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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, November 23, 2009
Contact:
Sherri
McDonald, Director Thurston County Public Health and Social Services,
360-867-2502 or 360-239-1520
Take Flu
Precautions During
Holiday
Gatherings
OLYMPIA
– The outbreak of H1N1
swine flu in our area has waned a bit, but health officials warn that
precautions to curb the spread of the flu are still important.
Sherri McDonald, Director of Thurston County Public Health and Social
Services, says there are several signs that the number of new H1N1 cases has
declined. “We are seeing fewer
hospitalizations due to the swine flu and the number of calls to Emergency
Medical Services and to the Health Department is also dropping.
School absenteeism is also down.”
However,
McDonald says everyone should still take the flu seriously.
“We first saw H1N1 last spring and it spread worldwide rather
quickly. It then dropped off, but
came back for the second wave when school started.
Public health officials expect a third wave around the first of the
year, because so many folks will be traveling for Thanksgiving and Christmas
and that is a prime opportunity for the virus to spread.”
With
holiday get-togethers planned all around the northwest with visitors from
around the world, it becomes a prime opportunity for the spread of the
illness. “If everyone takes some
common sense steps, we can help hold back the spread of the flu and most other
viruses.” says McDonald. Those
steps include-
·
Staying at home for at least
24 hours after your fever is gone if you have a flu like illness.
That would include avoiding holiday get-togethers.
·
Covering your nose and mouth
with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after
you use it. Cough into your elbow
if a tissue is not available.
·
Washing your hands often with
soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand
sanitizer.
·
Avoiding touching your eyes,
nose or mouth. Germs are spread this way.
·
Avoiding close contact with
sick people – stay at least three feet away from an ill person.
McDonald also cautions that the seasonal
flu is on the way. The
recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is to get a
vaccine for the seasonal flu AND a vaccine for H1N1 flu when available.
More information can be obtained by
visiting the Thurston County Health Department website at:http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/health/personalhealth/influenza/swineflu.html
or
by calling the flu information line at 360-709-3080.
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