Update:
November 25, 2009
TCHD will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday and Friday.
There will be no appointments for H1N1 vaccine for people in priority groups this week due to the holiday.
People in priority groups who want to be vaccinated with H1N1 vaccine should call back after the holiday weekend, beginning Monday, November 30th. We will take their name and number and call them back when vaccine becomes available. Call (607) 274-6609.
To date, TCHD has vaccinated 1,989 Tompkins County residents. This includes school children and people in the priority groups for H1N1 vaccination.
H1N1 and Holiday Travel
Although the CDC reports some gradual declines in influenza activity, there is still a lot of influenza everywhere. Keep this in mind when traveling and visiting friends and relatives. In Tompkins County, H1N1 is still circulating. The incidence of the illness tends to fluctuate with fewer cases during some periods and then picking up again. There have also been reports of secondary infections. That means that a person with an influenza-like illness including H1N1, may also contract pneumonia, bronchitis or other bacterial and viral infections as they begin to recover from the flu.
If you are sick with symptoms of flu-like illness, you should not travel. These symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people may also have vomiting and diarrhea. It’s possible to be infected with the flu and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.
Those people traveling overseas should check the Centers for Disease Control website. There are some countries, particularly in Asia that are screening travelers for influenza-like illness. For CDC travel updates, visit http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/content/novel-h1n1-flu.aspx.
Holidays are busy with a lot of activity and social gatherings. It’s important to remember to cover coughs and sneezes and to wash your hands frequently.
Everyday Steps to Prevent Flu
Remember that every day steps to prevent H1N1 flu and seasonal flu go a long way in staying healthy and preventing the spread of disease:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after it’s used and wash your hands.
- Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow if a tissue is unavailable or that cough or sneeze comes up quickly.
- 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 and mouth since germs can spread that way.
- If you have influenza-like-illness (fever greater than a 100◦F with cough or sore throat) stay at home for at least 24 hours after your fever goes away, without using any fever-reducing medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
For more information on seasonal flu and H1N1 flu go to the following websites:
• Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) – www.tompkins-co.org/flu
• New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) – www.nyhealth.gov
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu
Or, Call the TCHD Flu Hotline at 607-274-6609
Page updated: November 25, 2009 | Webmaster