Panel targets concerns

Gary and Brenda Snowden of Seymour are more than a little concerned by the possibility of an H1N1 outbreak in Jackson County.

Their 13-year-old son is considered by health officials to be at high risk of contracting the flu.

“He has asthma and a heart condition and just got over pneumonia,” Brenda said. “So yes, we are very concerned.”

That’s why the couple attended the informational panel “H1N1 – Influenza A and You,” Wednesday evening at Central Christian Church in Seymour.

Jackson County had its first confirmed case of H1N1 last week when a female student at Immanuel Lutheran School tested positive for the virus.

“It’s good for us to have as much information as we can,” Brenda said. “I feel much more informed and better prepared to handle this.”

But the Snowdens don’t believe the public is prepared.

“I just don’t think people are taking it seriously and they should,” Gary said.

Wednesday’s program brought together a group of experts, including Jill Stauffer, a field epidemiologist with the surveillance and investigation division of the Indiana State Department of Health, to provide the most current information on the flu and to answer questions from the public.

The state health department estimates more than 6,000 cases in Indiana and that 98 percent of existing flu is H1N1.

“We are just now seeing seasonal flu,” Stauffer said.

One main difference in H1N1, she added, is the age group it is affecting the most.

“A different population is being affected,” she said.

“People over 65 just don’t seem to be getting it.”

The average age of positive cases is 12 to 17, said Dr. Kenneth Bobb, Jackson County health officer. “The number of cases nationwide tends to be trending upward,” he added.

Stauffer said the incubation period for H1N1 is two to seven days before a person starts showing symptoms and that those symptoms are similar to a lot of illnesses, including seasonal influenza. Symptoms include fever, sore throat and cough.

“The severity will vary, but most of the cases we are seeing are mild,” she said.

However, the virus does spread quickly, she added, and the severity can change if the strain mutates.

“That’s something we will be watching very closely,” she said.

She emphasized that scientists are still developing a vaccine but that H1N1 can be weakened some with antiviral medications, including Tamiflu and Relenza.

Bobb said he expects Jackson County will receive a shipment of H1N1 vaccine in October, but he doesn’t know how much there will be to go around.

“The state is recommending certain individuals at high risk get the vaccine first,” he said. “Our goal is to immunize everyone over the age of six months.”

Those identified as high-risk include pregnant women, anyone from 6 months to 24 years of age, caregivers for children, medical personnel and those age 25 to 64 with serious health complications.

The first cases of H1N1 occurred toward the end of April, and by June, the Centers for Disease Control had raised the pandemic level to six.

“It was quick to form and quick to get around the world, which shows how virulent H1N1 is and how mobile we are as a society,” Stauffer said.

She said because of staff and financial resources, focus on H1N1 is shifting from identifying individual cases to surveillance and monitoring the situation.

Duane Davis, director of Jackson County Emergency Management and Homeland Security, said it’s going to take more than a few people to help keep the situation under control.

“It’s going to take all of us to respond,” he said. “This will be a community event.”

Paul Ramsey, with the county health department’s environmental services, said there are steps everyone should be taking to help keep the virus from spreading.

“We aren’t going to stop it, but we can slow it down,” he said.

Those steps he refers to as the 3 C’s – clean, cover and contain.

“Wash hands, clean surfaces with soap and water or use sanitizers. Cover coughs and sneezes, and if you’re sick, stay home so you aren’t giving it to anyone else,” Ramsey said.

He also advised everyone, from families to businesses, to have plans in place to deal with an H1N1 outbreak.

“Failure to plan is a plan to fail,” he said.

Other speakers Wednesday included Dr. Ron E. Harrison with Jackson County Animal Clinic; Jeannie Berry, infectious control nurse at Schneck Medical Center; Becky Alexander, Jackson County Core Services Coordinator with Centerstone; and Lin Montgomery, public health coordinator with the county health department.

At a glance

Precautions

Jackson County Health Department suggests residents follow some simple steps to help protect against the flu:
Practice the 3 C’s: Clean hands often with soap and water or sanitizers; cover coughs and sneezes; and contain — if you feel ill, stay home and away from others.

The general public should be vaccinated against seasonal flu even though it does not protect against H1N1.

About the flu

Flu facts provided by the Centers for Disease Control

Symptoms

H1N1 symptoms: Fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some have reported diarrhea and vomiting.

Preventive action

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

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

Try to avoid close contact with sick people

If you are sick with flu-like illness, the CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making them sick.