Get children vaccinated

Two children died in Massachusetts, according to Friday news reports, from the flu which were linked to MRSA infections. Health officials, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are concerned there may be a surge of the potentially deadly combination.

The CDC reported in late January 2008 that for the 12-month period from Oct. 1, 2006 to Sept. 30, 2007, there were 73 child deaths related to influenza or flu. The striking thing was that in 22 of these cases (or 30 percent), the children were simultaneously suffering from staphylococcus (staph) infections, mostly MRSA (or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).

For the year before (Oct. 1, 2005 to Sept. 30, 2006), there were only 3 reported cases of co-infection and just 1 case reported in the same period 2004-2005.

For nearly a century, health researchers have known that flu patients are more likely to develop staph infections, which often lead to pneumonia. This link was established during the widespread flu epidemic of global proportions in 1918. Another well-known case of co-incidence was in the flu pandemic of 1957, where the flu led to a pandemic of drug-resistant staph infections. The 1957 co-incident pandemics affected not only the elderly and those with compromised immune systems but also healthy individuals.

The recent incidences of viral flu cases complicated by cases of pneumonia are mostly caused by the MRSA bacteria. And because MRSA is proving difficult to treat with ordinary drugs, the combination may result in a life-threatening disease, especially in the case of children.

It is no longer just coincidence if a flu patient contracts MRSA at the same time. The flu virus damages the respiratory tract and airways of the lungs. Scientists suspect MRSA germs latch onto the weakened tissues and, once established, they proceed to cause pneumonia. Many people are already carriers of MRSA; the bacteria reside in throats and noses without doing noticeable harm, until persons contract flu.

This concern about the flu-MRSA link comes during a period of rising fears about MRSA becoming a pandemic. The infections from MRSA appear to be increasing, according to reports.

The problem that really worries public health officials is if a particularly virulent form of influenza pandemic, such as SARS and others, happens simultaneously with widespread MRSA incidence.

For instance, specialists at Children’s Hospital in Boston observed over the winter a surprising number of MRSA cases with flu. There may have been more cases of this combination, but the children were able to survive. The co-infection cases have been diagnosed mostly in children.

Safety Tip:
* Get children vaccinated. Only one-third of children receive flu vaccine during any given season. Children to have stronger immune systems to fight the flu. Preventing initial flu infection will help prevent complications from MRSA.