Emergency Planning
12.07.2009
Oliverian School Health Update from School Nurse Ruth Peterle-Dzurec
The Oliverian School fortunately does not have any sick students at the moment! Currently, there is an overall decrease in the number of people with H1N1 in the United States. However, they do expect that there will be periods of less illness followed by a resurgence of the disease. This is why it is still important to receive immunization against both H1N1 and the seasonal flu.
Oliverian students should not be sent back to school after winter break if they have any signs or symptoms of the flu. They should wait until they are symptom free, specifically free of fever for 24 hours without the use of a fever reducing medication. This will help us to prevent the transmission of the flu throughout the community. You can monitor the spread of the disease throughout the country on flu.gov. We encourage parents to be aware of the prevalence of flu in their area of the country so they can better protect themselves and their loved ones.
H1N1 Talking Points
December 4, 2009
Moving to Next Phase of Vaccination
- Today the NH Department of Health and Human Services announces the expansion of H1N1 vaccination to include additional groups of people at risk for complications from H1N1 influenza.
- Based on the amount of H1N1 vaccine that is expected to come into the State we are expanding vaccination to include:
- Anyone between the ages of 6 months to 24 years of age
- Adults 25 through 64 years of age with underlying medical conditions
- The following groups remain eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine:
- Healthcare workers and first responders with direct patient contact
- Pregnant women
- People caring for or living with infants younger than 6 months old (including partners of pregnant women)
- The vaccine is being offered free and is the single best way to prevent H1N1. People ages 19-24 are at high risk of complications from H1N1, unlike seasonal flu, and we are encouraging them to seek the vaccine.
- To help in reaching these new populations, in addition to the community clinics that have begun around the State, there will also be school-based clinics beginning next week. This process will start slowly and be rolled out over a number of weeks so the school clinics will not be happening all at once.
- DHHS is declaring a Public Health Incident relative to H1N1, which is simply a proactive way to address the ongoing State and local response to H1N1; specifically it will allow the Department of Health and Human Services to seek outside assistance in its response efforts.
- Though reports of influenza-like illness in parts of the country are decreasing, it is still every bit as important to get vaccinated as it was before. There are often peaks and valleys during influenza seasons and pandemics and it is likely that there will be a resurgence of illness in the coming weeks and months.
- For more information, including clinic times and locations, visit the www.nh.gov website. Be sure to check for preregistration information and which groups are being covered by the clinic. The NH Public Inquiry Line is also available Monday-Friday 8 am- 5 pm by dialing 211 or 866-444-4211.
11.09.2009
Public Health Update
A Summary of General CDC Public Health Messages Related to H1N1
Refer to www.cdc.gov and
www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/asthma for updated information on asthma and H1N1; we invite you to link to these sites.
- Flu activity is widespread in 48 states and nationally, reports of influenza-like illness continue to increase sharply in the United States. In addition, flu-related hospitalizations and flu-related deaths are higher than expected for this time of year.
- While influenza is unpredictable, high levels of influenza activity may continue for several weeks, and even after flu activity peaks, it’s possible that other waves of influenza activity may occur – caused by either 2009 H1N1 viruses or regular seasonal flu viruses.
- CDC recommends a three-step approach to fighting the flu: vaccination, everyday preventive actions, including covering coughs, frequent hand washing, and staying home when sick, and the correct use of antiviral drugs if your doctor recommends them.
- 2009 H1N1 vaccination has begun and more vaccine is being shipped each week. We ask members of the public who want to receive this vaccine to be patient as this program expands and more vaccine becomes available. There will be enough vaccine available for anyone who wishes to receive it.
- It’s very important that antiviral drugs be used early to treat flu in people who are very sick (for example people who are in the hospital) and people who are sick with flu and have a greater chance of getting serious flu complications, like people with asthma, diabetes or people who are pregnant.
2009 H1N1 and Asthma (New)
- Asthma affects 7.9% percent of the U.S. population and is the cause of nearly a half-million hospitalizations each year.
- People with asthma are at increased risk for severe complications of influenza, including 2009 H1N1 flu.
- People with asthma account for approximately 32% of 2009 H1N1 hospitalizations in the United States, according to recent data from the Emerging Infections Program, a CDC surveillance system that tracks influenza-related hospitalizations.
- People with asthma need to have their asthma well-controlled and should have an updated asthma action plan. Medication to control asthma (usually inhaled corticosteroids) should be used as prescribed by each patient’s health care provider.
- Less than half of people with asthma seek treatment promptly when they are sick with flu-like symptoms.
- Because people with asthma are at higher risk of serious flu-related complications, they should seek treatment promptly when ill with either influenza like illness (ILI) or an asthma exacerbation.
- People with asthma with suspected 2009 H1N1 infection should be treated promptly with oseltamivir (trade name Tamiflu®). Zanamivir (trade name Relenza®) is NOT recommended for people with asthma.
- People with asthma should get the 2009 H1N1 flu shot (injectable, inactivated formulation only).
- People with asthma also are recommended to get the seasonal flu shot (injectable, inactivated formulation only).
- People with asthma should NOT get the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), also known as the nasal spray vaccine, for either seasonal flu or 2009 H1N1.
2009 H1N1 Hospitalizations in People with Asthma
- People with asthma are at higher risk for serious complications from flu, including 2009 H1N1. As a result, people with asthma are at higher risk of hospitalization.
2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine
- (Updated) As of Tuesday, November 3, 2009, a total of 31,839,200
doses were available for ordering. Of those available doses, 22,682,300 doses were injectable (flu shots) and 9,156,900 were LAIV (nasal spray vaccine).
- All states and the District of Columbia have placed orders for vaccine, and more orders are expected daily.
- 2009 H1N1 vaccination has begun but initial supplies are small. More doses are expected for shipment each week. We ask members of the public who want to receive this vaccine to be patient as this program expands and more vaccine becomes available. There will be enough vaccine available for anyone who wishes to receive it.
11.06.2009
2009-2010 Flu Season
This season’s flu has been on our minds since the end of last school year. Much is being done around the country to monitor and educate regarding the flu due to the emergence of the H1N1 flu virus. H1N1is a type of flu considered pandemic because of the number of people that it has affected around the globe. It is important to know that the term pandemic applies to the number of regions affected by this flu, not the severity of the flu.
The Oliverian School has been preparing for the flu season since the students arrived on campus. We have discussed plans to separate students who may become sick. We’ve done education regarding cough etiquette and hand washing. The students have been educated regarding the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu. We also had a flu clinic last week where we immunized 23 of our students against the seasonal flu.
The H1N1 flu has the same symptoms as the seasonal flu. These symptoms are fever (greater than 100.0), sore throat, cough, nasal congestion, fatigue, chills and body aches. The state of New Hampshire is not testing for the flu except in hospitalized patients, healthcare workers, and other specific groups. We have been advised to treat symptoms and to use everyday techniques to prevent disease transmission.
Please see the following websites for more information regarding the H1N1 flu:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Department of Health and Human Services
Flu.gov
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