By Chris Young
Daily Bruin Reporter
With the flu season approaching and the current anthrax scare in
the nation, UCLA health authorities are saying that though the
symptoms are similar, people are much less likely to contract
anthrax than the flu.
“There has not been a confirmed case of anthrax in
California. If you get sick with a flu-like illness, it’s
much more likely you have the flu,” said Dr. David Pegues,
associate professor in the Department of Infectious Diseases.
Pegues said there will probably be several million cases of
influenza this year and even more cases of non-influenza upper
respiratory viral infection, as compared to four cases of
inhalation anthrax thus far.
Some of the symptoms that inhalation anthrax and the flu share
include fever, muscle aches, chest pain, fatigue and malaise,
according to the Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center
Web site.
Susan Quillan, director of nursing at the Ashe Center, said
patients with flu-like symptoms concerned they may have anthrax
should know that if they have not traveled to certain locations
suspected of anthrax contamination, been in contact with anyone
suspected of having anthrax, or handled suspicious-looking mail or
packages, then the likelihood of them having anthrax is greatly
reduced.
People who still have flu-like symptoms after taking the flu
shot should not think they have anthrax because their symptoms are
most likely caused by another respiratory virus, Pegues said. The
flu vaccine does not protect a person from other flu-like upper
respiratory viruses.
Quillan said especially people who are more than 50 years old,
have asthma, diabetes, chronic diseases of the lungs, heart, kidney
or blood, or compromised immune systems should be vaccinated
because they are at a greater risk of getting the flu.
According to Pegues, many have requested anthrax tests at the
Medical Center.
He said that though nasal swab tests exist, they are only
administered to help officials find the extent of anthrax
contamination in a given area and not to diagnosis whether a person
has anthrax.
People are treated for anthrax exposure with antibiotics if they
have had a credible risk of exposure, Pegues said, adding that the
decision for antibiotics is almost completely independent of the
nasal swab test.
“Even if a person’s nasal swab was negative, they
could still be given antibiotics if doctors believed they were
exposed,” he said.