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Last modified: Tuesday, September 1, 2009 4:12 PM CDT
Health officials preparing for H1N1
by Erin C. Hevern • Daily News
After a June announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that a novel H1N1 influenza pandemic is underway, Richland County Health personnel have been gearing up for what they anticipate to be a busy fall.
"Our key role will be to get these vaccines out," said Richland County Health Department Director Deb Flack, still expecting them to arrive mid-October. "When the vaccine is available we will be immunizing the higher priority groups first."
And with the launch of the first week of school in Wahpeton, Flack is encouraging parents to take precautions to reduce the chances of their children getting sick and spreading the virus.
"It's really no different than the seasonal flu, it's really just promoting good hand-washing and cough etiquette," Flack said. "If their kids are sick, they need to keep them home."
Typically, students should return to classes after their fever has been gone for at least 24 hours and lifted without the assistance of a fever-reducing medicine.
Among a group of health personnel, including Deb Jacobs, Wilkin County Public Health director, and Brett Lambrecht, Richland County Emergency manager, there has been discussion of going into the schools to offer the vaccine once it arrives.
"It's more of a possibility with the older age groups," Flack said, adding that the work group has yet to finalize a plan with the area schools.
Regardless, Flack recommends individuals receive their seasonal flu vaccination in September, which is the first of two encouraged for the flu season this year. The second one should be administered 21-28 days after the first vaccination.
"You'll just have a small amount of immunity until you get the second one," Flack said.
Lambrecht indicated that local preparation could go beyond the standard preventive measures including stocking up on hand sanitizer or anti-viral medicines. Masks, he said, could be found online at lab safety supply stores such as http://www.LSS.com.
"If [H1N1] does come and hits hard the stores are going to get wiped out," he said.
Through Aug. 22, the CDC reported flu activity as stable, but also appears to be increasing in the southeastern section of the United States. To date, 556 deaths have been associated with the H1N1 virus nationwide.
In North Dakota, health officials have confirmed 94 H1N1 cases, none of them in Richland County.
Preparation tool kits can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/groups for employers, child care programs, schools and other specific groups.
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