Tuesday July 28, 2009 • Novel influenza A H1N1 continues to circulate in Lassen County

Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, July 29, 2009 edition of the Lassen County Times.

Novel Influenza A (H1N1 flu) continues to spread in Lassen County, and county health officials are asking residents to continue to be vigilant about good hygiene as the area prepares for the regular flu season.

At least four people throughout the county have been reported sick from the novel influenza virus (formerly known as swine flu) from various occupations.

When vaccines for regular seasonal flu and the novel influenza become available, Lassen County Public Health will follow guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and the California Department of Public Health for distributing the vaccines when they are received during the fall and winter flu season.

Health officials also advise getting the pneumonia vaccine, which is different than the flu vaccines, since all types of influenza can leave people more vulnerable to pneumonia, which is a very serious disease. People only need to have the pneumonia vaccine once before age 65, and a booster is recommended after 65 (with at least five years between the initial shot and the booster).

Pneumonia shot can prevent some serious complications

If you work in a place that is visited by large groups of people (such as health care facilities, schools, camps, stores or restaurants), here are some tips from the Lassen County Health Department to prevent the spread of pandemic flu
• Stay home when you are ill.
• Place cough etiquette and respiratory hygiene signs and/or posters in a conspicuous place. Contact Lassen County Public Health if you need some.
• Place hand sanitizer and tissues in easily accessible areas, preferably near a sign explaining why use of cough etiquette and respiratory hygiene benefits everyone (protect yourself and others, cover your cough).
• Place no-touch waste receptacles in common waiting areas.
• Ask front office staff to encourage persons who are coughing, sneezing, or have obvious respiratory symptoms to sit at least six feet away from others in common waiting areas, with or without masks.
• Give front office staff directions for what to do if a client who is coughing and/or sneezing refuses to wear a mask and/ or to sit away from others other clients.
• Ask front office staff to wipe toys and hard surfaces with household sanitizer, at least at the end of every shift.

So far, there have been no hospitalizations at Banner Lassen Medical Center for Novel Influenza A. Lassen County Public Health continues to send health advisories to local medical care providers and Banner Lassen Medical Center to keep them updated about local efforts, and will continue to share information with local businesses about how they can prepare for a pandemic flu.

Public Health staff continues to monitor local cases and is remaining updated on guidance from state and federal health organizations.

Lassen County Public Health reminds people to take common-sense steps to protect themselves from this new influenza. These preventive measures include:

Stay home if you are ill with flu symptoms and keep sick children home, except to seek medical care if needed. Influenza may be contagious the day before symptoms show up, and up to seven days afterwards (perhaps more in children), so stay home for seven days or until all symptoms have been gone for 24 hours, whichever is later.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when coughing or sneezing, and properly dispose of used tissues.

Wash your hands with soap and warm water frequently.

Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers and antibacterial wipes.

Prepare for possible ill cases in your family. For instance, keep adequate supply of any medications taken for other chronic conditions; consider buying a few masks for any sick family member and their caretaker should someone become ill.

Although there is no vaccine for Novel Influenza A at this time, consider getting a pneumococcal vaccination if you are at high risk for pneumonia, as flu can lead to streptococcal (strep) pneumonia. People at high risk for strep pneumonia are those more 65 years of age, anyone with a chronic medical condition, smokers and people with asthma.