Wednesday, December 31, 2003

Be cautious, FluMist users

By Richard Harkness
Knight Ridder Newspapers

Q. Because the FluMist nasal spray contains a live virus, people who use this form of flu vaccination should be aware they will be contagious for quite some time. In fact, hospital workers who use FluMist have been asked not to come to work for up to three weeks.

A. Your concern is well taken. FluMist uses a live but weakened virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk of virus transmission by FluMist users to others is relatively low. Because the virus is weakened, the CDC says, it’s unlikely that such transmission would cause flu symptoms.

Though this risk might be small, it seems prudent that FluMist users — for a period of time after getting the spray — stay away from people less able to fend off infection. Vulnerable persons include the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.

This is the reason for limiting the use of FluMist in the first place to healthy, younger people 5 to 49 years old.

The CDC recommends that this “stay away” period last for one week.

Because many hospitalized patients are in the vulnerable category, some hospitals are choosing to err on the side of greater caution by extending the “stay away” period up to three weeks for their employees who use FluMist.

FluMist is a new product, and we should know more after the current flu season.

Q. You recently said that some glucosamine-chondroitin supplements contain too much manganese and that this might cause adverse neurologic effects with prolonged use. My glucosamine supplement contains magnesium stearate listed under “other ingredients” but does not say how much. Is that the same as manganese?

A. Manganese and magnesium are two different minerals. Magnesium stearate is an additive used as a lubricant in the manufacturing. It’s classified as an inactive ingredient.