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Follow flu precautions
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after use.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners also are effective.
If you become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact your health care provider, particularly if you are worried about symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.
If you get sick with influenza, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Disinfect counter tops, door handles, etc. where you deal with the public on a regular basis.
Contact a doctor if you exhibit flu symptoms, run a high fever, have diarrhea and/or nausea.
news@barrowcountynews.com
The recent fast-spreading outbreak of swine influenza A (H1N1) in Mexico and the United States is causing concern for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and panic across the general population.
With no vaccine in place, the CDC recommends proactive measures as the best solution to preventing more illness and loss of life, making rapid and pervasive communication critical.
On Tuesday, the World Health Organization announced a confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with an acute febrile respiratory illness with laboratory confirmed swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection at CDC by a real-time RT-PCR and/or viral culture.
Monitoring of the swine flu outbreak is recommended since a number of international travelers pass through this area, the World Health Organization has upgraded the situation of Level 4.
If you become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact your health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms, urges Barrow County Emergency Management Agency Director Jimmy Terrell.
As of now there have been no reported cases of swine flu in Georgia.
"The Georgia Emergency Management Agency has been in coordination with the Georgia Division of Public Health, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other emergency management partners in regards to the Swine Flu outbreak," said Terrell, reporting from the state and national advisories. "The current health situation facing the nation must be taken very seriously and governments at all levels must be vigilant in there monitoring of the events."
According to the CDC, a probable case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with an acute febrile respiratory illness who is:
positive for influenza A, but negative for H1 and H3 by influenza RT-PCR, or
positive for influenza A by an influenza rapid test or an influenza immunofluorescence assay (IFA) plus meets criteria for a suspected case
A suspected case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with acute febrile respiratory illness with onset
within 7 days of close contact with a person who is a confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, or
within 7 days of travel to community either within the United States or internationally where there are one or more confirmed swine influenza A(H1N1) cases, or
resides in a community where there are one or more confirmed swine influenza cases.
Infectious period for a confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as 1 day prior to the case’s illness onset to 7 days after onset.
Close contact is defined as: within about 6 feet of an ill person who is a confirmed or suspected case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection during the case’s infectious period.
Acute respiratory illness is defined as recent onset of at least two of the following: rhinorrhea or nasal congestion, sore throat, cough (with or without fever or feverishness)
On the local scene
"We are closely monitoring GEMA and CDC reports and staying in touch with our local and district health department officials," said Terrell on Tuesday. "We have a diverse population here in the county and we have probably certainly had area citizens traveling in Mexico or in contact with relatives in Mexico during the past month or during the spring break."
Terrell is hopeful communication will help ward off local impacts.
"We need everyone to remain aware of the potential crisis that could adversely affect us here in Barrow County," said Terrell. " As of this time, no confirmed cases have been reported in Barrow County, but that could quickly change. Of the 64 confirmed cases, it needs to be noted that most of the cases are along the eastern seaboard or in southern California."
According to the CDC, flu viruses are mainly spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing, said Terrell.
"It may also be passed by touching. Infected people may be able to infect others from day 1 of coming in contact with the virus and a person may infect someone else for up to 7 or more days after becoming infected themselves," said Terrell. "The infected person may not even know they have the virus."
The germs and virus may be able to live as long as two hours outside the body on surfaces like tables, glasses, desks, telephones and counter tops.
Considerations for Children
Aspirin or aspirin-containing products (e.g. bismuth subsalicylate – Pepto Bismol) should not be administered to any confirmed or suspected ill case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection aged 18 and younger due to the risk of Reye syndrome. For relief of fever, other anti-pyretic medications are recommended (acetaminophen or non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.)Explanation of Influenza virus phases
In nature, influenza viruses circulate continuously among animals, especially birds. Even though such viruses might theoretically develop into pandemic viruses, in Phase 1 no viruses circulating among animals have been reported to cause infections in humans.
In Phase 2 an animal influenza virus circulating among domesticated or wild animals is known to have caused infection in humans, and is therefore considered a potential pandemic threat.
In Phase 3, an animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus has caused sporadic cases or small clusters of disease in people, but has not resulted in human-to-human transmission sufficient to sustain community-level outbreaks. Limited human-to-human transmission may occur under some circumstances, for example, when there is close contact between an infected person and an unprotected caregiver. However, limited transmission under such restricted circumstances does not indicate that the virus has gained the level of transmissibility among humans necessary to cause a pandemic.
Phase 4 is characterized by verified human-to-human transmission of an animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus able to cause "community-level outbreaks." The ability to cause sustained disease outbreaks in a community marks a significant upwards shift in the risk for a pandemic.
Any country that suspects or has verified such an event should urgently consult with WHO so that the situation can be jointly assessed and a decision made by the affected country if implementation of a rapid pandemic containment operation is warranted. Phase 4 indicates a significant increase in risk of a pandemic but does not necessarily mean that a pandemic is a forgone conclusion.
Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region.
Phase 6 will indicate that a global pandemic is under way.
— From the World Health
Organization
