Flu Update

12/2/09 Update

As 2009 H1N1 influenza continues to spread, the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) has answered the need for actionable health information through partnerships with Google and county health departments.

ADHS has partnered with county health departments to create a statewide website, www.StopTheSpreadAZ.org, for the H1N1 response. Visitors can find flu shot locations by linking to the Google Flu Shot Finder, learn how to prevent flu spread, and find out what to do if they have flu-like symptoms. Arizonans without internet access can call the Arizona Flu Hotline, (877) 764-2670 to receive the same information.

The Google Flu Shot Finder is updated by ADHS with information reported by the counties on the locations, times and vaccine supply of public clinics and providers. A color code - red for seasonal flu and blue for H1N1 flu - helps users to tell the difference between the two vaccine categories.

"Our goal as a public health system is eliminate as many hurdles as we can so people can get the vaccine quickly and easily" said ADHS Interim Director Will Humble. "Shot Finder does that with a simple search of a ZIP code. People can find a clinic near their home, their work or their kids' school."

Along with using the Google Flu Shot Finder, the public should check with their health care provider, who can answer questions about the availability of and need for vaccines.

"Vaccination is the only way to positively not catch influenza" said Humble. "But, until your turn comes up to get the shot, everyone should be extra careful and use good old fashioned public health practices like hand washing."

Beyond getting vaccinated against seasonal flu and H1N1 flu, ADHS asks Arizonans to continue with the following habits:

Cover coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue or your elbow or sleeve;
Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer; and
Stay home if you are sick and limit contact with others.

For more information, visit www.StopTheSpreadAZ.org 

 

CGRMC Is Prepared for the Upcoming Flu Season – Are You?

Casa Grande Regional Medical Center (CGRMC) is prepared for the upcoming flu season, including the potential of a pandemic with seasonal or H1N1 flu virus.  We are recommending staff get protected by taking the seasonal flu vaccine--we exhausted our entire supply on staff and volunteers.  We are also now in coordination with the state to vaccinate our healthcare workers that are under the age of 49 against H1N1.  We are prepared to handle the patients that come in with flu symptoms in our Emergency Department and Urgent Care.  If we reach significant levels of flu patients, we have an emergency plan to utilize closed patient care areas to triage and treat patients to protect our other patients.  If you come into our Urgent Care or Emergency Department, you may be asked to wear a mask to protect those around you.  We have also been working to have patients see a Physician more quickly to get treatment started as soon as possible.

CGRMC is restricting children under age 14 from entering patient care areas throughout the facility.  This is to protect the children as well as to protect our patients.  Please help us maintain this by not bringing children with you when you come to visit patients at the hospital.  If you must bring children to the facility, please bring an adult with them to supervise them in the waiting area.

2009 H1N1 (sometimes called “Swine Flu”) is a new influenza virus that is spreading worldwide among people.  Because this virus is very different from current seasonal influenza viruses, many people will not have protective immunity against it and the seasonal flu vaccine will not protect against it either.

Influenza is unpredictable, but this flu season could be worse than recent years because of the 2009 H1N1 virus.  The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is preparing for an early flu season and expects both 2009 H1N1 and seasonal flu to cause illness, hospital stays and deaths this season.

Both 2009 H1N1 and Seasonal Flu are thought to be spread mostly from person to person through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick with the influenza.  People may also get sick by touching something with the flu viruses on it, and then touching their mouth or nose.

CGRMC, as well as all healthcare providers in the area, want to make sure you and your family are prepared as well.

 

#1:  Take time to get a flu vaccine.

  • The CDC recommends a yearly seasonal flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against seasonal influenza.
  • While there are many different flu viruses, the seasonal flu vaccine protects against the three seasonal viruses that research suggests will be most common this year.
  • Vaccination is especially important for people at high risk of serious flu complications, including young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older.
  • Seasonal flu vaccine also is important for health care workers, and other people who live with or care for high risk people to keep from making them sick.
  • A seasonal vaccine will not protect you against 2009 H1N1.
  • A new vaccine against 2009 H1N1 is becoming available, but it will be given first to those who are at greatest risk as determined by the CDC.  People at greatest risk for 2009 H1N1 infection include children, pregnant women, and people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease.
  • Ask your doctor if you should get a 2009 H1N1 vaccine.

 

#2:  Take everyday preventive actions.

  • 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. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way. 
  • Try to avoid close contact with sick people. 
  • If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) 
  • While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. 
  • Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other measures to keep our distance from each other to lessen the spread of flu.

 

#3:  Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor recommends them.

  • If you get seasonal or 2009 H1N1 flu, antiviral drugs can treat the flu.
  • Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. 
  • The priority use for antiviral drugs this season is to treat people who are very sick (hospitalized) or people who are sick with flu-like symptoms and who are at increased risk of serious flu complications, such as pregnant women, very young children, people 65 and older and anyone with certain chronic health conditions. (Most people have been able to recover at home from 2009 H1N1 without needing medical care and the same is true of seasonal flu.)
  • Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. They may also prevent serious flu complications. 
  • Antiviral drugs are not sold over-the-counter and are different from antibiotics. 
  • For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started within the first 2 days of symptoms. 
  • Visit the CDC 2009 H1N1 website to find out what to do if you get sick with the flu and how to care for someone at home who is sick with the flu.

 

#4:  Flu Symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, sometimes diarrhea and vomiting.  If you get these symptoms you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to seek medical care.  Most people are able to recover at home.  If you get any of these emergency warning signs – please seek medical care immediately.

Emergency Warning Signs in Children

  • Fast breathing or trouble breathing
  • Bluish skin color
  • Not drinking enough fluids
  • Not waking up or not interacting
  • Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
  • Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
  • Fever with a rash

Emergency Warning Signs in Adults

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
  • Sudden dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Severe or persistent vomiting

The CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone.  Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.  Staying at home means that you should not leave your home except to seek medical care.  This means avoiding normal activities, including work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings.  If you must leave the house, wear a face mask, cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and wash your hands to keep from spreading flu.

www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/ or www.flu.gov or call 800-CDC-INFO

 

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