Normally at this time of year, I would write that flu season is approaching. But this year, flu season never left. That’s because we are in the middle of a pandemic – a worldwide spread of a new flu virus known as H1N1 flu or swine flu. On top of it, seasonal flu will be circulating in our community soon. This flu season is more challenging than any in recent years. So we need to work together in our community. Here’s why:The presence of H1N1 flu is expected to mean more sick people: In any given year, public health experts expect perhaps one in five Americans to get seasonal flu. Preventing seasonal flu with vaccination clearly makes a difference. But this year, in addition to those who will get sick with seasonal flu, we expect a greater proportion of our population to get sick with H1N1 flu. Estimates vary on how many people will get sick, but it makes sense more will get sick because H1N1 is a new virus and many people have little or no immunity to it. We expect that most people will be able to recover at home. Demand for health care providers and hospital care is expected to increase, and the Health Department is assisting local hospitals, health care providers and others as they prepare to meet the additional need.Prepare for impacts on daily life: If a larger number of individuals get sick than in previous years, there clearly will be impacts on daily life – school, child care, work, gatherings. The public needs to follow prevention guidance and stay home if sick, which could mean at certain times business needs to continue with fewer employees, schools need to continue with fewer students and/or teachers, and the like. One of our responsibilities at the Health Department is providing technical assistance to various sectors of our community – businesses, schools, and churches – to help them protect their employees, students and members. For many years, the Health Department has been planning and preparing for this kind of emergency with the city and the county, and those efforts have been stepped up.Vaccination is the next step: Vaccination against seasonal flu became available in early September throughout the county. I hope you’ve already had your shot, but if you haven’t, contact your health care provider or visit our Web site for more information. Also, many grocery stores and pharmacies are offering seasonal flu shots on a walk-in basis. It is very important that you get protection against seasonal flu.H1N1 flu: When H1N1 flu shots become available later this fall, you need to be alert for our guidance on who is most at risk for H1N1 flu; and, therefore, who should get their H1N1 shots first. Current data indicates that those at greatest risk for severe complications from H1N1 flu are pregnant women, children, adults under age 25 and people under age 65 with chronic medical conditions. Vaccine guidance may change, depending on the vaccine supply, demand and distribution. The federal government has designated the Health Department as the local coordinator of how the H1N1 vaccine is distributed and administered. We take that responsibility very seriously. So again, please stay tuned for guidance.As you get your seasonal flu shot and stay tuned for information about H1N1 shots, take simple but important steps to protect yourself, your family and your community:
- Wash your hands frequently and correctly. Cover your cough. Flu spreads when sick people cough and sneeze.
- Stay home and keep others home if they have a fever and/or cough or other respiratory symptoms. Do not return to school, work or other activities outside the home until at least 24 hours after fever is gone without fever-reducing medicine.
- Talk to your medical provider if you or your children have underlying medical conditions and ask what you should do if you develop flu symptoms.
- Prepare medicine and food supplies, along with books, games and other materials so it’s easier for you to stay home when sick.
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Body aches
- Headaches
- Extreme tiredness
- Sometimes, diarrhea and vomiting
