Tips for Flu Season

As school bells start to ring, we must all be ready to face the challenges the upcoming flu season brings. Influenza (flu) is a respiratory virus that kills 36,000 Americans each year. To complicate matters, H1N1 is a new flu strain that has continued to circulate through the summer months. As this is a brand-new virus, we are also all susceptible.

Rough estimates predict that through this upcoming flu season, H1N1 may infect up to 40% of us. Below are some things you can do to help decrease your risk and that of your family.

Hand hygiene (washing)

 - 15-second soap and water wash
 - Alcohol hand sanitizer

Respiratory etiquette
 - Use your elbow to cover your cough or sneeze (not your hands)
 - Discard tissues quickly and in appropriate trash receptacles
 - Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose, as germs spread this way
 - Keep at least 3 feet of space between yourself and someone who is coughing and sneezing
 - If you are ill, stay away from public gatherings, social events, and work
 - If your children are ill, keep them home from school and away from public gatherings and social events

Receive regular seasonal flu vaccines
 - If you are immune to a disease, you can’t get it!
 - Receive your vaccination early; by most reports, we can expect seasonal flu vaccine in late September
 - Make sure your children are vaccinated. Children are often the most vulnerable.

Receive the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available
 - Expected in late fall
 - Will require 2 doses at least 3 weeks apart
 - Direct patient care providers and high-risk employees will receive first round

The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended that when vaccine becomes available, immunization programs and providers should focus first on vaccinating as many people as possible in the following five groups:

·         pregnant women,

·         people who live with or provide care for children younger than 6 months of age,

·         health care and emergency medical services personnel,

·         people between six months through 24 years of age, and

·         people from the ages of 25 through 64 who are at higher risk because of chronic health disorders such as asthma, diabetes, or a weakened immune system.

These groups total approximately 159 million people in the United States.

Once the demand for vaccine for these groups has been met, the next group to be vaccinated includes everyone from the ages of 25 through 64 years. Unlike seasonal flu, people 65 or older appear to be less at risk of infection with the 2009 H1N1 virus than younger people. However, once vaccine demand among younger age groups has been met, programs and providers should offer vaccination to people 65 or older.

The 2009 H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace seasonal flu vaccine. It is an additional influenza vaccine for this influenza season. Many people will be encouraged to get both vaccines. So the best advice is: get the seasonal flu vaccine as soon as it is available in your community, and if you are in one of the recommended groups, get the 2009 H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available.

And remember that in addition to vaccination, there are other actions everyone should take to help prevent the spread of flu. People who become severely ill or have a medical condition that places them at high risk for flu-related complications and develop flu-like symptoms, including fever or chills and cough or sore throat, should consult with a health-care provider. They might need to be treated with influenza antiviral medicines. High-risk medical conditions include asthma, diabetes, or heart and lung disease.

Be an Advocate for Public Health
 - Share these best practices to your friends and family
 - Donate tissues and alcohol hand sanitizer to your child’s classroom
 - Discuss with friends and family the importance of influenza vaccination
 - Practice what you preach by always reducing the risk of germ spread by washing your hands

Together, we can limit the impact that H1N1 will have on our families, friends, patients and church.

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

• Stay informed. Check the Web site for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person—through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
• Take everyday actions 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.
  • Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to avoid infecting them.
• Follow public health advice regarding school closures and avoiding crowds.
• Find healthy ways to deal with stress and anxiety.

Call 1-800-CDC-INFO for more information.

Helpful resources:

http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu/