State medical expert gives students latest information on H1N1 situation

5:40 p.m., Oct. 14, 2009----The best way for dealing with the H1N1 and seasonal flu is to “wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand cleaners and cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and if you develop flu-like symptoms, see a doctor and stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone.”

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These recommendations come from Jim Tracy, a public health preparedness trainer with the Delaware Division of Public Health, who spoke at a student information session on H1N1 and seasonal flu concerns, held Tuesday evening, Oct. 13, in Smith Hall.

Tracy told the standing-room-only audience of 300 that the Division of Public Health is working in a variety of ways to keep people informed about prevention and treatment, while not creating an atmosphere of panic.

“In Delaware, 84 percent of confirmed H1N1 cases are under the age of 29,” Tracy said. “What we are saying is that this is very widespread and is very transmissible. It's going around the world and there are a lot of cases, but very few deaths associated with it.”

The University of Delaware was the site of the first large outbreak of the H1N1 influenza on a college campus in the United States in the late spring of 2009, Tracy said, with 2,315 students and 300 faculty members exhibiting flu-like symptoms.

With the return of both H1N1 and the seasonal flu, world health officials have expressed concern that H1N1 could develop into a potentially more serious strain, Tracy said.

“Last spring, the novel version of H1N1 affected mostly upper respiratory tracts of individuals,” Tracy said. “If it [H1N1] changes a few genes with the seasonal flu, it could get into the lower respiratory tracts and cause some serious problems with the mortality rate increasing dramatically.”

Tracy also noted that because H1N1 can cause mild to severe illness and at times can lead to death, prevention of the spread of the virus is a top priority for individuals and public health agencies.

With the number of normal seasonal flu cases starting to rise, Tracy said it's apparent that a lot of people are getting both types of flu and that this becomes even more a concern because the viruses are very transmissible.

As a result of both the incidence and the potential for serious complications, health officials are urging individuals to get both seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccinations.

“Whether you get flu shots for both the H1N1 and the season flu is up to you and your health care provider, but we strongly recommend it,” Tracy said. “There are many people who should absolutely get it, including emergency medical technicians and paramedics, and people who work with young children.”

A person infected with the flu virus, Tracy noted, can transmit it from one to two days before they have symptoms, and can also transmit it anywhere from five to seven days after the symptoms start.

“The seasonal flu shot will not prevent you from getting H1N1,” Tracy said. “You need to get both shots -- the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 (novel) flu shot.”

Treatment for the H1N1 flu virus includes the antiviral prescription drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).

“One of the problems that can occur is that individuals take only half of the prescribed medication,” Tracy said. “If you are given a dose to take, it will generally be two pills a day for five days. You want to make sure you take the whole regimen.”

Individuals who develop flu-like symptoms -- which include fever or chills, cough or sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea and vomiting -- should definitely isolate themselves and take precautions not to spread the illness to others.

“For treatment, try your mother's chicken soup. Also, get bed rest, drink plenty of liquids, including water and clear juice, not coffee or soda. You can take acetaminophen for pain and fever,” Tracy said. “You should wait 24 hours after your fever has gone back down before returning to class. You also need to check with the regulations for your school concerning this.”

Tracy said it also is important for individuals and families to develop plans which include laying in supplies, having an emergency medical kit, medical records, prescriptions and over the counter medicines.

Because influenza spreads by contact with an infected person or touching items recently contaminated by a person with the flu, common sense personal hygiene preventive measures are also important, Tracy said.

“If somebody sneezes and you are outside the 6 foot hazard area, you are fairly safe,” Tracy said. “All you need to do is use a tissue and cover your cough. And remember to wash your hands before you eat. If you do all these things, you will be fairly safe.”

Recommended Web sites concerning H1N1 and seasonal flu issues include [www.pandemic.com] and [www.pandemicflu.gov].

Information especially for the University community is available at the H1N1 411 Web site.

Article by Jerry Rhodes
Photos by Evan Krape


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