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County: we are prepared for swine flu
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| By: Anita Zimmerman |
September 23, 2009 |
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Officials want to assure residents that Barron County is prepared for an outbreak of swine flu.
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Kaye Thompson, public health program manager for the Department of Health and Human Services, has been fielding phone calls from concerned citizens.
At a press conference Friday morning, Thompson outlined the county's efforts, reviewed plans and shared information on the virus. She's hoping locals will know what to expect in the event that H1N1 takes up temporary residence here.
Eight cases of swine flu have been confirmed in the county, and officials are no longer testing the infected because there aren't any known seasonal viruses in circulation. They've been told to assume anyone who has the flu right now has swine flu.
Pandemics come in waves, Thompson says. The first wave, which began in April, calmed down after schools let out. The second wave is just beginning.
H1N1 symptoms are typical of seasonal influenza and include tiredness, coughing, fever, aches and pains, sore throat and chills. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea have also been reported.
In its current form, swine flu is no worse than seasonal flu, although it targets younger people, causes more severe respiratory problems and lives on inanimate surfaces.
That makes the virus much more contagious, Thompson adds. Regular influenza can only be passed on through person-to-person contact-if a sick person coughs within six to eight feet of you, you can get sick.
Swine flu lives on inanimate surfaces for two to eight hours. That means if you touch a surface a sick person touched half a day ago, you can get sick.
Plus, the sick person doesn't have to feel sick. A carrier of the virus can spread it a day before symptoms show up and five to seven days afterward.
It is not possible to catch swine flu from eating pork.
"Target," or high-risk populations, include persons younger than 25, the chronically ill, adults in contact with groups of children or the chronically ill and the hospitalized.
Thompson urges sick people to stay home. She also encourages businesses to send sick employees home.
The Center for Disease Control recommends that infected workers don't go back to their jobs until 24 hours after symptoms have disappeared without the use of medication. She cautions, "You are contagious to other people until then."
Although more than 2,800 people worldwide have died from the virus, H1N1 isn't currently any worse than seasonal flu because it has mutated into a lesser strain than what first appeared in Mexico. Officials believe the virus will mutate again, but they don't know whether it will lose or gain strength.
Researchers all over the world are working on H1N1. At UW-Madison, scientists found the 2009 strain is "antigenically related" to the 1918 strain of H1N1 that caused the last major worldwide pandemic, which killed 500,000 Americans and 20 to 50 million people around the globe.
The relationship between the two strains also explains why the elderly aren't disproportionately affected.
"These findings suggest that people alive during the 1918 influenza pandemic have the most protection against the current 2009 H1N1 influenza virus because of their prior exposure," the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' Web site says.
Thompson emphasizes the county doesn't want to scare anyone, likely the reason officials haven't discussed the 1918 strain with the public. Thompson was aware of the correlation.
Residents should focus on prevention, she says.
"Take care of yourself. Exercise. Eat right. Keep your stress levels low," she advises. "Step up cleaning, and cover your coughs. Wash your hands frequently."
For those who do catch the virus, everyone's body responds differently, explains Thompson. In severe cases, doctors can prescribe antiviral medications.
Health officials are encouraging everyone to get a seasonal flu vaccine now and a swine flu vaccine when it comes out, which is currently projected at mid- to late October.
"Don't blow off the seasonal vaccine," she repeats.
Swine flu vaccinations will eventually be available to everyone, although disbursement will be staggered. High-risk groups will be vaccinated first.
School vaccinations will be a coordinated effort. When the vaccines arrives, districts will plan their procedures. Parents must give permission for their children to be inoculated.
Emergency Management Director Randy Books says schools will be under close surveillance because "That's the biggest [target] group that intermingle or intertwine the most."
Coughing is the first sign, Thompson adds. When a child goes to school coughing, he or she will be sent to the nurse's office and screened. Children with a temperature of 100 degrees will be sent home.
The county plans to keep a close watch on school districts. Schools' absenteeism will be reviewed to assess whether an outbreak is imminent. Sports competitions, one of the quickest ways to spread the virus from one district to another, will also be monitored.
Thompson has the authority to cancel games.
In their quest to spread preparedness through the area, public health workers are contacting major employers and speaking to groups of business owners. They are also conferring with major hospitals and clinics in the county, all of whom have plans in place. Local medical clinics are being supervised by infection control colleagues at Barron and Rice Lake facilities.
The public health department's contact hasn't extended to pharmacies, sites frequented by those in ill health.
Kris Skoug, a pharmacist at Ohde Health Mart Pharmacy in Chetek, says employees have little contact with hospitals unless it involves a specific prescription.
Pharmacies don't offer vaccines, although workers can be vaccinated if they choose.
Other than urging customers to use hand sanitizer, ordering the usual fall stock of antivirals and wiping down the counter, Skoug says they have no plan in the event of a pandemic.
Asked whether she feels prepared, Skoug answered, "Mmmhmm."
Information about H1N1 vaccines will be printed as it is received. Public health and clinics will carry the vaccine.
In the event of an outbreak, county officials plan to meet with the press to keep the public informed. For information on the state's flu status, visit pandemic.wisconsin.gov.
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©The Chetek Alert 2009
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