Swine Flu and
Seasonal Flu* Concerns
By Barbara Chaffee, MD
Reprinted Trinity Times, Volume
3 –no.10
Everyone is nervous about the
H1N1 ("swine flu") influenza, and there is reason to be concerned.
However, remember that the influenza we see every year ("seasonal flu")
is associated with more deaths than H1N1.
H1N1 is more likely to spread
among children and young adults; people born before 1957 may have
partial immunity. For this reason, the vaccine will be distributed
first to children, pregnant women, health care workers, and those with
other illnesses that put them at risk. However, if possible everyone
should get BOTH the vaccine for seasonal flu AND the vaccine for H1N1
flu. Here are the other suggestions from the Centers for Disease
Control:
♥ Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or
sneeze.
♥ Throw
the tissue in the trash after you use it.
♥ Wash
your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not
available,
use an alcohol-based hand rub (sanitizer).
♥ Avoid
touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
♥ Try
to avoid close contact with sick people.
♥ If
you are sick with flu-like illness*, CDC recommends that you stay home
for at
least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or
for
other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a
fever-reducing medicine.)
♥ While
sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from
infecting them.
♥
Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds
and
other
measures to keep our distance from each other to lessen the spread of
flu.
What does this means for us in
church?
We will have sanitizer available
at church. Wash your hands or use the sanitizer as you enter church and
as you leave. It also makes sense to use it as you come forward for
communion.
It is generally safe to shake
hands when you pass the peace, but if you feel more comfortable just
making eye contact and greeting your neighbor, that is a reasonable
choice.
Do not come to church if you are
sick*.
Get your Vaccine for seasonal
flu and for H1N1.
They will be available from your
doctor or the health department
*
"flu-like illness" means fever, achy muscles, cough and/ or runny nose.
Some people get diarrhea, but influenza typically does NOT cause
stomach symptoms. However if you have vomiting or diarrhea, you may
have another virus, for which hand-washing and staying home until you
are well is also very important.
|
Click to return to home page