Stay Healthy This Flu Season

Public Health Preparedness & PlanningOctober 12th, 2009

Nina M. Oliver, MSRowan County Health Dept.

Overview:

• Define “the flu.”• Describe the illness caused by influenza• Explain how influenza spreads• Discuss medications used to prevent the flu• Discuss how to protect yourself

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What is ‘the flu’?• An illness caused by the

influenza virus. – Affects nose, throat, air

passages, and lung

• Abrupt onset of fever, cough, sore throat, chills, and body aches

• Not typically associated with vomiting or diarrhea

• Yearly epidemics

In the U.S each year:-36,000 deaths-200,000 hospitalizations

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What are the symptoms of influenza?

• Sudden fever, muscle aches, headache, lack of energy, dry cough, sore throat, runny nose

• Supportive care:• Rest, fluids, anti-

cough, anti-fever meds

• Antivirals if you have had symptoms less then 48 hours

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov/flu/

Are there different types of flu?

• Answer: Yes!• Type A– moderate to severe illness

– All age groups– Humans and other animals

• Type B– milder epidemics– Humans only– Primarily affects children

• Type C– rarely reported in humans– No epidemics

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How Flu Spreads

Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu

• Large droplet mostly– Generated by

coughing, sneezing, talking

– “spitting distance”

– Rarely ‘airborne’

• Contact with contaminated hands or surfaces

Examples: Contaminated hands, toys, doorknobs, keyboards

What is the difference between an epidemic and pandemic?

• Epidemics occur every year due to minor changes in influenza A viruses that circulate; it is wide- spread, but not worldwide.

• Pandemics happen only occasionally when a completely new influenza A virus circulates.– It is worldwide/ global

What is required for a pandemic to occur?

• Answer: A new virus with person-to-person spread.

• Novel virus to which population has little or no immunity

• Virus that spreads quickly and widely

• Virus must be capable of sustained person-to-person transmission

Influenza Pandemics 20th Century

A(H1N1) A(H2N2) A(H3N2)1918: “Spanish Flu” 1957: “Asian Flu” 1968: “Hong Kong Flu”

20-40 m deaths

675,000 US deaths

1-4 m deaths

70,000 US deaths

1-4 m deaths

34,000 US deaths

Credit: US National Museum of Health and Medicine

Who is Most Affected?

Vaccine and Antivirals

– Can not make vaccine until viral strain is identified

– Vaccine grown in eggs

– Very long process (3-9 Months)

– An injectable vaccine and nasal spray is available to prevent H1N1 flu

Flu vaccine is made in hen's egg.image: CDC

Antivirals

Anti-virals help to:• Prevent the flu• Treat the flu• Eases Flu Symptoms

Concerns:• Have to take it within 48-

hours of symptom onset• Will need MASSIVE

amounts (10 pills per person for treatment and 40 for prevention)

• Expensive

Who should get the H1N1 vaccine?

Target groups have been identified by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Pregnant women • Household contacts and caregivers for children

younger than 6 months of age • Healthcare and emergency medical services

personnel • Persons 6 months through 24 years of age • Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have

health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

Everyone should get the seasonal vaccine!

If I get sick with the flu, when should I call my provider?

• If you have difficulty breathing• If unable to drink fluids, have dark urine, or

feel dizzy when standing (signs of dehydration)

• If you have a fever for more than 3 to 5 days

• If you start to recover from the flu symptoms and you get fever again.

• Dizziness or confusion

Flu Prevention:Influenza. Don't let it catch

you! 

Prevention: What Can You Do?

Prevention Step #1

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle through rest, diet, exercise, and relaxation.

Prevention Step #2• Wash your hands frequently with

soap and warm water for 20 seconds.

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Alcohol-based hand sanitizers • An excellent alternative to hand

washing - when soap and water aren't available.

• Apply about 1/2 teaspoon of the product to the palm of your hand.

• Rub your hands together, covering all surfaces of your hands, until they're dry.

• Bottle must contain at least 60% alcohol.

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Help children wash their hands for about 15 seconds or long enough to sing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song twice.

A Must: Warm water and soap

Prevention Step #3

• Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes. Germs spread this way.

Prevention Step #4

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your elbow.

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What's wrong with this picture?

Prevention Step #5

• Keep frequently touched common surfaces clean, such as telephones, computer keyboards, doorknobs, etc.

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Where Do Germs Live?Germs can stay alive for hours,

even days, on … Door knobs Chairs

Light switches BathroomEating tables SinksSoft and hard toys FaucetsFloors Changing tablesTables Telephones

Keyboards, etc.

Prevention Step #6• Don't spread the flu! If you are

sick with flu-like illness, stay home. Symptoms include:

• Fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius)

• Chills and cough or sore throat. Stay home at least 24 hours

after you are free of fever and cough

Prevention Step #7

• Get vaccinated against seasonal flu and H1N1 when a vaccine is available (if you fall into the priority groups).

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Create a Preparedness Kit/Plan:• Identification; • Medication that you

are taking or need• Health conditions; • Allergies, etc.• Next of kin contact

information

Prevention Step #8

Preparedness and Partners:

• Rowan County Telecommunications

• Rowan County Emergency Services

• Rowan County Sheriff• Salisbury Police Dept• Rowan Rescue Squad• American Red Cross• Rowan-Salisbury School

System• Rowan Cabarrus

Community College

• Rowan County IT• NC Highway Patrol• Dept. of Social Services• Daymark Recovery Health• City of Salisbury• Food Lion LLC• Spencer Police• China Grove Police• Livingstone College• VA Hospital• Rowan Regional Medical

Center

Questions?

Nina Oliver, MSPreparedness Coordinator704-216-8811Nina.oliver@rowancountync.govwww.rowancountync.gov/healthdepartment