Avoiding the swine flu virus
Swine flu, officially the novel H1N1 influenza virus, is circulating in Alabama. Already Alabama has experienced approximately 1,300 H1N1 influenza cases and two deaths.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says virtually all of the influenza viruses identified throughout the country in the past week are the H1N1 influenza A viruses. Also, there are higher than normal levels of influenza activity than is normal for this time of year.
The federal government has advised public health agencies to prepare for the delivery of 45 million doses of H1N1 vaccine nationwide in October. Alabama expects to receive 600,000 initial doses in October, followed by an additional 300,000 doses every two weeks. By December, 2 million doses of vaccine are expected. The strategy in Alabama will be to push the vaccine to school-based clinics for kindergarten through 12th grade students. The vaccine will be offered at no charge; insurers will pay the costs to administer the vaccine.
It’s just August, though, and since school has begun the opportunity for exposure to the flu virus is greater. H1N1 is thought to spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of infected people, so there are things we can do to increase our chances of staying healthy and help keep those around us disease free.
€ 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 keep from infecting them.
€ Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
€ Find healthy ways to deal with stress and anxiety.
These are common sense measures that we all have been told before, but with the H1N1 pandemic we have been warned about for the past year expected to hit full force this winter, this advice is worth repeating. There are things we can do to protect ourselves and those around us until the vaccine becomes available.
