Chicago-area hospitals encourage flu shots

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Medical experts say fear is one of the worst side-effects from an Ebola scare.

The virus cannot be spread when carriers are showing no symptoms, though Chicago-area hospitals are bracing for the impact that fear might have on the people's willingness to get a flu shot - a step doctors say going without is far more dangerous than visiting West Africa.

At Northwestern Hospital's Emergency Department there's space for patients who might be present with flu symptoms, especially fever this winter. And a clear understanding of how flu looks compared to Ebola.

"Influenza, fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough, body aches, joint pain and maybe some gastrointestinal distress," said Dr. Michael Angarone, infectious diseases specialist. "Ebola, you can have the fever, but you also have the body ache, headaches, you have a lot more of the diarrhea and the nausea and vomiting."

The hospital is developing protocols based on CDC guidelines for treating Ebola patients. But in the meantime, the CDC says everyone should get a flu shot, especially kids 6 months to 6 years and those over 50.

"With this year's flu, H3N2, at this early juncture resembling viruses from the past five years - including 2009's H1N1, which was the source of a pandemic, the hope is to have a manageable flu season.

"There is probably some cross-protection from year to year when there is less variability amongst the influenza strains but that immunity is going to wane," Angarone said.

In another part of the hospital, saliva or nasal samples of infected patients will be tested for the flu virus - or Ebola, should it come to that. Within six hours, specialists will know what they're dealing with.

"This is the cutting-edge instrument for doing this, so we are as prepared as we can be at the moment," said Dr. Nike Beaubier, director, Northwestern University Hospital Molecular Genetic Pathology Department.

On the streets of the Magnificent Mile, so far, there seems little confusion about the flu shot and Ebola.

"I believe in the flu shot. Why not take it," said Essa Pilney.

And for now, there's a willingness to the let the system do its job.

"You still have to trust the medical establishment. What else are you going to do?" said Joan Piowaty.

The CDC says regardless of fears over emergency departments and transmission of viruses, you should get the flu shot.