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Influenza/H1N1 Press Release September 30, 2009
H1N1 has been reclassified into the category of seasonal flu by the Ohio Department of Health. Ninety-nine percent of the Influenza like illnesses reported will be H1N1 which is circulating all over the world at the present time. The traditional flu season peaks around February in the USA. We expect to see an earlier surge this year because the virus occurred last spring and really never went away and spread into a pandemic world wide.
This strain generally affects the younger patient population rather than the older. The older patient population has been exposed to similar viral infections in the past and may have some protective immunity.
A vaccine will soon be available for H1N1. The priority group is pregnant women. The vaccine will also be given to ages six months to sixty-four years old. Children under six months of age are not eligible because of safety factors.
For now, you should consider taking the seasonal flu vaccine which cover strains that occur in the winter months ahead. We also recommend the pneumonia vaccine (pneumococcal) to prevent certain strains of pneumonia which is a major complication of the flu.
In Ohio, testing to confirm H1N1 will occur only if you are sick enough to be hospitalized with influenza like illness and pneumonia. This rapid influenza testing that may be done in different states is specific only for Influenza A and not specific for H1N1. Fortunately, Tamiflu and Relenza are effective against Influenza A thus far.
We are now hearing around our community and adjacent counties of isolated cases occuring as expected.
Peggy Burton, Health Commissioner for the Portsmouth City Health Department, suggests that you protect yourself, your family, and your community by:
* Staying informed
* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If no tissue is available, cough or sneeze into your elbow
*Wash hands often with soap adn warm water for at least 20 seconds. Alcohol based hand cleaners are also effective
*Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
*If you are sick with a flu-like illness, stay home for seven days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom free for twenty-four hours, whichever is longer, except to seek medical care or other necessities.
For further updated information on H1N1, you can monitor the following sites:
portsmouthhd (Twitter and Tweetie on cell phones and computers)
If you should require more information, please contact the Portsmouth City Health Department (740-353-5153) or the Scioto County Health Department (740-354-3241).