December 5, 2013: Livingston County Health Center has received
its first surveillance report of a confirmed case of influenza in the county,
coming two months earlier than past flu seasons.
Influenza is a
serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death.
Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people
differently. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it
to others. Over a period of 31 seasons between 1976 and 2007, estimates of
flu-associated deaths in the United States range from a low of about 3,000 to a
high of about 49,000 people. During a regular flu season, about 90 percent of
deaths occur in people 65 years and older. The “seasonal flu season” in the
United States can begin as early as October and last as late as May.
During this time, flu
viruses are circulating in the population. An annual seasonal flu vaccine
(either the flu shot or the nasal-spray flu vaccine) is the best way to reduce
the chances that you will get seasonal flu and spread it to others. When more
people get vaccinated against the flu, less flu can spread through that
community.
It’s important to
remember that everyone plays a key role in limiting the spread of influenza and
other “bugs” going around this time of year.
Handwashing , next to
vaccination, is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of
flu. Don’t just say you’re doing it, make
sure to do it. Don’t just tell your kids
to be sure to wash their hands, make sure they are doing it. Have hand soap and towels, preferably paper
towels, readily available in every bathroom and at every sink.
Teach yourself not to
touch your face: eyes, nose, mouth will prevent a lot of germs and viruses that
might be on your hands or on surfaces you touch, from getting into your body
and making you sick. This sounds easy,
but old habits are hard to break.
Routinely wipe down
your work surface, phone, computer keyboard, doorknobs, etc. with sanitizing
wipes or a bleach/water solution.
Grab those handy
wipes for your cart at the grocery store.
They don’t make you look like a nerd, they remove the residue of
probably thousands of grimy paws that have touched the handle of your
cart.
Stay home if you are
sick, if at all possible. Keep your kids
home from school, even if they have to miss a game or a school party or
program. Avoid large crowds like sports
events, church, community events, etc. if you or someone in your family is
sick. It seems like common sense, but
how many times have you sat by someone hacking and coughing during one of these
gatherings? A sneeze can travel up to
twenty feet.
The flu shot does not
protect from all types of illnesses going around in the winter. Each year, the vaccine chooses 3-4 of the
deadliest strains of flu in the world and creates a vaccine to prevent
hospitalizations and death. The vaccine
is not 100% effective, but it provides way more protection than not getting the
shot.
County residents can
walk in and receive a flu shot at our office from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.
to 4 p.m. on any Tuesday or Friday. We
have a good supply of vaccine right now, come get your shot while it’s still
available.
Adult vaccine will be
given out until the supply is exhausted.
Those residents seeking children’s vaccine should call the health center
at 646-5506 to make an appointment.
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