JUPITER, FL -- The information below about the swine flu and the seasonal flu comes from the Town of Jupiter's Quarterly Newsletter.
It was gathered from the medical professionals at Jupiter Medical Center.
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Town of Jupiter's Quarterly Newsletter VOL 16 NO 4 NOVEMBER, 2009
There is an overwhelming amount of information available on TV, in the newspapers and on the internet about the seasonal flu, and its cousin, H1N1.
How do you know what to believe, and what are the best ways to protect your family and loved ones this flu season?
With the help of Jupiter Medical Center staff, we’ve compiled a quick list of helpful facts, information and resources.
What is H1N1, and how is it different from the seasonal flu?
H1N1 is a new influenza virus that was first detected in the U.S. in April, 2009. Symptoms are similar to a seasonal flu – fever, sneezing, sore throat, cough, headache, and muscle or joint pains – but in some instances have been reported as “more severe”.
According to the Florida Department of Health, over 90% of the specimens tested for influenza at the Bureau of Laboratories have been positive for H1N1 (Swine) Influenza. This essentially means that all cases of illness involving flu-like symptoms are now being treated as if they are H1N1, even without laboratory confirmation.
Who is most at-risk?
The segments of the population determined to be most “at-risk” are:
•Pregnant women
•Household contacts/caregivers children <6 months
•Healthcare workers with direct patient contact
•All persons 6 months - 24 years
•Persons 25 - 64 years with high risk conditions
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has recommended that these groups of individuals receive the vaccine first when it becomes available this Fall.
Preventing the Flu
You can take some everyday precautions to prevent catching the seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus:
•Ask your doctor if you should get the seasonal flu vaccine now, and the H1N1 vaccine when available (expected to be mid-Fall, 2009).
•Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
•Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use an alcohol based hand rub.
•Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth to prevent germs from spreading.
•Try to avoid close contact with sick people, especially if you are in a high-risk group. When in public, keep a safe distance from others.
If you fall ill, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. See your doctor and take anti-viral drugs (such as Tamiflu), if prescribed. The CDC recommends that you stay home an additional 24 hours after your fever is gone.
In the end, the best advice may be to make sure that you are acting on information provided by reliable resources and licensed medical professionals.
Oh yes, and let’s not forget the best advice – wash those hands!
Helpful websites and numbers for information on the flu:
Florida Department of Health
877-352-3581
www.doh.state.fl.us OR
www.MyFluSafety.com
Federal Government
www.flu.gov
Centers for Disease Control
800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) www.cdc.gov/flu
From here you can click on “FluView”,
the CDC’s weekly report on flu status
