The Health Ministry and the kupot cholim are strongly
recommending that everyone who is at risk take the flu
vaccine this year in October or November.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a
statement that SARS might be a seasonal disease and return in
the next few months, about a year after it first appeared in
China. SARS is caused by a coronavirus that apparently
originated in animals and it initially produces flu-like
symptoms in victims. It killed 800 people around the world
and infected 10 times as many. No cases were reported in
Israel. The WHO also said that it is important to give flu
vaccinations to people at high risk of contracting influenza
so their cases are not mistaken for SARS.
At this point, no one knows whether SARS will return or if it
is connected to season or temperature. The four hospitals
with special isolation units for patients suspected of having
SARS -- Assaf Harofeh, Shaare Zedek, Bnai Zion, and Soroka --
will keep their facilities ready.
Flu vaccine is routinely recommended for all people over 50
and younger people who suffer from chronic diseases. It is
usually given in October and November. Reducing the
prevalence of pneumonia and other complications of the flu,
says the WHO, may also lower the possibility of misdiagnosing
influenza as SARS.
A WHO expert said that finding the origin of SARS will most
likely take years.
