By Brandy Nance
nance@emporiagazette.com
Combating both the H1N1 flu and seasonal flu this year will take a change in mindset in schools, workplaces and the public.
That was one of the messages conveyed at a conference aimed at educating the health-care industry, law enforcement, schools and employers about the flu this year. Flint Hills Community Health Center employees Ann Mayo, Lyon County health officer; Renee Hively, public health manager; and Carrie Boettcher, public health emergency preparedness coordinator, all attended the meeting in Topeka recently, which had presenters from several areas that included health care, industries, schools and Homeland Security.
Schools and employers must make sure students and workers are able to stay home until their fever is gone for 24 hours without the help of medication, the group said. The public must do its part to prevent the spread of flu such as good hand washing and sneezing or coughing into their sleeves. The flu is spread through respiratory droplets and can be spread 3 to 6 feet every time somebody sneezes or coughs. Droplets can survive from several hours to up to two to three days.
Another change in mindset is vaccinations. The Centers for Disease Control is recommending people get seasonal flu vaccinations earlier this year instead of waiting until later in the year. Hively said the vaccination will still protect the individual for the entire influenza season.
Preparedness
Mayo said one of the focuses of the conference was how to manage the flu in schools, where the younger population spends a majority of its time. This is where preparedness comes in.
Preparedness for a pandemic such as the H1N1 flu has been ongoing for several years, Mayo said. Mayo said a pandemic is declared when an illness crosses the boundaries of countries, not necessarily being more deadly.
As part of preparedness, the Lyon County Health Department is working with schools and businesses in the area. The health department is prepared to take flu vaccinations to schools and businesses if needed.
Boettcher said all three school districts in Lyon County have been preparing ahead of time for the flu by planning how to inform parents and other contingency plans.
Nancy Horst of the Emporia School District said the school district will cooperate with the Lyon County Health Department in the event of a mass vaccination event.
“Details are very limited,” Horst said, “but if there is mass vaccination, we will definitely be involved.”
Business preparedness is encouraged as well, Mayo said. This includes preparing for multiple workers being out ill and ways to prevent the spread of flu.
Vaccinations
According to information from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the seasonal flu vaccine will not protect against the H1N1 flu because the H1N1 Influenza A Pandemic strain hasn’t been seen before. Separate vaccinations are required.
Information regarding the availability of vaccinations is fluid, changing frequently. Seasonal flu vaccinations will be available early this year. H1N1 vaccines aren’t expected until the middle of October on a limited basis at first. About 45 million doses nationwide are expected to be released in October, 80 million in November and then every week thereafter at an unknown number, Mayo said.
Those in the priority groups for H1N1 vaccinations will be pregnant women, household contacts and caregivers of infants 6 months of age, all children and young adults ages 6 months to 24 years, health care personnel and people 25 to 64 years old with high-risk medical conditions. Ages 65 and older aren’t in that target population because few people from that age range are being infected with the H1N1 flu.
How to prevent
the spread of flu
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to get rid of most germs.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick to avoid spreading illness to co-workers and friends.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and properly dispose of used tissues.
• Stay healthy by eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and getting adequate rest and exercise.
Source: Kansas Department of Health and Environment