Health agencies prepare for flu
Monday, April 27, 2009
Emporia health-care agencies are taking the appearance of the swine flu virus in Kansas seriously.
On Sunday, Janet Napolitano, secretary of Homeland Security, declared a national public health emergency to allow federal state and local agencies to take precautions in case of a wider outbreak of the disease.
Renee Hively, public health manager for the Flint Hills Community Health Center and Betty Murrell, interim executive director of the health center, said the center has increased surveillance looking for signs of the virus and this morning was in the process of informing school nurses and private physicians of the Kansas cases. School nurses have been asked to report any clusters of illness. Newman Regional Health has been notified as well.
In a press release this morning, Newman Regional Health said it is working closely with local and state public-health agencies.
The hospital has seen no cases of swine flu, but is taking necessary precautions, including isolation of patients who show flu-like symptoms. Patients with symptoms are wearing surgical masks while their symptoms are being evaluated.
The health center also is working closely with Lyon County Emergency Management and the seven-county regional health partners.
“This is a different kind of preparedness because there’s no vaccine for this,” Hively said.
Two cases of swine flu have officially been documented in Kansas. Both cases are within the same Dickinson County family, according to a press release from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Neither of the patients has been hospitalized, according to the press release. One of the patients traveled to Mexico, flying in and out of Wichita. Both people live in the same home and work in Saline County and have the same strain of swine flu — H1N1. This strain has been identified in Mexico, California and Texas.
“It’s not yet known whether this will become the next flu pandemic,” said Jason Eberhart-Phillips, state health officer and director of the KDHE Division of Health. “We are working closely with health agencies at all levels and are continuing to monitor these cases. We are taking this situation very seriously.”
The Centers for Disease Control has sent out Tamiflu to states that have documented active cases. Local health-care services will be able to tap into those stocks if needed.
Hively said the public should not panic about swine flu.
“We’re only seeing a few cases in the United States,” Hively said.
Murrell added that it’s important for the public to keep informed and take precautions, such as washing their hands.
“Stay home if you’re not feeling well,” she added.
Eberhart-Phillips, Kansas state health officer, has issued a list of things people should know about swine flu. Quoting from his news release:
• This is a new virus never before recognized in the United States or anywhere in the world. The new virus contains genetic pieces from flu viruses that infect pigs, birds and humans. It appears able to spread among humans like the familiar human flu viruses that circulate in our communities every winter. Because this virus is new, we believe that no one has natural immunity against it. Immunization with the seasonal flu vaccine is not likely to offer protection.
• Disease caused by the swine flu virus appears to be mild so far. Among the confirmed cases in the United States, only one has required hospitalization. All have recovered, or are now showing signs of recovery. The ability of the virus to cause serious damage may change over time, or it may infect people who are less able to resist it effectively. There are reports of deaths associated with the swine flu infection in Mexico.
• The disease is present in Kansas. As of today, we are aware of two cases of swine flu in our state. One case followed a trip to Mexico. The other resulted from household contact with the returning traveler. State and local public health staff are currently working hard to identify additional cases and provide supporting laboratory work to characterize the extent of the outbreak in Kansas.
• Swine flu is treatable. While the new virus is resistant to certain anti-viral medications, at the moment it remains sensitive to others. To be maximally effective in shortening the length and severity of illness, these medications should be prescribed by a physician early in the course of the infection. As always, rest at home and drinking ample fluids is also essential for a complete recovery.
• Swine flu is preventable. While there is no vaccine that specifically protects against the new virus, everyday steps that prevent the spread of germs are effective in reducing the risk of catching the disease. This includes hand-washing and staying at least six feet away from people who are coughing and sneezing.
• We can beat this. Your state and local public health professionals together with Kansas health care providers, have been preparing and training for the arrival of a new flu virus for years. Working with colleagues at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we will monitor the activity of this new infectious agent and take all the necessary steps to curtail its spread. Your role in this is critical: to remain informed, to consult your health-care provider if you become ill and to follow the advice you receive on ways to protect your community.
ON THE NET:
Kansas Department of Health: www.kdheks.gov.
Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov.
To prevent exposure
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitize to get rid of most germs.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
• Stay home when you are sick and avoid spreading the illness to co-workers and friends.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or tissue and properly dispose of used tissues.
• Stay healthy by eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and getting adequate rest and exercise.
methusla (anonymous) says...
More info from the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION !
INTERACTIVE
Phases of a pandemic
The World Health Organization has categorized pandemics into six phases and two post-pandemic periods.
The WHO raised the alert level to phase 4, meaning there is sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus causing outbreaks in at least one country.
Its alert system was revised after bird flu in Asia began to spread in 2004, and Monday was the first time it was raised above phase 3.
Too late for containment
"At this time, containment is not a feasible option," as the virus has already spread to several other countries, said WHO Assistant Director-General Keiji Fukuda.
Putting an alert at phases 4 or 5 signals that the virus is becoming increasingly adept at spreading among humans. That move could lead governments to set trade, travel and other restrictions aimed at limiting its spread.
Phase 6 is for a full-blown pandemic, characterized by outbreaks in at least two regions of the world.
It could take four to six months before the first batch of vaccines are available to fight the virus, WHO officials said.
April 27, 2009 at 10:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
More info from CDC !
What You Can Do to Stay Healthy
There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.
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 hands cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
I would personally suggest that you purchase a pack of take-along personal packages of alcohol-based or antiseptic, disposable hand wipes to wipe your hands, shopping cart handles, etc., just to be on the cautious and safe side.
I would strongly urge all merchants to make available containers of antisepetic, anti-bacterial, antiseptic hand wipes available to their customers to wipe their hands, shopping carts, etc. and provide waste recepticles to deposit used wipes in, to help protect their customers and employees from this health threat !
April 27, 2009 at 10:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
etowngal (anonymous) says...
Observation-
Have you not heard the saying "Cough into your elbow, sneeze into your sleeve"?
By coughing or sneezing into fabric such as your sleeve, many of the microorganisms (good old "germs") do not fair well on fabric and die. Hospitals, schools, and other public places are teaching & encouraging this practice to prevent the spread of germs. Check out this video produced by infectious disease doctors in Maine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wju7F5...
April 29, 2009 at 10:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )