Originally printed at http://www.kcby.com/news/health/70631457.html
These days, a simple fever raises questions: Do I have the H1N1 flu and if I do, should I go to the doctor?
Before you rush to the clinic or hospital, there's a simple call you can make. Oregon Public Health Flu Hotline (1-800-978-3040) now has nurses to talk to about symptoms, prevention advice, concerns about flu exposure, taking care of others and when to see a doctor.
"Most people recover from the flu on their own with rest and fluids. But sometimes it's helpful to talk to a medical professional to decide if you need to go to the doctor," says Paul Cieslak, M.D., medical director for the Oregon public health immunization program.
The Oregon Public Health Flu Hotline is one-stop shopping for all your flu concerns. Operators can tell callers about vaccine availability and answer many basic flu questions. The new feature connects callers with a nurse who can provide medical advice about both seasonal and H1N1 flu. These services are available throughout the state, in nearly any language, and the call is free. It could save you a trip to the doctor or emergency room, and ease crowding so that health care providers can help the people who need it more quickly.
"We want everyone in Oregon to get the best information and advice about the flu. And we want to make it easy for people to stay home when they're sick, unless they really need to see a doctor," says Cieslak. Oregon is one of the few states to offer this service.
The Oregon Public Health Flu Hotline is open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.; weekends and holidays 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Showing posts with label Swine flu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Swine flu. Show all posts
Monday, November 23, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Douglas County gets more vacine for H1N1
More swine flu vaccine will soon be on its way to Douglas County and three clinics are planned this week to provide the vaccine to those who are most at risk of contracting swine flu, officially known as the H1N1 influenza.
As of Thursday, 8,100 doses of H1N1 vaccine have arrived in Douglas County, according to a news release. Douglas County Public Health expects another 3,100 doses to arrive sometime in the next week. The vaccine will be made available to registered H1N1 influenza providers and to people who are at greatest risk of contracting swine flu at three planned clinics. The priority groups, in no particular order: Those ages six months to 24 years old; pregnant women; people caring for, or living with, infants who are younger than six months of age; people from the ages of 25 to 64 who have health conditions that may put them at risk for complications from influenza — such as asthma, immune deficiencies, lung or heart disease and diabetes; health care workers and emergency medical service providers; law enforcement officers and firefighters who have frequent physical contact with the public as a part of their usual work; correction personnel in state prisons, local jails and juvenile correctional facilities who come into contact with adult or juvenile offenders; and public safety emergency telecommunications workers, including 911 call-takers and dispatchers.
The Roseburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, State Department of Corrections, Oregon National Guard, Oregon State Hospital and Oregon Youth Authority receive their own H1N1 vaccine allocations to vaccinate their respective populations.H1N1 flu symptoms are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu. They include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, headache, nausea, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting due to H1N1 flu.
Most people will recover on their own after a week or so of illness and don't need to see a doctor, the release said. In other cases, though, it might be necessary to seek medical attention.
People who have severe illness or are at high risk for flu complications should contact their health care providers, the release said. People who don't have access to health care may call the Oregon Flu Hotline at 1-800-978-3040 and talk with a health information specialist.
According to the CDC, people should only seek care in the emergency room if they are very sick, the release said. If you have the emergency warning signs of flu sickness, that's when you should go to the emergency room.
For more information, visit the following — Oregon Flu Web site, www.flu.oregon.gov or the county Health Department Web site, www.co.douglas.or.us/health — or call the Health Department Flu Info Line at 464-3815.
As of Thursday, 8,100 doses of H1N1 vaccine have arrived in Douglas County, according to a news release. Douglas County Public Health expects another 3,100 doses to arrive sometime in the next week. The vaccine will be made available to registered H1N1 influenza providers and to people who are at greatest risk of contracting swine flu at three planned clinics. The priority groups, in no particular order: Those ages six months to 24 years old; pregnant women; people caring for, or living with, infants who are younger than six months of age; people from the ages of 25 to 64 who have health conditions that may put them at risk for complications from influenza — such as asthma, immune deficiencies, lung or heart disease and diabetes; health care workers and emergency medical service providers; law enforcement officers and firefighters who have frequent physical contact with the public as a part of their usual work; correction personnel in state prisons, local jails and juvenile correctional facilities who come into contact with adult or juvenile offenders; and public safety emergency telecommunications workers, including 911 call-takers and dispatchers.
The Roseburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, State Department of Corrections, Oregon National Guard, Oregon State Hospital and Oregon Youth Authority receive their own H1N1 vaccine allocations to vaccinate their respective populations.H1N1 flu symptoms are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu. They include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, headache, nausea, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting due to H1N1 flu.
Most people will recover on their own after a week or so of illness and don't need to see a doctor, the release said. In other cases, though, it might be necessary to seek medical attention.
People who have severe illness or are at high risk for flu complications should contact their health care providers, the release said. People who don't have access to health care may call the Oregon Flu Hotline at 1-800-978-3040 and talk with a health information specialist.
According to the CDC, people should only seek care in the emergency room if they are very sick, the release said. If you have the emergency warning signs of flu sickness, that's when you should go to the emergency room.
For more information, visit the following — Oregon Flu Web site, www.flu.oregon.gov or the county Health Department Web site, www.co.douglas.or.us/health — or call the Health Department Flu Info Line at 464-3815.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
H1N1 Swine Flu Vacines in Douglas County
Swine flu continues to spread in Oregon, according to state and local officials. Four new clinics will be held this week and next to help vaccinate people most at risk of getting the illness officially known as the H1N1 flu.Between Sept. 1 and Oct. 30, there were 698 hospitalizations and 18 deaths in Oregon attributed to influenza, according to a Douglas County Health and Social Services news release.
Of those, 14 hospitalizations were in Douglas County, and one man, a county resident older than 65, died elsewhere.
Almost all the hospitalizations and deaths are from the swine flu, although some have been due to another strain of flu.Due to the limited number of local deaths and concerns for privacy, the Douglas County Public Health Department will not be releasing further information on the county resident who died, Public Health promotion manager Marilyn Carter said this morning.As of Thursday, 4,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine had arrived in the county to date.
Douglas County Public Health expects another 4,100 doses to arrive in the first week of November. Those doses will be made available to registered H1N1 vaccine providers and to priority groups at the four upcoming clinics.
The state Department of Human Services has asked county health departments to use at least 30 percent of their vaccine allocations to provide clinics for people in priority groups who are not served by an enrolled H1N1 vaccine provider or who are uninsured.The priority groups are: everyone aged six months to 24 years old; pregnant women; people caring for, or living with, infants who are younger than six months of age; people from the ages of 25 to 64 who have health conditions that may put them at risk for complications from influenza — such as asthma, immune deficiencies, lung or heart disease and diabetes; health care workers and emergency medical service providers; law enforcement officers and firefighters who have frequent physical contact with the public as a part of their usual work; correction personnel in state prisons, local jails and juvenile correctional facilities who come into contact with adult or juvenile offenders; and public safety emergency telecommunications workers, including 911 call-takers and dispatchers.
The state Department of Human Services also encourages those without insurance or with no regular health care provider to call the Oregon Flu Hotline, toll free at 1-800-978-3040, Carter said.Callers can reach a “real person,” Carter said. “They can ask about the vaccine. They can ask about symptoms.”Health information specialists answer the line from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.According to the Centers for Disease Control, people should only go to an emergency room if they are very sick and have the emergency warning signs of flu sickness.Dawnelle Marshall, division director of Douglas County Public Health, said emergency warning signs may vary with the age of the patient.
In young children especially, parents may notice their children having difficulty breathing, to the point at which they are using muscles in their shoulder, chest and diaphragm to breathe, she said.Emergency warning signs in adults include shortness of breath, Marshall said. People may experience their chest feeling heavy, and they may have a hard time catching their breath even without strenuous activity, she said.
In adults older than 65, emergency warning signs may include disorientation due to a fever or dehydration.Severe dehydration from any cause can be another emergency warning sign, Marshall said.For more information, visit the following — Oregon Flu Web site, http://www.flu.oregon.gov/ or the Health Department Web site, www.co.douglas.or.us/health — or call the Health Department Flu Info Line at 464-3815.
Of those, 14 hospitalizations were in Douglas County, and one man, a county resident older than 65, died elsewhere.
Almost all the hospitalizations and deaths are from the swine flu, although some have been due to another strain of flu.Due to the limited number of local deaths and concerns for privacy, the Douglas County Public Health Department will not be releasing further information on the county resident who died, Public Health promotion manager Marilyn Carter said this morning.As of Thursday, 4,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine had arrived in the county to date.
Douglas County Public Health expects another 4,100 doses to arrive in the first week of November. Those doses will be made available to registered H1N1 vaccine providers and to priority groups at the four upcoming clinics.
The state Department of Human Services has asked county health departments to use at least 30 percent of their vaccine allocations to provide clinics for people in priority groups who are not served by an enrolled H1N1 vaccine provider or who are uninsured.The priority groups are: everyone aged six months to 24 years old; pregnant women; people caring for, or living with, infants who are younger than six months of age; people from the ages of 25 to 64 who have health conditions that may put them at risk for complications from influenza — such as asthma, immune deficiencies, lung or heart disease and diabetes; health care workers and emergency medical service providers; law enforcement officers and firefighters who have frequent physical contact with the public as a part of their usual work; correction personnel in state prisons, local jails and juvenile correctional facilities who come into contact with adult or juvenile offenders; and public safety emergency telecommunications workers, including 911 call-takers and dispatchers.
The state Department of Human Services also encourages those without insurance or with no regular health care provider to call the Oregon Flu Hotline, toll free at 1-800-978-3040, Carter said.Callers can reach a “real person,” Carter said. “They can ask about the vaccine. They can ask about symptoms.”Health information specialists answer the line from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.According to the Centers for Disease Control, people should only go to an emergency room if they are very sick and have the emergency warning signs of flu sickness.Dawnelle Marshall, division director of Douglas County Public Health, said emergency warning signs may vary with the age of the patient.
In young children especially, parents may notice their children having difficulty breathing, to the point at which they are using muscles in their shoulder, chest and diaphragm to breathe, she said.Emergency warning signs in adults include shortness of breath, Marshall said. People may experience their chest feeling heavy, and they may have a hard time catching their breath even without strenuous activity, she said.
In adults older than 65, emergency warning signs may include disorientation due to a fever or dehydration.Severe dehydration from any cause can be another emergency warning sign, Marshall said.For more information, visit the following — Oregon Flu Web site, http://www.flu.oregon.gov/ or the Health Department Web site, www.co.douglas.or.us/health — or call the Health Department Flu Info Line at 464-3815.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Swine Flu Vaccine
H1N1 Vaccine Locations
http://www.koinlocal6.com/content/news/topstories/story/Swine-Flu-Central/Nt_5K7msDUSkmTN0bXC1ag.cspx?rss=1100
The H1N1 vaccine continues to trickle into the state. So far, Oregon has received about 6 percent of the vaccine necessary for the people in priority groups, which accounts for about half of Oregon's population, according to reports.
Five private manufacturers are delivering the vaccine around the country as soon as it is produced. In Oregon, counties and tribes request the supply and decide how to distribute it to individual health care providers and clinics. The amount of vaccine is allocated to counties on a per-capita basis.
For most people, a case H1N1 flu is no worse than seasonal flu, lasting about 7-10 days with the vast majority of people getting better without seeking medical attention.
Since Sept. 1, 2009, 482 people in 24 counties have been hospitalized in Oregon with influenza-like illness; 15 people in eight counties have died.
Oregon Public Health has activated the emergency operations center full time to coordinate the state's response to pandemic H1N1 and ensure that the most up-to-date information is available. The center is working closely with local health departments and monitoring hospital capacity and supplies.
Hospitals and health care providers in some Oregon counties have experienced a surge of patients, but so far there is enough capacity to care for people with symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization. On Oct. 26, President Obama declared a national state of emergency in response to pandemic H1N1. This action allows hospitals to waive certain regulatory requirements so they can respond better to the emergency, such as making it easier to transfer patients between facilities.
The Columbia Health District will hold a walk-in clinic for free H1N1 (swine flu) vaccinations Friday at the public health office, 2370 Gable Road in St. Helens, Ore. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or until the vaccine runs out. Both nasal spray and injectable vaccines are available. Priority will be given to people considered at greatest risk from H1N1:
• Pregnant women
• Caregivers for children under 6 months of age
• Health care and emergency medical services personnel, such as firefighters, law enforcement officers
• Children 6 months through 18 years of age
• Young adults 19 through 24 years of age
Adults age 25 through 64 who have higher risk health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, chronic heart disease, compromised immune system or liver or kidney disease.
Swine Flu Emergency Reshapes Hospital Plans
PORTLAND- The national emergency declaration by President Barack Obama has little to do with the speed the H1N1 vaccine wil be produced and distributed. But it does affect the way medical centers are able to treat patients.
The declaration loosens some federal regulations regarding patient privacy, access to care, and the movement of patients from one facility to another.
Leaders at Legacy Health System have been discussing emergency treatment options for some time. They met Monday to make potential plans that the declaration allows.
"It allows hospitals, nursing homes all kinds of medical facilities all kinds of alternatives to deal with what could be burgeoning patient loads", according to Brian Terrett, Legacy's Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications.
The tents that are set up outside Legacy Emmanuel and other medical centers are an example of what the declaration allows more easily: patient privacy regulations being eased means a triage center can be set up in a more public place like a parking lot.
The declaration could allow patient treatment centers in places as large as a warehouse or even Memorial Coliseum. For now, Legacy is looking at smaller venues. A corner building next to Good Samaritan Hospital has a vacancy; the former FedEx Kinkos could become an H1N1 patient center under the emergency declaration, if Legacy decides it needs it. For now, it doesn't.
H1N1 Vaccine: By Appointment Only
SALEM -Marion County received its first supply of the H1N1 vaccine earlier this month.
Now, it's beginning to distribute the supply. Instead of long lines and frustrated patients, the county is taking appointments to schedule its distribution.
Right now, the county is asking people to call your health care provider first to see if it's distributing the vaccine too. If not, Marion County says the H1N1 vaccine is only available to people in the high risk priority groups.
If you're pregnant, care for children younger than 6 months old, all children between 6 months-24 years old, or adults with chronic illness are considered to be among the highest risk.
Marion County will begin taking more appointments, by phone, beginning at 8:30 AM Monday morning.
H1N1 Vaccine Appointment Phone Number: 503-584-4870.
http://www.koinlocal6.com/content/news/topstories/story/Swine-Flu-Central/Nt_5K7msDUSkmTN0bXC1ag.cspx?rss=1100
The H1N1 vaccine continues to trickle into the state. So far, Oregon has received about 6 percent of the vaccine necessary for the people in priority groups, which accounts for about half of Oregon's population, according to reports.
Five private manufacturers are delivering the vaccine around the country as soon as it is produced. In Oregon, counties and tribes request the supply and decide how to distribute it to individual health care providers and clinics. The amount of vaccine is allocated to counties on a per-capita basis.
For most people, a case H1N1 flu is no worse than seasonal flu, lasting about 7-10 days with the vast majority of people getting better without seeking medical attention.
Since Sept. 1, 2009, 482 people in 24 counties have been hospitalized in Oregon with influenza-like illness; 15 people in eight counties have died.
Oregon Public Health has activated the emergency operations center full time to coordinate the state's response to pandemic H1N1 and ensure that the most up-to-date information is available. The center is working closely with local health departments and monitoring hospital capacity and supplies.
Hospitals and health care providers in some Oregon counties have experienced a surge of patients, but so far there is enough capacity to care for people with symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization. On Oct. 26, President Obama declared a national state of emergency in response to pandemic H1N1. This action allows hospitals to waive certain regulatory requirements so they can respond better to the emergency, such as making it easier to transfer patients between facilities.
The Columbia Health District will hold a walk-in clinic for free H1N1 (swine flu) vaccinations Friday at the public health office, 2370 Gable Road in St. Helens, Ore. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or until the vaccine runs out. Both nasal spray and injectable vaccines are available. Priority will be given to people considered at greatest risk from H1N1:
• Pregnant women
• Caregivers for children under 6 months of age
• Health care and emergency medical services personnel, such as firefighters, law enforcement officers
• Children 6 months through 18 years of age
• Young adults 19 through 24 years of age
Adults age 25 through 64 who have higher risk health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, chronic heart disease, compromised immune system or liver or kidney disease.
Swine Flu Emergency Reshapes Hospital Plans
PORTLAND- The national emergency declaration by President Barack Obama has little to do with the speed the H1N1 vaccine wil be produced and distributed. But it does affect the way medical centers are able to treat patients.
The declaration loosens some federal regulations regarding patient privacy, access to care, and the movement of patients from one facility to another.
Leaders at Legacy Health System have been discussing emergency treatment options for some time. They met Monday to make potential plans that the declaration allows.
"It allows hospitals, nursing homes all kinds of medical facilities all kinds of alternatives to deal with what could be burgeoning patient loads", according to Brian Terrett, Legacy's Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications.
The tents that are set up outside Legacy Emmanuel and other medical centers are an example of what the declaration allows more easily: patient privacy regulations being eased means a triage center can be set up in a more public place like a parking lot.
The declaration could allow patient treatment centers in places as large as a warehouse or even Memorial Coliseum. For now, Legacy is looking at smaller venues. A corner building next to Good Samaritan Hospital has a vacancy; the former FedEx Kinkos could become an H1N1 patient center under the emergency declaration, if Legacy decides it needs it. For now, it doesn't.
H1N1 Vaccine: By Appointment Only
SALEM -Marion County received its first supply of the H1N1 vaccine earlier this month.
Now, it's beginning to distribute the supply. Instead of long lines and frustrated patients, the county is taking appointments to schedule its distribution.
Right now, the county is asking people to call your health care provider first to see if it's distributing the vaccine too. If not, Marion County says the H1N1 vaccine is only available to people in the high risk priority groups.
If you're pregnant, care for children younger than 6 months old, all children between 6 months-24 years old, or adults with chronic illness are considered to be among the highest risk.
Marion County will begin taking more appointments, by phone, beginning at 8:30 AM Monday morning.
H1N1 Vaccine Appointment Phone Number: 503-584-4870.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Swine Flu Emergency Reshapes Hospital Plans
http://www.koinlocal6.com/content/news/topstories/story/Swine-Flu-Emergency-Reshapes-Hospital-Plans/oMfBBREoZ0aHKlynXgoe8Q.cspx?rss=1100
Reported by: Tim Gordon
Email: tgordon@koin.com
Last Update: 8:45 am
PORTLAND- The national emergency declaration by President Barack Obama has little to do with the speed the H1N1 vaccine wil be produced and distributed. But it does affect the way medical centers are able to treat patients.
The declaration loosens some federal regulations regarding patient privacy, access to care, and the movement of patients from one facility to another.
Leaders at Legacy Health System have been discussing emergency treatment options for some time. They met Monday to make potential plans that the declaration allows.
"It allows hospitals, nursing homes all kinds of medical facilities all kinds of alternatives to deal with what could be burgeoning patient loads", according to Brian Terrett, Legacy's Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications.
The tents that are set up outside Legacy Emmanuel and other medical centers are an example of what the declaration allows more easily: patient privacy regulations being eased means a triage center can be set up in a more public place like a parking lot.
The declaration could allow patient treatment centers in places as large as a warehouse or even Memorial Coliseum. For now, Legacy is looking at smaller venues. A corner building next to Good Samaritan Hospital has a vacancy; the former FedEx Kinkos could become an H1N1 patient center under the emergency declaration, if Legacy decides it needs it. For now, it doesn't.
Reported by: Tim Gordon
Email: tgordon@koin.com
Last Update: 8:45 am
PORTLAND- The national emergency declaration by President Barack Obama has little to do with the speed the H1N1 vaccine wil be produced and distributed. But it does affect the way medical centers are able to treat patients.
The declaration loosens some federal regulations regarding patient privacy, access to care, and the movement of patients from one facility to another.
Leaders at Legacy Health System have been discussing emergency treatment options for some time. They met Monday to make potential plans that the declaration allows.
"It allows hospitals, nursing homes all kinds of medical facilities all kinds of alternatives to deal with what could be burgeoning patient loads", according to Brian Terrett, Legacy's Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications.
The tents that are set up outside Legacy Emmanuel and other medical centers are an example of what the declaration allows more easily: patient privacy regulations being eased means a triage center can be set up in a more public place like a parking lot.
The declaration could allow patient treatment centers in places as large as a warehouse or even Memorial Coliseum. For now, Legacy is looking at smaller venues. A corner building next to Good Samaritan Hospital has a vacancy; the former FedEx Kinkos could become an H1N1 patient center under the emergency declaration, if Legacy decides it needs it. For now, it doesn't.
Friday, October 23, 2009
KTVZ Flu Tip - When To See A Doctor
http://www.ktvz.com/Global/story.asp?S=11315586
Over at KTVZ they are running an article about flu symptoms and whether or not you should see your doctor.
"So far, the H1N1 flu is not more serious than regular flu, so if you are sick, stay home to avoid spreading it to others and take good care of yourself," says Mel Kohn, M.D., Oregon Public Health director. "If you have other conditions that put you at high risk or if symptoms get serious, that's when you should call your doctor." (See list of conditions below.*)
Some health conditions increase the risk of severe illness from influenza:
• Pregnancy;
• Long-term aspirin therapy in children and adolescents (aged 6 mos.--18 yrs.);
• Chronic lung disease (including asthma), heart, kidney, liver, blood, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes);
• Immuno-suppression (including that caused by medications or HIV);
• Any condition (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizures or neuromuscular disorders) that affects respiratory function or handling of respiratory secretions or that increases the risk for aspiration; and
• Residence in a nursing home or other chronic-care facility.Also, children aged 6-59 months (up to 5 years) and adults aged 65 years and older are considered at increased risk for severe illness from influenza.People who have severe illness or are at high risk for flu complications should contact a health care provider who will determine whether treatment is needed. If you are directed to see a health care provider, ask if the facility has any special procedures for flu sufferers who visit.
In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
• Fast breathing or trouble breathing;
• Bluish or gray skin color;
• Not drinking enough fluids;
• Severe or persistent vomiting;
• Not waking up or not interacting;
• So irritable that the child does not want to be held;
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough;
• Fever with a rash.
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath;
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen;
• Sudden dizziness;
• Confusion;
• Severe or persistent vomiting;
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and cough.
Go to the KTVZ page for the full article. Stay home - take care of yourself - try not to expose other people. Most people will recover within a week.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Swine Flu - we can help prevent it!
H1N1, or what some call swine flu, is very serious. It can be unpredictable in nature, but we can help prevent the spread if we work at it.
Oregon Emergency Management takes this flu seriously. However, we don't want people to live in fear. Because knowledge is power, here is some knowledge to help you get through this season safely.
Get your regular seasonal flu shot. This is not for H1N1 but will cover you for three other strains that may show up this winter, and it is possible to get H1N1 and a different flu at the same time.
If you are identified as at risk for H1N1, you will need to get two shots a few weeks apart (one shot may be sufficient, depending on the circumstances). Information can be found at http://www.flu.oregon.gov/ on who will be the priority groups for those shots.
The flu is a set of symptoms: respiratory, fever, headache, cough, sore throat and muscle aches. It can put you in bed for seven to 10 days, and the cough and fatigue can last for a month or more.
The flu is spread by droplets (coughing/sneezing). H1N1 has heavy droplets that fall to the ground within 3 feet. So keep your distance, cover your cough with your sleeve — or as my mom taught me, cough and sneeze down into your shirt.
Wash your hands regularly, keep them out of our mouth, nose and eyes, and use antibacterial waterless hand cleanser If you don't feel well, stay home. We can stay healthy if we are considerate of others and work together.
Oregon Emergency Management takes this flu seriously. However, we don't want people to live in fear. Because knowledge is power, here is some knowledge to help you get through this season safely.
Get your regular seasonal flu shot. This is not for H1N1 but will cover you for three other strains that may show up this winter, and it is possible to get H1N1 and a different flu at the same time.
If you are identified as at risk for H1N1, you will need to get two shots a few weeks apart (one shot may be sufficient, depending on the circumstances). Information can be found at http://www.flu.oregon.gov/ on who will be the priority groups for those shots.
The flu is a set of symptoms: respiratory, fever, headache, cough, sore throat and muscle aches. It can put you in bed for seven to 10 days, and the cough and fatigue can last for a month or more.
The flu is spread by droplets (coughing/sneezing). H1N1 has heavy droplets that fall to the ground within 3 feet. So keep your distance, cover your cough with your sleeve — or as my mom taught me, cough and sneeze down into your shirt.
Wash your hands regularly, keep them out of our mouth, nose and eyes, and use antibacterial waterless hand cleanser If you don't feel well, stay home. We can stay healthy if we are considerate of others and work together.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Swine Flu: 10 things you need to know
By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer Mike Stobbe, Ap Medical Writer – Tue Sep 1, 11:22 am ET
ATLANTA – Since it first emerged in April, the global swine flu epidemic has sickened more than 1 million Americans and killed about 500. It's also spread around the world, infecting tens of thousands and killing nearly 2,000.
This summer, the virus has been surprisingly tenacious in the U.S., refusing to fade away as flu viruses usually do. And health officials predict a surge of cases this fall, perhaps very soon as schools reopen.
A White House report from an expert panel suggests that from 30 percent to half the population could catch swine flu during the course of this pandemic and that from 30,000 to 90,000 could die.
So how worried should you be and how do you prepare? The Associated Press has tried to boil down the mass of information into 10 things you should know to be flu-savvy.
1. No cause for panic.
So far, swine flu isn't much more threatening than regular seasonal flu.
During the few months of this new flu's existence, hospitalizations and deaths from it seem to be lower than the average seen for seasonal flu, and the virus hasn't dramatically mutated. That's what health officials have observed in the Southern Hemisphere where flu season is now winding down.
Still, more people are susceptible to swine flu and U.S. health officials are worried because it hung in so firmly here during the summer — a time of year the flu usually goes away.
2. Virus tougher on some.
Swine flu is more of a threat to certain groups — children under 2, pregnant women, people with health problems like asthma, diabetes and heart disease. Teens and young adults are also more vulnerable to swine flu.
Ordinary, seasonal flu hits older people the hardest, but not swine flu. Scientists think older people may have some immunity from exposure years earlier to viruses similar to swine flu.
3. Wash your hands often and long.
Like seasonal flu, swine flu spreads through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick. Emphasize to children that they should wash with soap and water long enough to finish singing the alphabet song, "Now I know my ABC's..." Also use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
4. Get the kids vaccinated.
These groups should be first in line for swine flu shots, especially if vaccine supplies are limited — people 6 months to 24 years old, pregnant women, health care workers.
Also a priority: Parents and caregivers of infants, people with those high-risk medical conditions previously noted.
5. Get your shots early.
Millions of swine flu shots should be available by October. If you are in one of the priority groups, try to get your shot as early as possible.
Check with your doctor or local or state health department about where to do this. Many children should be able to get vaccinated at school. Permission forms will be sent home in advance.
6. Immunity takes awhile.
Even those first in line for shots won't have immunity until around Thanksgiving.
That's because it's likely to take two shots, given three weeks apart, to provide protection. And it takes a week or two after the last shot for the vaccine to take full effect.
The regular seasonal flu shot should be widely available in September. People over 50 are urged to be among the first to get that shot.
7. Vaccines are being tested.
Health officials presume the swine flu vaccine is safe and effective, but they're testing it to make sure.
The federal government has begun studies in eight cities across the country to assess its effectiveness and figure out the best dose. Vaccine makers are doing their own tests as well.
8. Help! Surrounded by swine flu.
If an outbreak of swine flu hits your area before you're vaccinated, be extra cautious.
Stay away from public gathering places like malls, sports events and churches. Try to keep your distance from people in general. Keep washing those hands and keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth.
9. What if you get sick?
If you have other health problems or are pregnant and develop flu-like symptoms, call your doctor right away. You may be prescribed Tamiflu or Relenza. These drugs can reduce the severity of swine flu if taken right after symptoms start.
If you develop breathing problems (rapid breathing for kids), pain in your chest, constant vomiting or a fever that keeps rising, go to an emergency room.
Most people, though, should just stay home and rest. Cough into your elbow or shoulder. Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever breaks. Fluids and pain relievers like Tylenol can help with achiness and fever. Always check with a doctor before giving children any medicines. Adult cold and flu remedies are not for them.
10. No swine flu from barbecue.
You can't catch swine flu from pork — or poultry either (even though it recently turned up in turkeys in Chile). Swine flu is not spread by handling meat, whether it's raw or cooked.
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
___
On the Net:
CDC swine flu basics: http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/qa.htm
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's FAQ's:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/cd/h1n1(underscore)flu(underscore)basic(underscore)faq.pdf
ATLANTA – Since it first emerged in April, the global swine flu epidemic has sickened more than 1 million Americans and killed about 500. It's also spread around the world, infecting tens of thousands and killing nearly 2,000.
This summer, the virus has been surprisingly tenacious in the U.S., refusing to fade away as flu viruses usually do. And health officials predict a surge of cases this fall, perhaps very soon as schools reopen.
A White House report from an expert panel suggests that from 30 percent to half the population could catch swine flu during the course of this pandemic and that from 30,000 to 90,000 could die.
So how worried should you be and how do you prepare? The Associated Press has tried to boil down the mass of information into 10 things you should know to be flu-savvy.
1. No cause for panic.
So far, swine flu isn't much more threatening than regular seasonal flu.
During the few months of this new flu's existence, hospitalizations and deaths from it seem to be lower than the average seen for seasonal flu, and the virus hasn't dramatically mutated. That's what health officials have observed in the Southern Hemisphere where flu season is now winding down.
Still, more people are susceptible to swine flu and U.S. health officials are worried because it hung in so firmly here during the summer — a time of year the flu usually goes away.
2. Virus tougher on some.
Swine flu is more of a threat to certain groups — children under 2, pregnant women, people with health problems like asthma, diabetes and heart disease. Teens and young adults are also more vulnerable to swine flu.
Ordinary, seasonal flu hits older people the hardest, but not swine flu. Scientists think older people may have some immunity from exposure years earlier to viruses similar to swine flu.
3. Wash your hands often and long.
Like seasonal flu, swine flu spreads through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick. Emphasize to children that they should wash with soap and water long enough to finish singing the alphabet song, "Now I know my ABC's..." Also use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
4. Get the kids vaccinated.
These groups should be first in line for swine flu shots, especially if vaccine supplies are limited — people 6 months to 24 years old, pregnant women, health care workers.
Also a priority: Parents and caregivers of infants, people with those high-risk medical conditions previously noted.
5. Get your shots early.
Millions of swine flu shots should be available by October. If you are in one of the priority groups, try to get your shot as early as possible.
Check with your doctor or local or state health department about where to do this. Many children should be able to get vaccinated at school. Permission forms will be sent home in advance.
6. Immunity takes awhile.
Even those first in line for shots won't have immunity until around Thanksgiving.
That's because it's likely to take two shots, given three weeks apart, to provide protection. And it takes a week or two after the last shot for the vaccine to take full effect.
The regular seasonal flu shot should be widely available in September. People over 50 are urged to be among the first to get that shot.
7. Vaccines are being tested.
Health officials presume the swine flu vaccine is safe and effective, but they're testing it to make sure.
The federal government has begun studies in eight cities across the country to assess its effectiveness and figure out the best dose. Vaccine makers are doing their own tests as well.
8. Help! Surrounded by swine flu.
If an outbreak of swine flu hits your area before you're vaccinated, be extra cautious.
Stay away from public gathering places like malls, sports events and churches. Try to keep your distance from people in general. Keep washing those hands and keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth.
9. What if you get sick?
If you have other health problems or are pregnant and develop flu-like symptoms, call your doctor right away. You may be prescribed Tamiflu or Relenza. These drugs can reduce the severity of swine flu if taken right after symptoms start.
If you develop breathing problems (rapid breathing for kids), pain in your chest, constant vomiting or a fever that keeps rising, go to an emergency room.
Most people, though, should just stay home and rest. Cough into your elbow or shoulder. Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever breaks. Fluids and pain relievers like Tylenol can help with achiness and fever. Always check with a doctor before giving children any medicines. Adult cold and flu remedies are not for them.
10. No swine flu from barbecue.
You can't catch swine flu from pork — or poultry either (even though it recently turned up in turkeys in Chile). Swine flu is not spread by handling meat, whether it's raw or cooked.
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
___
On the Net:
CDC swine flu basics: http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/qa.htm
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's FAQ's:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/cd/h1n1(underscore)flu(underscore)basic(underscore)faq.pdf
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
CDC Leery of Estimates About Swine Flu's Toll
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/08/26/health/AP-US-MED-Swine-Flu.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print
Filed at 4:38 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Government health officials are urging people not to panic over estimates of 90,000 people dying from swine flu this fall.
''Everything we've seen in the U.S. and everything we've seen around the world suggests we won't see that kind of number if the virus doesn't change,'' Dr. Thomas Frieden, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a C-SPAN interview taped Wednesday.
While the swine flu seems quite easy to catch, it so far hasn't been more deadly than the flu strains seen every fall and winter -- many people have only mild illness. And close genetic tracking of the new virus as it circled the globe over the last five months so far has shown no sign that it's mutating to become more virulent.
Still, the CDC has been preparing for a worst-case flu season as a precaution -- in July working from an estimate slightly more grim than one that made headlines this week -- to make sure that if the virus suddenly worsened or vaccination plans fell through, health authorities would know how to react.
On Monday the White House released a report from a group of presidential advisers that included a scenario where anywhere from 30 percent to half of the population could catch what doctors call the ''2009 H1N1'' flu, and death possibilities ranged from 30,000 to 90,000. In a regular flu season, up to 20 percent of the population is infected and 36,000 die.
''We don't think that's the most likely scenario,'' CDC flu specialist Dr. Anne Schuchat said of the presidential advisers' high-end tally.
What's really expected this year? CDC won't speculate, finding a numbers game pointless as it tries to balance getting a largely complacent public to listen to its flu instructions without hyping the threat.
Along with how the virus itself continues to act, the ultimate toll depends on such things as vaccinations beginning as planned -- currently set for mid-October -- and whether the people who need them most get them. CDC also is working to help hospitals keep the not-so-sick from crowding emergency rooms and to properly target anti-flu drugs to the most vulnerable.
What is likely: A busy flu season that starts earlier than usual, Schuchat told The Associated Press. This new H1N1 strain never went away over the summer, infecting children at summer camps in particular. Already clusters of illnesses are being reported at some schools and colleges around the country,
Filed at 4:38 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Government health officials are urging people not to panic over estimates of 90,000 people dying from swine flu this fall.
''Everything we've seen in the U.S. and everything we've seen around the world suggests we won't see that kind of number if the virus doesn't change,'' Dr. Thomas Frieden, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a C-SPAN interview taped Wednesday.
While the swine flu seems quite easy to catch, it so far hasn't been more deadly than the flu strains seen every fall and winter -- many people have only mild illness. And close genetic tracking of the new virus as it circled the globe over the last five months so far has shown no sign that it's mutating to become more virulent.
Still, the CDC has been preparing for a worst-case flu season as a precaution -- in July working from an estimate slightly more grim than one that made headlines this week -- to make sure that if the virus suddenly worsened or vaccination plans fell through, health authorities would know how to react.
On Monday the White House released a report from a group of presidential advisers that included a scenario where anywhere from 30 percent to half of the population could catch what doctors call the ''2009 H1N1'' flu, and death possibilities ranged from 30,000 to 90,000. In a regular flu season, up to 20 percent of the population is infected and 36,000 die.
''We don't think that's the most likely scenario,'' CDC flu specialist Dr. Anne Schuchat said of the presidential advisers' high-end tally.
What's really expected this year? CDC won't speculate, finding a numbers game pointless as it tries to balance getting a largely complacent public to listen to its flu instructions without hyping the threat.
Along with how the virus itself continues to act, the ultimate toll depends on such things as vaccinations beginning as planned -- currently set for mid-October -- and whether the people who need them most get them. CDC also is working to help hospitals keep the not-so-sick from crowding emergency rooms and to properly target anti-flu drugs to the most vulnerable.
What is likely: A busy flu season that starts earlier than usual, Schuchat told The Associated Press. This new H1N1 strain never went away over the summer, infecting children at summer camps in particular. Already clusters of illnesses are being reported at some schools and colleges around the country,
Monday, August 24, 2009
H1N1 Swine Flu
H1N1 or what most of us know as the Swine Flu can be very serious. It is a different strain than we normally have and affects a different age group (6 - 49) mostly. Flu is unpredictable in nature but prevention is always the best line of defense.
Oregon Emergency Management wants you to take this seriously, however we want to give you some information that may relieve your minds and help you to get through this season safely.
First - get your regular seasonal flu shot. This is not for H1N1 but will cover you for 3 other strains that may show up this winter. There is no better proven method than to get vaccinated.
Next, if you are in the at risk group for H1N1, you will need to get 2 shots a few weeks apart. Information can be found at http://www.flu.oregon.gov/ on who will be the priority groups for those shots.
The flu is a set of symtoms: respiratory, fever, headache, cough, sore throat, muscle aches. It can put you in bed for 7 - 10 days and the cough and fatique can last for a month or more.
Incubation of the flu is 1-3 days. You can spread it before you know you have it. Wash your hands, keep your distance.
The flu is spread by droplets. H1N1 has large, heavy droplets that fall to the ground within 3 feet. The droplets are also larger than normal. So - keep your distance, cover your cough with you sleeve or as my mom taught me - cough and sneeze down into your shirt.
Why should we worry about H1N1 when we have flu every year? First - it has rapidly spread already so is out there. Second, it affects younger people (under 50) which is unusual and lastly its severity is difficult to predict. Most deaths have been in the 25 to 49 age group. Seasonal flu affects the elderly, the very young and those with compromised immune systems.
H1N1 could fizzle out and not be a problem or it could be severe and last for 1 or 2 years. We just don't know.
Currently, there are more cases than normal across the world in 170 countries. The vaccine should be available shortly.
Dr Goldberg, Director Oregon Dept. of Human Services says preparedness is a team sport.
but the best I've heard is from Gen. Caldwell of the Oregon Military Dept. He says if it's wet and it's not yours, don't touch it.
Please be careful. Let's nip this in the bud by keeping our distance, washing our hands regularly and using antibacterial waterless hand cleanser, COVER your cough. If you don't feel well, stay home! We can help stop the spread if we all work together. Thanks
Oregon Emergency Management wants you to take this seriously, however we want to give you some information that may relieve your minds and help you to get through this season safely.
First - get your regular seasonal flu shot. This is not for H1N1 but will cover you for 3 other strains that may show up this winter. There is no better proven method than to get vaccinated.
Next, if you are in the at risk group for H1N1, you will need to get 2 shots a few weeks apart. Information can be found at http://www.flu.oregon.gov/ on who will be the priority groups for those shots.
The flu is a set of symtoms: respiratory, fever, headache, cough, sore throat, muscle aches. It can put you in bed for 7 - 10 days and the cough and fatique can last for a month or more.
Incubation of the flu is 1-3 days. You can spread it before you know you have it. Wash your hands, keep your distance.
The flu is spread by droplets. H1N1 has large, heavy droplets that fall to the ground within 3 feet. The droplets are also larger than normal. So - keep your distance, cover your cough with you sleeve or as my mom taught me - cough and sneeze down into your shirt.
Why should we worry about H1N1 when we have flu every year? First - it has rapidly spread already so is out there. Second, it affects younger people (under 50) which is unusual and lastly its severity is difficult to predict. Most deaths have been in the 25 to 49 age group. Seasonal flu affects the elderly, the very young and those with compromised immune systems.
H1N1 could fizzle out and not be a problem or it could be severe and last for 1 or 2 years. We just don't know.
Currently, there are more cases than normal across the world in 170 countries. The vaccine should be available shortly.
Dr Goldberg, Director Oregon Dept. of Human Services says preparedness is a team sport.
but the best I've heard is from Gen. Caldwell of the Oregon Military Dept. He says if it's wet and it's not yours, don't touch it.
Please be careful. Let's nip this in the bud by keeping our distance, washing our hands regularly and using antibacterial waterless hand cleanser, COVER your cough. If you don't feel well, stay home! We can help stop the spread if we all work together. Thanks
Friday, August 21, 2009
Oregon Preparing for H1N1
Today there was a statewide summit by Governor Kulongsoki about the H1N1 threat to the state of Oregon. More than 800 people attended from private and public sectors, including representatives from schools, hospitals, businesses, state and county emergency managers, and more.
The H1N1 flu has caused almost 500 deaths in the United States since it was discovered in March, including 11 people from Oregon. The Governor asked that every Oregonian be ready to take care of themselves and their families in case the flu gets worse as flu season starts.
The worst case scenario might be that 1 or 2 out of every 5 Oregonians could be sickened by the flu. In this case the Governor urges that if you are sick that you stay at home to prevent spreading the flu. Symptoms of the H1N1 flu are similar to the seasonal flu: high fever, cough, sore throat, chills, body aches, and fatigue. Symptoms can range from mild to severe depending upon your age, health, and other factors.
For more information, http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Statesman Journal Column May 20
Businesses must plan for sick workers
Be prepared and know what to do when staffers are unable to come to work
Jennifer Bailey
Has anyone in your company been sick this year? Have employees had to stay home with sick children? Have employees come to work sick and spread germs to others just because you didn't have any other way to stay in business?
When we think of disasters, we usually think of flooding or winter storms. The recent flu scare was a bit of a wake-up call to some. Sick employees can be a disaster that will cause businesses to suffer, and in this economy most can't afford to be closed even one day.
Previously, we have discussed what small businesses can do to stay in business immediately after a big storm, stressing the importance of having a Continuity of Operations Plan. If your business does not have such a plan, you may find yourself floundering when your employees call in sick.
To make sure your business continues running smoothly with fewer employees, include a section of information in your Continuity of Operations Plan that addresses this issue. When you write your epidemic Continuity of Operations Plan, a few questions that need to be answered are:
-Who will be in charge, and who will take over if that person is not available?
-Who can work from home?
-Which staffers, materials, procedures and equipment are absolutely necessary to keep the business operating?
-Do you have an emergency fund to get through tough times?
-How can you provide good customer service and meet deadlines with fewer employees?
More information about Continuity of Operations Plan plans is available on the Internet, and Oregon Emergency Management would also be happy to assist. Planning ahead can save you money.
Jennifer Bailey, formerly of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is the Public Affairs Coordinator of Oregon Emergency Management. She may be reached at (503) 378-2911, Ext. 22294, or jbailey@oem.state.or.us.
Additional Facts
Learn more
Please send questions about emergency preparedness to be answered in this column to jbailey@oem.state.or.us. Other information may be found at www.oregon.gov/omd/oem or www.fema.gov.
Be prepared and know what to do when staffers are unable to come to work
Jennifer Bailey
Has anyone in your company been sick this year? Have employees had to stay home with sick children? Have employees come to work sick and spread germs to others just because you didn't have any other way to stay in business?
When we think of disasters, we usually think of flooding or winter storms. The recent flu scare was a bit of a wake-up call to some. Sick employees can be a disaster that will cause businesses to suffer, and in this economy most can't afford to be closed even one day.
Previously, we have discussed what small businesses can do to stay in business immediately after a big storm, stressing the importance of having a Continuity of Operations Plan. If your business does not have such a plan, you may find yourself floundering when your employees call in sick.
To make sure your business continues running smoothly with fewer employees, include a section of information in your Continuity of Operations Plan that addresses this issue. When you write your epidemic Continuity of Operations Plan, a few questions that need to be answered are:
-Who will be in charge, and who will take over if that person is not available?
-Who can work from home?
-Which staffers, materials, procedures and equipment are absolutely necessary to keep the business operating?
-Do you have an emergency fund to get through tough times?
-How can you provide good customer service and meet deadlines with fewer employees?
More information about Continuity of Operations Plan plans is available on the Internet, and Oregon Emergency Management would also be happy to assist. Planning ahead can save you money.
Jennifer Bailey, formerly of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is the Public Affairs Coordinator of Oregon Emergency Management. She may be reached at (503) 378-2911, Ext. 22294, or jbailey@oem.state.or.us.
Additional Facts
Learn more
Please send questions about emergency preparedness to be answered in this column to jbailey@oem.state.or.us. Other information may be found at www.oregon.gov/omd/oem or www.fema.gov.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Prevention & Treatment Of H1N1 (Swine Flu)
What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against this new H1N1 virus. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza.
Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- Stay home if you are sick for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.
Other important actions that you can take are:
- Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
- Be prepared in case you get sick and need to stay home for a week or so; a supply of over-the-counter medicines, alcohol-based hand rubs, tissues and other related items might could be useful and help avoid the need to make trips out in public while you are sick and contagious.
What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?
If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. If you are sick, stay home for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.
What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. CDC recommends that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.
What should I do if I get sick?
If you live in areas where people have been identified with new H1N1 flu and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people, except to seek medical care.
If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact your health care provider or seek medical care. Your health care provider will determine whether flu testing or treatment is needed
If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.
In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
- Fast breathing or trouble breathing
- Bluish or gray skin color
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Not waking up or not interacting
- Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Are there medicines to treat infection with this new virus?
Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with the new H1N1 flu virus. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. During the current outbreak, the priority use for influenza antiviral drugs during is to treat severe influenza illness.
Contamination & Cleaning
How long can influenza virus remain viable on objects (such as books and doorknobs)?
Studies have shown that influenza virus can survive on environmental surfaces and can infect a person for up to 2-8 hours after being deposited on the surface.
What kills influenza virus?
Influenza virus is destroyed by heat (167-212°F [75-100°C]). In addition, several chemical germicides, including chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, detergents (soap), iodophors (iodine-based antiseptics), and alcohols are effective against human influenza viruses if used in proper concentration for a sufficient length of time. For example, wipes or gels with alcohol in them can be used to clean hands. The gels should be rubbed into hands until they are dry.
What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?
Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. Germs can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk, for example, and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.
How should waste disposal be handled to prevent the spread of influenza virus?
To prevent the spread of influenza virus, it is recommended that tissues and other disposable items used by an infected person be thrown in the trash. Additionally, persons should wash their hands with soap and water after touching used tissues and similar waste.
How long can influenza virus remain viable on objects (such as books and doorknobs)?
Studies have shown that influenza virus can survive on environmental surfaces and can infect a person for up to 2-8 hours after being deposited on the surface.
What kills influenza virus?
Influenza virus is destroyed by heat (167-212°F [75-100°C]). In addition, several chemical germicides, including chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, detergents (soap), iodophors (iodine-based antiseptics), and alcohols are effective against human influenza viruses if used in proper concentration for a sufficient length of time. For example, wipes or gels with alcohol in them can be used to clean hands. The gels should be rubbed into hands until they are dry.
How should waste disposal be handled to prevent the spread of influenza virus?
To prevent the spread of influenza virus, it is recommended that tissues and other disposable items used by an infected person be thrown in the trash. Additionally, persons should wash their hands with soap and water after touching used tissues and similar waste.
What household cleaning should be done to prevent the spread of influenza virus?
To prevent the spread of influenza virus it is important to keep surfaces (especially bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, kitchen counters and toys for children) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.
How should linens, eating utensils and dishes of persons infected with influenza virus be handled?
Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick do not need to be cleaned separately, but importantly these items should not be shared without washing thoroughly first. Linens (such as bed sheets and towels) should be washed by using household laundry soap and tumbled dry on a hot setting. Individuals should avoid “hugging” laundry prior to washing it to prevent contaminating themselves. Individuals should wash their hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub immediately after handling dirty laundry. Eating utensils should be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with water and soap.
This information and more can be found at http://www.dhs.gov/xprepresp/
Thursday, April 30, 2009
FIRST PROBABLE SWINE FLU CASE REPORTED IN OREGON
The following press release was issued by DHS:
Oregon’s first probable case of swine flu was identified late Wednesday following testing by the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory. The Oregon Public Health Department will hold a news briefing at the Portland State Office Building at 11:30 this morning.
The probable case was in a Multnomah County adult female who consulted her physician after experiencing flu-like symptoms,” according to Dr. Mel Kohn, head of the Oregon Public Health Department. The woman, who was not hospitalized and is recovering normally, had contact with someone who had recently traveled to Mexico and been exposed to the swine flu there, he said.
The specimen from this case was sent to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further characterization, with final results of testing expected in several days.
“It is very likely that this test will be confirmed by the final step of laboratory testing,” Kohn said. “So we are not waiting – we are treating this as a case of swine flu.”
This case is identified as probable, rather than confirmed, because the final step of testing has not yet been performed. However, she did test positive with non-typeable Influenza A. Results from the tests done so far by the CDC indicate that more than 95 percent of cases with this test result will ultimately test positive for the swine flu once the final step of testing is finished.
Portland metro area health departments are investigating the situation to identify who may have been exposed to this case, and to slow further transmission.
“Our first priorities are to provide information to people to help them protect themselves and to slow the spread of this new strain of flu virus,” said Dr. Gary Oxman, health officer for Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties.
State and local health departments continue to operate at high alert. The state public health lab continues to receive new cultures from health care providers. So far the other cases have tested negative for flu, but Dr. Kohn said it is likely that there will be additional cases in the future.
“We have expected to see a case in Oregon and the public health system is responding well,” Dr. Kohn said. “Oregon’s state and local public health officials are working together and with federal officials to slow spread of the disease and to continue to protect the public.
“I know Oregonians are concerned and want to know what they can do to protect themselves and their families,” said Dr. Kohn. “This doesn’t change our advice – wash your hands, cover your cough and if you are sick stay home.”
He said these are actions people can take to prevent the spread of the flu:
· Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners also are effective.
· Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve, not with your hand;
· Stay home if you are sick;
· Try to avoid contact with people who are ill; and
· Practice other good health habits such as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, getting sufficient rest and not smoking.
The Oregon Public Health website www.flu.oregon.gov is updated regularly to provide information such as how to identify swine flu, prevent its spread as well as materials that employers, medical providers, schools, parents and others may use.
Swine flu is a respiratory disease in pigs whose spread to human has been historically rare in the U.S. Its symptoms are similar to those in normal seasonal influenza such as fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing, sometimes accompanied by runny nose, sore threat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Eating pork that has been properly handled and cooked will not transmit the virus.
Monday, April 27, 2009
SWINE FLU OUTBREAK HAS NOT YET REACHED OREGON
HHS Declares Public Health Emergency for Swine Flu
The Department of Health and Human Services today issued a nationwide public health emergency declaration in response to recent human infections with a newly discovered swine influenza A (swine flu) virus.
The formal declaration of a Public Health Emergency (PHE) is a tool that facilitates HHS’ preparation and mobilization for disasters and emergencies. For example, PHEs were recently declared for flooding in North Dakota, the Inauguration, and several 2008 hurricanes.
Today’s declaration, made under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, will help HHS prepare for prevention and mitigation activities by enabling Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use authorizations of drugs, devices, or medical tests under certain circumstances.
Specifically, today’s PHE will enable the FDA to review and issue emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for the use of certain laboratory tests to help detect the newly discovered strain of influenza and for the emergency use of certain antivirals.
“HHS is taking these steps today to be proactive in responding to this new influenza virus by offering national tools in support of community-led preparedness and response efforts,” Acting HHS Secretary Charles Johnson said. “The declaration allows us the flexibility, while we learn more about the virus and its impact in the United States, to take additional steps to fully mobilize our prevention, treatment and mitigation capabilities should those actions become necessary.”
In addition to the declaration, HHS leaders are working together across operating divisions to coordinate response to the swine flu outbreak. For example, the FDA, the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working together to develop a vaccine precursor that could be used to develop a vaccine for this swine flu virus.
To date, there have been 20 confirmed cases of swine Influenza A (swH1N1) in California, Texas, Kansas, New York, and Ohio. No deaths in the U.S. have been reported due to the illness. Additional cases of the virus have been confirmed in Mexico and Canada.
Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza among pigs. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans; however, human infections with swine flu do occur, and cases of human-to-human spread of swine flu viruses have been documented.
The public health emergency declaration is available at www.hhs.gov/secretary/phe_swh1n1mhtml. For information on swine flu, visit www.cdc.gov/swineflu.
The Department of Health and Human Services today issued a nationwide public health emergency declaration in response to recent human infections with a newly discovered swine influenza A (swine flu) virus.
The formal declaration of a Public Health Emergency (PHE) is a tool that facilitates HHS’ preparation and mobilization for disasters and emergencies. For example, PHEs were recently declared for flooding in North Dakota, the Inauguration, and several 2008 hurricanes.
Today’s declaration, made under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, will help HHS prepare for prevention and mitigation activities by enabling Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use authorizations of drugs, devices, or medical tests under certain circumstances.
Specifically, today’s PHE will enable the FDA to review and issue emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for the use of certain laboratory tests to help detect the newly discovered strain of influenza and for the emergency use of certain antivirals.
“HHS is taking these steps today to be proactive in responding to this new influenza virus by offering national tools in support of community-led preparedness and response efforts,” Acting HHS Secretary Charles Johnson said. “The declaration allows us the flexibility, while we learn more about the virus and its impact in the United States, to take additional steps to fully mobilize our prevention, treatment and mitigation capabilities should those actions become necessary.”
In addition to the declaration, HHS leaders are working together across operating divisions to coordinate response to the swine flu outbreak. For example, the FDA, the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working together to develop a vaccine precursor that could be used to develop a vaccine for this swine flu virus.
To date, there have been 20 confirmed cases of swine Influenza A (swH1N1) in California, Texas, Kansas, New York, and Ohio. No deaths in the U.S. have been reported due to the illness. Additional cases of the virus have been confirmed in Mexico and Canada.
Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza among pigs. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans; however, human infections with swine flu do occur, and cases of human-to-human spread of swine flu viruses have been documented.
The public health emergency declaration is available at www.hhs.gov/secretary/phe_swh1n1mhtml. For information on swine flu, visit www.cdc.gov/swineflu.
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