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News – Health-Related:
Influenza - MHS is ready!
- by Laurel Gorham, CPNP (Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner)
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It’s time to prepare for flu season, and Mecosta Health Services is ready. Mecosta Health Services is taking the spring outbreak of the Swine Flu (H1N1) very seriously this year, and is focused on helping our community prevent as many outbreaks as possible through vaccination.
Protect Yourself and Others:
You can protect yourself, your family, and people at your work by getting the regular seasonal flu shot, by washing your hands, covering your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough, and staying home if you are sick.
 We are expecting an abnormally high number of influenza cases this flu season, and it's already started. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) has reported that from April to August there were at least 1 million cases of H1N1 in the U.S. And 21 states are reporting widespread influenza activity at this time, including states as close as Minnesota. This is unusual for this early in the season. Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far are the 2009 H1N1 Novel Flu Influenza A, which was previously known as the “swine flu”. This scares a lot of people.
Different Types of Flu:
The H1N1 influenza (Swine Flu) that we are talking about is a respiratory disease. It is not “the stomach flu”, which health professionals call gastroenteritis and involves vomiting and diarrhea. It typically produces fever, body aches, nasal drainage, sore throat, and cough. The H1N1 influenza and the seasonal influenza have very similar symptoms, but we have found that the target groups are different between the two types.
Who should be Vaccinated for H1N1?
The most at-risk groups for H1N1 include pregnant women, households with children under six-months of age, people who care for ill individuals, people six months to 24-years of age, and those 25 to 65 years of age who have particular diseases that put their lungs at more risk than the average individual.
Who should be Vaccinated for the regular Seasonal Flu?
The seasonal flu vaccine, which we have offered for many years, does not cover H1N1, and the new H1N1 vaccine will not cover seasonal flu. Therefore this year two flu vaccines are being produced. All individuals under 18 years of age and over 55 years should receive the seasonal influenza vaccine. Others that have a chronic illness should also receive it, as well as any households with children less than six months. Children less than 9 years of age being vaccinated for the first time should receive two doses of each flu vaccine, spaced at least 4 weeks apart in the initial year.
When and Where will these Vaccinations be Available?
The CDC and local public health departments will decide when the vaccine will be released to the general population, according to the amount of vaccine available at the time. We expect this vaccine to be available by mid October. Then it will be given to local centers such as the Senior Center, some churches, and pharmacies for example, to offer to those at most risk first. If you call a center that has the vaccine, you may not be eligible to receive it.
It is expected that as the fall progresses, more vaccine will be available, so we hope to be able to vaccinate everyone who is interested in this protection. People least likely to have serious side effects from the H1N1 influenza are people over 65 years of age. This is contrary to the seasonal flu. This group seems to have more resistance and fewer hospitalizations for serious illness from the H1N1 Novel Influenza A.
Influenza is a viral illness, and is not sensitive to antibiotics. And it can produce other illnesses that may need additional treatment. Tell your family and friends about the importance of hand washing and cleanliness! The CDC recommends that employers are encouraged to be more lenient this year to absenteeism. Individuals should not be required to have a doctor's note if they have influenza symptoms. Employers need to be aware that they may have several employees out at one time, and have a backup plan to maintain their business flow.
The next Step:
Are you at risk? Call your health care provider or the public health department to arrange for a seasonal flu shot. If you fall into the risk groups listed above, arrange for an H1N1 injection when they are available. If you develop symptoms that are similar to influenza, do not panic. If you are able to control the symptoms on your own, staying home for the duration of your fever plus 24 hours is recommended. If you have a health condition which puts you at risk, you may want to call your physician or health provider and see if you should be seen. MHS is not testing specifically for H1N1 at this point, but you will be treated according to your level of illness and risk.
For more information call your local health professional. You can find out when MHS has flu shots available at www.mcmcbr.com.
Mecosta Health Services is a professional medical practice subsidiary of Mecosta County Medical Center. It was designed to expand the ways we personally care for our community. Physicians at MHS are available on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Its physicians will care for you both in the office, and at the hospital. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Visit the hospital web site at www.mcmcbr.com.
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