosis and treatment for their needs right away instead of being given a medicine that is not effective and could even lead to resistance.

The role of technology in healthcare is becoming increasingly important for all of us, whether we live on the North Coast or not. Better technology makes it possible for doctors to more accurately analyze, diagnose, and treat health care challenges that affect our quality of life. When we are more informed, healthier, and benefitting from technological advances, our community thrives.

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Liz Casey of ButterFat Writing Services, Inc. (www.butterfatwriting.com) provides robust copy and technical writing for clients who want their written collateral to effectively communicate and make them money. She is a member of the Redwood Technology Consortium.

Web Sites Cited and Referenced

Public Library of Science (2007, October 19). Influenza Spreads Readily In Winter Conditions. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 4, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2007/10/071019090004.htm

University of Rochester Medical Center (2007, January 23). Rapid Flu Tests May Reduce Threat Of Antibiotic Resistance. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 4, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2007/01/070122183029.htm

Copyright 2010, Eureka Times-Standard Newspaper. The print version of this article first appeared in the 2/11/10 edition of the Times-Standard.