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This update is being provided in an effort to keep everyone informed on the status of the H1 N1 outbreak, what we are doing and what you can do to minimize the spread of the influenza.
The national Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) and the Athens City-County Health Department (www.health.athens.oh) report increased H1N1 influenza activity. The H1N1 virus is a new strain and most people have little or no immunity.
While most people who have H1 N1 have recovered without needing medical treatment there have been hospitalizations and deaths related to this flu. Persons can be contagious before and after symptoms are present.
Signs and symptoms of H1 N1 include: Fatigue, fever, cough, sore throat, sneezing, muscle aches and in some cases vomiting and diarrhea. Most people feel better in 5-7 days. For people with serious complications antiviral drugs can be prescribed.
Prevention
Students, enrollees and employees who have flu-like symptoms need to stay home until fever is gone for 24 hours (without use of fever-reducing medication). Students and enrollees should not be sent to alternate day-care or day-program sites.
Students, enrollees and employees will be monitored for flu-like symptoms and may need to be sent home, so any necessary back-up plans need to be in place now to accommodate this.
Personal precautions need to be taken including covering coughs and sneezes with elbow or tissue (and dispose of tissue immediately). Hands should be washed often especially after coughing and sneezing and after close personal contact with others. Hand sanitizing gels may be used but hand washing still needs to occur after every 5-7 uses.
ACBDD facilities are thoroughly cleaned on a daily basis and personal protective equipment is made readily accessible. Employees/individuals are provided with educational materials and training regarding prevention techniques.
There is a vaccine for the H1N1 influenza and we are making arrangements with the Athens County Health Department to make this available to students, enrollees and employees as soon as possible.
ACBDD will continue to maintain close contact with the Athens City-County Health Department on influenza activity and to seek guidance on appropriate measures which need to be taken now and those that may need to be taken in the future.
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