Protecting yourself from the H1N1 flu (just because it’s spring, doesn’t mean it’s over)

By Worcester School Committee member John Monfredo

“Be concerned but do not panic,” stated City of Worcester’s Public Health Commissioner Dr. Leonard Morse.

Throughout the country there is apprehension among the public about the danger of this particular kind of flu, H1N1. President Obama has declared the H1N1 flu outbreak a national emergency, allowing hospitals and local governments to speedily set up alternate sites for treatment and triage procedures if needed to handle any surge of an outbreak.

This year in Massachusetts there have been more than 1,500 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu, with 13% of those cases hospitalized. Across the nation 36 children’s deaths have been attributed to the H1N1 virus. In the Town of Grafton, schools were closed for a few days due to high absences with students and staff.

We all have experienced the seasonal flu in past years, so what’s so different about the H1N1 flu? Although seasonal flu is most dangerous to those with weak immune systems, such as young children and the elderly, the H1N1 virus appears to be a threat to healthy, young adults. Earlier this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic for the H1N1 flu which is an epidemic that occurs across several countries and affects a sizable portion of the population in each country due to the breath of its impact around the globe.

H1N1 flu is a respiratory disease caused by type A viruses that regularly cause outbreaks of influenza in pigs and thus the name “Swine flu”. Previously the virus only infected animals previously. Then, according the information released from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the virus changed in a way that enabled it to go from infecting only animals to infecting humans as well.

The virus is dangerous because the human immune system has had no previous experience battling it.
The symptoms of the H1N1 flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever over a 100, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, runny nose or stuffy nose and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting related with the H1N1 flu. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider.

Protection starts with the individual taking care of his body. According to Dr. Morse, one should rest and get enough sleep each day, have a healthy diet – (including fruits, vegetables), drink plenty of liquids, and avoid becoming stressed. Also, get plenty of exercise and be sure to wash and dry your hands often.

If you are not feeling well and have cold use proper health etiquette, for if you need to sneeze or cough, move away from people or do it in the bend of your elbow. In addition, try staying away from large groups and if you’re not feeling well stay home and avoid contact with others so the virus does not spread.

Staying home should also apply to those individuals who go to religious services on the weekend. If you’re ill, stay home before you pass on the infection to others. We all need to avoid holding, hugging, kissing or shaking hands with anyone who has a cold or flu. We should also avoid touching our nose, mouth or eyes as it’s a way of infecting yourself. At home or at work attempt to clean things that are touched often like door handles, telephones, faucets, etc.

The Worcester Public Schools have been “pro-active” and have sent out letters home with information for parent to think about as we deal with the H1N1 flu. The letter to parents sited the recommendations of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on ways that families need to consider to prevent getting sick with the flu at school and at home:

1. Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Make sure to dry your hands too. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

2. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder; not into your hands.

3. Stay home if you or your child is ill for at least 24 hours after there is no longer a fever or signs of a fever ( without the use of fever medicine). Fever with influenza can last two to five days or more. Keeping sick students at home means that they keep their viruses to themselves rather than sharing them with others.

4. Get your family VACCINATED for seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu when vaccines are available.

Other ideas that parents need to consider:

• Plan for child care at home if your child gets sick or their school is dismissed. Work on a plan now.

• Plan to monitor the health of the sick child and any other children in the household by checking for fever and other symptoms of the flu.

• If you have children who are at higher risk of serious disease from the flu and talk to your healthcare provider about a plan to protect them during the flu season. Children at high risk of serious disease from the flu include children under five years of age and those children with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma and diabetes.

• Identify a separate room in the house for the care of sick family members.

• Update emergency contact lists.
• Know the signs and symptoms of the flu as mentioned earlier.
• Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils and the etiquette of coughing and sneezing.
• Collect games, books, DVDs and other items to keep your family entertained if schools are dismissed or your child is sick and must stay home.

The Worcester Public Schools has also given out information and training to all staff members in the school, bus drivers, and cafeteria workers. The custodial staff has had several meetings to review building cleanliness guidelines and discussed routine cleaning of high touch surfaces. School nurses have received Department of Public Health immunization training.

In addition, vaccinations are suggested as a protective measure. Seasonal flu vaccination is being recommended for children and young people between the ages of six months and eighteen years old. The H1N1 flu vaccination is recommended for individuals between the ages of six months and twenty-four years old. The Worcester Public Schools will partner with the Department of Public Health and local health organizations to develop a coordinated plan for the administration of vaccine to school-age children and families.