Update:
December 2, 2009
School Based H1NI Vaccination Clinics Continue This Week
The Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) provided H1N1 vaccinations to 355 students at Dryden Central Schools on Tuesday, December 1st. A clinic is planned for Lansing Central Schools on Thursday, December 3rd. TCHD is working with the Ithaca City School District to implement clinics for its students before the end of December.
To date TCHD has vaccinated 2360 Tompkins County residents who meet the criteria established by the CDC for priority H1N1 vaccination. This total includes school children. Anyone in the priority groups who would like to receive the H1N1 vaccine may call the health department at 274-6609 and leave their name and phone number. They will be called back to make an appointment as the vaccine becomes available.
H1N1 flu and other influenza-like illness are still circulating in Tompkins County. Holiday gatherings and travel will increase over the next several weeks.
If you are sick with symptoms of flu-like illness, you should not travel or attend social gatherings. 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. People may be infected with the flu and have respiratory symptoms without a fever. If you have a fever, stay home. Return to work, school, holiday gatherings only when there is no fever for 24 hours without fever reducing medications.
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 a 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)
TCHD Flu Hotline: 607-274-6609
Seasonal flu and H1N1 flu 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
Overseas Travel
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.
Page updated: December 2, 2009 | Webmaster