Health Department NEWS!
| Vaccine Update by
Lu Ann Danford, RN, Director of Nursing (11/24/2009) |
There are many challenges associated with the U.S. influenza vaccine supply. Influenza viruses change from year to year, so influenza vaccines must be updated annually. Once the viruses are selected manufacturers operate under a very tight timeline for producing, testing, releasing and distributing the vaccine. These challenges as well as the increased media attention to the H1N1 (swine flu) virus have contributed to the vaccine shortages and the number of Guernsey County residents seeking the 2009 Seasonal Flu vaccine. |
The Cambridge Guernsey County Health Department held its final seasonal flu vaccine clinic on Monday, November 23, 2009 depleting their supply of seasonal vaccine until the fall of 2010. |
The Health Department began the 2009 flu season with a successful drive thru flu clinic on October 5, where over 800 doses were given. Other clinics were held to vaccinate the population based on the supply of remaining vaccine. |
The Health Department ordered vaccine for the 2009 flu season based on the demand in the 2008 flu season. When the H1N1 virus appeared in the spring of 2009, the public became more knowledgeable about both the flu and the flu vaccine. Therefore, the demand for seasonal flu shots almost doubled from that of the previous year. |
Although we have exhausted our Seasonal Flu Vaccine for this year, we encourage the residents of Guernsey County to continue to seek their seasonal flu vaccine shots yearly. The Health Department can better serve Guernsey County residents if our population continues to make the Health Department their primary source for seasonal flu vaccine. |
The Cambridge Guernsey County Health Department will continue to schedule H1N1 clinics to vaccinate the residents of Guernsey County against the H1N1(swine flu) virus. All H1N1 clinics will be advertised in the newspaper, radio, Health Department webpage, and on the sign in front of the Health Department. Call 439-3577 with any questions. |
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Local Health Departments Monitor
H1N1 Situation |
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| Courtsey of The Daily Jeffersonian 10/21/09 |
How will I know if I have the flu this season? You may have the flu if you have one or more of these symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue and sometimes, diarrhea and vomiting. Most people with 2009 H1N1 have had mild illness and have not needed medical care or antiviral drugs, and the same is true of seasonal flu. |
A number of flu tests are available to detect influenza viruses. The most common are called “rapid influenza diagnostic tests”, which can provide results in 30 minutes or less. However, the rapid tests cannot distinguish between 2009 H1N1 and seasonal influenza A viruses. There are laboratory tests available that can tell the difference between 2009 H1N1 and other strains of flu, but these can take one to several days to provide results and this season, the Ohio Department of Health will only accept specimens that are from 1) people who are hospitalized with suspected flu; 2) a defined cluster of people with flu-like symptoms that is being investigated by the local health department.
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As of September 2009, more than 99% of circulating influenza viruses in the United States is 2009 H1N1. Therefore, at this time, if your health care provider determines that you have the flu, you most likely have 2009 H1N1. As the season progresses, different influenza viruses may circulate.
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Your health care provider may diagnose you with flu based on your symptoms and their clinical judgment or they may choose to use an influenza diagnostic test. In most cases, if a healthcare provider suspects you have the flu, the test results will not change their treatment decisions.
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The Cambridge-Guernsey and Noble County Health Department officials caution residents that although we have no confirmed cases of H1N1 we do have several suspect cases. None of the suspect cases have met ODH’s requirements for further testing and will not be sent on. Both health departments urge residents to remain viligant in their prevention measures:
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- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it; then wash your hands. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you 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.) Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.
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| Both health departments are actively planning H1N1 vaccination clinics and working to target the priority groups. The delivery of vaccine remains unpredictable, as health departments are unaware of when vaccine shipments will arrive and how many doses each shipment will contain. |
The Ohio H1N1 Information line is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please call 1-866-800-1404 for answers to your questions about H1N1 flu. You may also contact your local health department, Cambridge-Guernsey County Health Department at 439-3577 or Noble County Health Department at 732-4958.
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| Other Helpful Fact Sheets |
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Update
H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) Facts |
What is Swine Flu?
“Swine flu” is an Influenza A virus normally found in pigs. There are many such viruses and they rarely infect humans. The virus currently causing human illness is a new type of swine flu that has developed the ability to infect people and be transmitted from person to person.
Although this new virus is called “swine flu,” it is not transmitted from pigs to humans, or from eating pork products. Like other respiratory diseases, it is spread from person to person through coughs and sneezes. When people cough or sneeze, they spread germs through the air or onto surfaces that other people may touch. |
Precautions and Symptoms
Infection occurs when the virus gets into someone’s airway and lungs. However, it isn’t yet known how easily the virus spreads. As with any infectious disease that is spread through the human respiratory system, health officials recommended the following precautions: |
- 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 with soap and water frequently, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective;
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people;
- If you get sick, stay home and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them;
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
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These are the same precautions that should be taken to stop transmitting all influenza viruses and other viruses that are transmitted from the respiratory tract.
Human symptoms for this new type of swine flu are similar to the symptoms of the regular “seasonal” influenza that happens each year. Symptoms include fever, cough and sore throat. In addition, fatigue, lack of appetite, runny nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea have been reported. |
In order to be a suspect case, a person must have the following:
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Treatment
There is currently no vaccine to prevent swine flu, but there are medications to help treat it. These medicines are generally used to prevent serious flu complications such as pneumonia and work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms). Whether a person with influenza needs to take one of these medicines is a decision that must be made by the patient and their health care provider. |
More Information:
Cambridge Guernsey County Health Department(740) 439-3577
Ohio Department of Health’s Information Line
1-866-800-1404
www.odh.ohio.gov
Or
www.cdc.gov/h1n1lu |
Click here to download this article |
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Cover your Cough!
Respiratory Etiquette
August 21, 2009
Lu Ann Danford, RN, DON |
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To print a copy of this poster for your home or classroom link on the image above. |
The Cambridge-Guernsey County Health Department would like to inform the residents of the county about the new phrase catching on in schools, hospitals, clinics, and doctors’ offices: respiratory etiquette. You could also call it good health manners. More than just being polite, these manners can save lives. |
The Cambridge-Guernsey County Health Department is launching a respiratory etiquette campaign to promote simple measures to help prevent the spread of infections such as H1N1, seasonal influenza, bacterial meningitis, whooping cough, measles, colds, and chicken pox. |
With the seasonal influenza and this year’s new H1N1 having brought to everyone’s attention how a virus that spreads easily can cause serious illness and even death, The Cambridge-Guernsey County Health Department wants to help prevent the spread of these types of diseases by reminding everyone that there are some simple things you can do to keep from spreading germs to others: cover your mouth and nose with a tissue every time you sneeze or cough; put used tissues into the trash; wash hands well and often with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. |
Respiratory etiquette can prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria that are passed from person-to-person in the tiny droplets of moisture that come out of the nose or mouth of an infected person when they cough, sneeze, or talk. Respiratory etiquette protects your fellow neighbor, who may be at risk of serious complications from these diseases. |
As the flu and other viruses circulate this fall and winter, respiratory etiquette can help prevent the spread of illness at home, school, and at work. If the flu or a cold hits you, the best things to do are to stay home, rest, and drink plenty of fluids. Talk to your doctor or health care professional if you have any concerns or questions. |
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Swine Flu Facts from
Cambridge Guernsey County Health
April 28, 2009
Lu Ann Danford, RN, DON |
As part of an ongoing investigation into an outbreak of Swine Influenza A (H1N1) in the United States and Mexico, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced confirmation of several human cases of infection with swine flu in the United States.
At this time cases have been confirmed in California, Kansas, Texas, New York, and Ohio. Based on rapid spread of the virus thus far, public health officials believe that more cases will be identified over the next several weeks. |
Local public health officials are updated 24 hours a day and 7 days a week by the Ohio Department of Health and CDC via the Ohio Public Health Communication System. The local health department officials will be alerted first of confirmation of a case. The main public health goal is to reduce transmission and illness severity, and provide information to assist healthcare providers, and the public in the challenges posed by this newly identified influenza virus. The Cambridge Guernsey County Health Department and the regional epidemiologist are in constant communication and surveillance of this declared public health emergency. Officials are sharing vital information and informing all health care providers, our local hospital, and the EMA of the most current situation updates that might affect the population of Guernsey County. National stockpile of anti-viral drugs will be made available to public health officials and care provider if and when necessary. |
Local medical professionals will consider swine influenza infection when a patient presents with acute febrile respiratory illness who have been in contact with persons with confirmed swine flu, or who were in any of the five US states reporting swine flu or Mexico 7 days preceding the onset of their illness. Individuals with mild illness should stay at home and call their physician if they have questions about care or treatment. CDC is not encouraging people with mild illness to visit their doctor or other healthcare facilities to avoid clogging the healthcare system. |
A swine flu can cause a wide range of symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. Like seasonal flu, swine flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Severe disease with pneumonia, respiratory failure and even death is possible with swine flu infection. Certain groups might be more likely to develop a severe illness from swine flu infection, such as persons with chronic medical conditions. |
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 hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread that way.
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Click here to download this article |
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