MANILA, Philippines ? The global hysteria surrounding the Influenza A (H1N1) may be easing up but experts reminded that extreme vigilance against the virus that infected more than a thousand across 23 countries (killing 29 along the way) should continue as the height of the Philippine flu season approaches.

?While the battle against Influenza A (H1N1) may be improving, we should remember that seasonal flu virus could be equally dangerous for the unprepared and those who are at risk,? warned Dr. Cecilia Montalban, president of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

The peak of the flu season here begins during the rainy month of June and lasts until September.

Special attention

Montalban said special attention should be given to young children, the elderly, those living in nursing homes and other similar facilities, those who suffer from diabetes or with chronic heart or lung condition (including asthma) as they are most vulnerable from infection.

?Ignoring the necessary precautions and letting a flu run its course could be dangerous for these people as they are prone to developing more serious?and sometimes deadly?complications such as bacterial pneumonia (a significant health threat, particularly for young children and the elderly), ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration and worsening of chronic medical conditions like if one has congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes,? she explained.

And the flu vaccine is among the best ways to prevent the flu that kills between 250,000 and 500,000 people worldwide every year.

?While it is unlikely the seasonal flu vaccine will be effective against the Influenza A (H1N1), those who will choose to take this type of precaution, may be better off in dealing with the infection and lessen their chance that you will transmit to others and of misdiagnosis in these critical times when there is a new flu virus circulating among us,? explained Doctor Lyndon Lee Suy, program manager of the Department of Health?s Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Disease.

This may also reduce the possibility of seasonal flu strains mixing up with a new one that could result to a stronger strain of the virus.

One should understand that flu virus is constantly evolving, able to mutate and change so it could evade any natural immunity that our body develops to it.

This is why every so often, a different flu strain emerges and infects people, causing far more suffering than the typical swarm of seasonal flu viruses.

In 1918-1919, for example, the so-called Spanish flu pandemic caused an estimated 100 million deaths worldwide. The more recent pandemics were much milder, with the Asian flu pandemic of 1957 killing about 2 million and Hong Kong flu pandemic with global death tolls of about 1 million.

In comparison, the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2003 that has spread from Southeast Asia to Europe and Africa killed more than 200 people.

Best response

?Efforts to contain Influenza A (H1N1) from developing into another global disaster are under way and right now, the best response is to keep tabs on respiratory symptoms. If you or someone in your family develops symptoms suggesting a cold or the flu, be alert for persistent or worsening symptoms, particularly a high fever,? Lee Suy suggested.

He suggested staying home if sick considering that if you do have the Influenza A (H1N1) virus (or any other strain for that matter), you can give it to others starting about 24 hours before you develop symptoms and ending about seven days later.