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Show 3 HslKopi January 27, 2000 hot helps, stop-anothe- by Col. James Laub l : ; l s 'a. P'W 75th Medical Group commander 7 fata r season. Anyone listening to the news over the past COMMENTARY ,'vv few weeks can attest to the increase in flu cases. While anyone can get the flu, it is most serious in high-ris- k S3 program. sponsored and is a The global scope of the surveillance includes such sites as Katmandu, Nepal and Lima, Peru among others. Army and Navy research labs operating in these areas provide a unique opportunity to collect samples from sites that have not been studied before. The isolated viruses are studied by culture and molecular tests and are shared with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention so that any changes are detected as soon as possible. Information from these studies is combined with other World Health Organization sentinel sites and vaccine composition decitri-servi- ce l had a little bird Its name was Enza I opened the window And - This ditty may seem silly, but it was actually sung by children playing during the 1918 influenza pan- demic when nearly 600,000 people in the United States died of the flu in one year. Worldwide, more than 2 billion people came down with the illness and more than 20 million died in one year. This is the most devastating epidemic weve . had in history. How did this happen? No one knows for sure, but there is every expectation that if it happened once, it can happen again. You may be thinking that pandemics epidemics that spread over a wide geographic area are rare occurrences and that most seasons have little impact on the overall health of the nation. However, even during an ordinary season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that influenza costs the United States nearly $10 billion for medical expenditures and lost wages. Did you know that flu and the related pneumonias are the sixth leading cause in the United States of death from all causes today? All active duty members are required to line up and get a flu shot each year because DoD recognizes that the influenza vaccine is currently the single most effective way to prevent influenza illness. Why? Besides the fact that the vaccines effectiveness wanes over time, the circulating virus changes and thus the vaccine must change to adequately protect you. In addition, studies have shown that even in years when new strains emerge, people in high-ris- k groups who obtain annual flu shots tend to have milder illness and are less likely to be hospitalized with How do we make sure the vaccine will cover the circulating virus? Surveillance! The Air Force has collected samples from sentinel sites since 1976 (Project Gargle) from military members and their families who are stationed around the world. The V program has been so successful that it is now DoD- - populations such as the elderly; people with chronic underlying illnesses such as cancer, emphysema or diabetes; or those with weak immune systems. Although most people are ill with headache, fever, chills, cough, sore throat, fatigue and body aches for only a few days, some people have a much more serious illness, such as pneumonia and may need to be hospitalized. Each year, an estimated 10 to 20 percent of the population contracts influenza, and thousands of people die each year in the United States from the flu or related complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites the vaccination of persons at high risk before each annual flu season is currently the most effective measure for reducing the impact of influenza. While the vaccination is 0 percent effective in preventing illness in healthy adults, other measures reduce the risk of influenza infection: Avoid or limit contact with infected persons, get plenty of rest, wash your hands often and drink plenty of liquids. If you have influenza symptoms limit your exposure to others, cover your nose and mouth with a handkerchief to limit spread of the virus, and see your doctor. The appropriate treatment of patients with viral respiratory illness depends on accurate and timely diagnosis. The early diagnosis of influenza can help reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics and provide the option of using antiviral therapy. While not a substitute for the vaccine, influenza-specifi- c antiviral drugs may be a beneficial adjunct to vaccine for high risk individuals if taken within 48 hours of onset of symptoms. sions are made twice each year for the coming seasons. Why twice? There is now a vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere, decided in February, and one for the Southern Hemisphere, decided in September. The DoD studies are considered to be vital for both is necessary for the decisions. The long lead-tim- e manufacturer to grow the selected strains in eggs and conduct the necessary potency studies. That is why those individuals with egg allergies should not receive the influenza vaccine. Conducting surveillance in the military population provides a unique opportunity to study the influenza vaccine efficiency. There is no other global population that has the potential to track the vaccination status and travel history of individuals who are confirmed to have influenza. Perhaps youve said, I get sicker from the shot than I do from the flu. This simply isnt true. This is a killed virus vaccine and there is no way to transmit the illness via the vaccine. True, you may experience some tenderness and perhaps a low grade fever for a short while, but remember, during flu season there are many respiratory illnesses even the common cold going around and the vaccine protects ONLY against influenza. Influenza is highly contagious and is easily transmitted through contact with droplets from the nose and throat of an infected person during coughing and sneezing. Influenza A and B are the major types of influenza viruses that cause human disease and affect persons of all ages. In the United States, influenza usually occurs from about November until April. Typically, activity is very low until December, then peaks between January and March, as is the case for the 1999-200- 0 mic 70-9- Do you need another reason to protect yourself against this illness? Consider those individuals who are most likely to suffer severe complications to influenza generally have weakened immune systems and are not fully protected by the vaccine. Take seriously your responsibility not to transmit this virus to someone who complications from the may suffer life-threateni- ng flu. (Lt. Col. Michelle Marshall, 75th Medical Group; and Linda Cahas, virologist at Brooks AFB, Texas, contributed to this article.) ' ' influenza , . , r ; , s , r unseen enemy by Computer security threatened cant by Lt. Col. Robin A. Chadderdon 75th Communications Squadron commander Y2K has been the focus of the nation and Hill AFB for many long months. Jan. 1 has come and gone without significant impact to our base. Are we out of the woods? Not by a long shot! Through good preparation, our information infrastructure was ready, result- ing in no mission down time. However, there are still many people who have malicious intent or are challenging their computer skills by trying to gain access to Hill AFB systems. The threats can be harmless, such as one who penetrated a piece of network equipment and left a message telling us our pass- words were too easy to crack. The threats can also be harmful when sys- tem access can result in data being destroyed or damaged or service being denied for extended periods of time. The most difficult threat we face is even from an enemy that we has been is It real. see. The threat glamorized in movies and some high profile hackers have been on the news when they have been caught and sentenced. I believe the reason we have an Information Security Month is to heighten the level of awareness and make sure we are as prepared as posy sible for potential threats. day-to-da- Our information infrastructure is more d than in the complex and can and cause producpast disruption tion process delays. My Information Assurance office is working hard to ensure the base is aware of the changing threat environment. As a base, we inter-relate- have reacted to massive password change efforts, we have closed down our infrastructure to protect ourselves against the Melissa Virus and we have had many meetings to inform base security personnel and administrators of threats. What can employees do to help in this effort? First, if you use a computer in your job, please be sure you have an to see how many people, including some of our senior managers, use passwords that can easily be discovered. Next, because the number of new viruses seems to be expanding, it is important that your computer have the s software loaded very latest and running on your computer. Be cautious and dont open packages that appear strange. Opening the mail or attachment executes the virus and the damage begins. Report suspected problems to your system administrator, to the base information assurance or to your superoffice through visor. If you have questions concerning information security, your role in making Hill AFB secure, or information about change it frequently. Periodically the 75 Communication Squadron runs a John Gilchrist, Information Assurance Branch Chief, at Ext. has established the AFCERT office to maintain vigilance and ensure that Air Force bases around the world have the latest information concerning hacker threats, potential virus attacks and vulnerabilities in Air Force operating systems. Most of these alerts have short time lines for implementation and they expect all of us to respond immediately to stop the threat A partnership between Hill AFB organizations and the bases Information Assurance Office will result information in a secure, threat-fre- e infrastructure. if Quality Systems for Americas Air Force Hilltop Times Published by MorMedia, Inc., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Hill AFB. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the Hilltop Times are anti-viru- e-m- ail appropriate password and that you AFCERT Advisoriesalerts contact Global Power and Reach for America. Air Force people building the worlds most respected Air and Space Force rirjrnrz3 r"t a software program called Password Cracker and you would be surprised The only way we can survive is through cooperation and timely implementation of Air Force Computer Emergency Response Team alerts. The Air Force not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. The appearance of advertisements in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or MorMedia, Inc., of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for - purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Ogden Air Logistics Center Public Affairs Office staff in Bldg. 1102, second with story ideas or comments, or send floor. Call Ext. to hilltop.pahill.af.mil. Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are U.S. Air Force photos. TO PLACE AN ADVERTISEMENT, CALL IIJJ1J .Li JHLiJJ Hilltop Times Editorial Staff: Maj. Gen. Rich Roellig Maj. Sam Hudspath Bill Orndorff Mary Galbraith, Steven Ford Deadlines: Commander, Director, Public Affairs Editor OO-AL- C Staff writers Editorial and Around the Hill items, 3 seven p.m. Thursday, days before publication; sports artia.m. 9 of publication; classified ads, 2 week Monday, cles, of week p.m. Tuesday, publication. For more information, call the editor, Ext. 625-430- 0 HJL LUl.,1.1 J LM-- 9 |