Small Town News

Prepare for the season of flus

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Get shot and keep your hands to yourself

As sure as winter follows fall, the flu season cometh. And this year we all need to prepare for a double whammy -- seasonal influenza viruses and the 2009 H1N1 virus.

Flu is unpredictable and it's hard to say what the season will be like, but preparation is important, according to Kandi Koll, Health Services of Lyon County director.

"It's important the community be prepared," she urged. "It will take effort from everyone to slow the spread of these illnesses."

It's also important to know that while the word "pandemic" will be used when talking about H1N1, the classification will be due to the fast-paced spread of the virus rather than the severity of the illness.

Symptoms of H1N1

The symptoms of the H1N1 flu virus include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Severe illnesses and death have occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.

One thing that appears to be different from seasonal influenza is that adults older than 64 years do not yet appear to be at increased risk of novel HINl-related complications thus far.

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 your child(ren) becomes ill and experiences any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care:

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

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

Stop the spread

The H1N1 flu virus spreads the same way as seasonal flu. Viruses are spread by an ill person coughing or sneezing, or touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

People infected with seasonal and H1N1 flu viruses may be able to infect others from one day before getting sick to seven days after.

Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

Avoid contact with ill persons.

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.

"If you do get sick, stay home," urged Koll. "Don't go to work, don't go to the grocery store, don't go to church."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.

Be prepared

Employers should expect that there will be more people who are ill in the fall and winter as H1N1 outbreaks coincide with the seasonal influenza season, and this level of absenteeism may impact business operations.

"Families and businesses need to develop a plan so they're prepared," said Koll.

Families need to decide who stays home with ill children or who takes care of well children if their parents are sick.

Businesses need to be flexible in order to accommodate employees who are ill themselves or need to stay home with sick children.

"Maybe the employee can work at home or come in at different hours," suggested Koll. Tool kits for families and businesses are available at www.cdc.gov.

Vaccinations

Health Services of Lyon County will soon be scheduling seasonal flu vaccination clinics. But, the seasonal vaccination will not protect people from H1N1.

Specific vaccines against the H1N1 virus are currently being tested, and a licensed vaccine is expected to be available in the United States by mid-October. However, the initial supply of these vaccines might not be enough to meet the demand.

When the vaccine is first available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's advisory committee on immunization practices recommends that programs and providers administer vaccine to persons in the following five target groups:

Pregnant women Persons who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age (for example: parents, siblings and daycare providers)

Health care and emergency medical services personnel

Persons aged 6 months-24 years

Persons aged 25-64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.

Editor's note: Koll will provide more information to the public as seasonal flu vaccination clinics are scheduled and the H1N1 vaccination becomes available.



Copyright 2009 West Lyon Herald, Inwood, Iowa. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2009 West Lyon Herald Inwood, Iowa. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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