Judging from the coughing and spluttering in the city on Saturday, maybe a feature on influenza would go down well with readers of the Saturday health pages.

Each year a vaccine is produced against the influenza viruses that are expected to be prevalent the following winter.

Presumably, if we have the immunisation, this gets our body defences into gear to fight any anticipated invaders.

But just how effective is the immunisation programme? Does anyone monitor the results? What happens if an unexpected flu virus gets into our system? Does this mean we have no defence against it?

According to the medical books, there are hundreds of different influenza viruses and these change annually so immunisation must be hit or miss.

What are we supposed to do if a virus does get in through the back door? Stay in bed, take aspirin and drink plenty of fluids - or, if aged or in a high-risk group, call in a doctor?

According to medical books, there isn't any treatment with drugs, so what can a doctor do?

-Tommy Carr, Goldstone Valley