Immediate Release
May 2, 2009
Little Rock -- William Mason, M.D., the Branch Chief for Preparedness and Response at the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) said today that there are still no cases of H1N1 (swine flu) in the state. Mason said that Arkansas will almost certainly be seeing cases soon, and that being cautious about contact with persons who may be ill continues to be the most important message.
“We do expect that we will see some cases, and possibly some hospitalizations, from this outbreak,” Mason said. “It’s still too early to predict just how this will all play out.”
Influenza is always serious – each year, in the United States, seasonal influenza results, on average, in an estimated 36,000 deaths from flu-related causes.
This outbreak certainly poses the potential to be at least as serious as seasonal flu, if not more so.
Because this is a new virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that most people will not have immunity to it and illness may be more severe and widespread as a result.
The testing supplies needed to confirm cases of the swine flu in the ADH laboratory have arrived from the CDC, and the lab is working to validate the process. Once the new test is in place, the state will be able to analyze samples received from around the state, reducing the time needed to take action to protect the public. The ADH laboratory is working around the clock, seven days a week to test flu samples.
We have received the balance of our antiviral drugs from the National Strategic Stockpile, bringing the total number of treatment courses of Tamiflu and Relenza on hand in the state stockpile to 391,000.
ADH continues to monitor conditions around the country through close contact with the CDC and other world and national health organizations. Education on the flu and how to protect individuals and families is being distributed on the agency’s swine flu hotline (1-800-651-3493). Operators at ADH are talking to physicians, hospitals and the public from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. everyday. An emergency operator is also available at 1-800-633-1735. There is a CDC Hotline at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636). The ADH website has important local information and general guidelines in English and Spanish at www.healthyarkansas.com . The CDC website has the best national information at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/whatsnew.htm .
Precautions and Actions Arkansans should take:
- As always, people with respiratory illness should stay home from work or school to avoid spreading infections, including flu, to others in the community.
- People experiencing cough, fever and fatigue, possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting, should contact their physician.
- Drugs called antivirals can reduce the severity of illness, if taken within 48 hours after symptoms begin.
- Individuals who are 18 years of age or younger who are ill with flu should not take aspirin, but can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
- Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear ill.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Wash hands frequently to lessen the spread of respiratory illness. The key is to wash thoroughly with warm, soapy water, and to wash frequently.
- When hand washing is not possible, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Cover your mouth and nose with tissue when coughing and sneezing.
- Swine flu viruses are not transmitted by food and a person cannot get swine flu from eating pork products.
- Have a good family preparedness plan. Know what you are going to do should a family member become ill.
- Keep a supply of items on hand such as tissues, over-the-counter medications and a digital thermometer.
- Masks are recommended for use in health care settings by ill persons and health care workers to prevent spread of infection. At this time, masks are not recommended for use by well persons in the community.
- Wipe down any surfaces that may have been contaminated by saliva or other respiratory secretions. Use a household disinfectant labeled for use against bacteria and viruses or mix and use one (1) part household bleach to ten (10) parts water.
Signs and Symptoms
The symptoms of swine flu in humans are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include: fever greater than 100 degrees, body aches, coughing, sore throat, chills, headache and body aches, fatigue, respiratory congestion, and in some cases, diarrhea and vomiting. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should call their physician, a local ADH health unit or other health care provider.
Seek emergency medical care if you or someone you know is having any of following warning signs discussed below.
In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
- Fast breathing or trouble breathing
- Bluish skin color
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Not waking up or not interacting
- Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
- Fever with a rash
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
### |
