MEDIA ADVISORY          Zsolt Koppányi, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.P., District Health Director

West Central Health District • Pamela Fair, Public Relations Information Coordinator

2100 Comer Avenue • Columbus, GA  31904

Phone: (706) 321-6108  •  Fax (706) 321-6126                                           

Email: pbfair@dhr.state.ga.us

Date:  September 11, 2009

Health Officials Warn Residents to Protect Themselves
from Dangerous Mosquito Bites

The West Central Health District would like to remind the public to continue prevention measures against mosquito bites.  Mosquito’s are biting and can carry several types of virus that cause illness. Research shows Mosquito bites that occur during the late summer and early fall may cause more serious illnesses than during other periods.

Dr. Zsolt Koppányi, District Health Director, suggests residents get out and enjoy the outdoors, but protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites. The virus that mosquitoes can carry can cause serious, life-altering and even fatal disease.  Dr. Koppányi urges everyone to take preventive steps to avoid mosquito bites:

• Use insect repellent, be sure to read and follow the manufacturer's DIRECTIONS FOR USE, as printed on the product.
• Wear protective clothing any time of day (long sleeve shirts and pants when outdoors in mosquito prone areas)
• Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets, tires or barrels
• Stay indoors between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active

• Use screens on windows to keep mosquitoes out
• At least once or twice a week, empty water from tires, flower pots, pet food and water dishes, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, buckets, barrels, and cans.
• Check for clogged rain gutters and clean them out.
• Remove discarded tires, and other items that could collect water.
• Be sure to check for containers or trash in places that may be hard to see, such as under bushes or under your home.

For more information, contact the West Central Health District at (706) 321-6108.
 

West Central Health District                                                             

West Central Health District ● Zsolt Koppányi, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.P., District Health Director

Post Office Box 2299 ● 2100 Comer Avenue ● Columbus, Georgia 31902-2299 ● Tel: (706)321-6300 ● Fax: (706)321-6126

West Central Health District • Pamela Fair, Public Relations Information Coordinator

Phone: (706) 321-6108  •  Fax (706) 321-6126                                           

Email: pbfair@dhr.state.ga.us

Date:  August 21, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PREVENT THE FLU, IT’S UP TO YOU

A new school year has started in the West Central Health District and local health departments have already been receiving reports of students and members of the community with influenza like illnesses.  We have also been receiving phone calls from concerned citizens that their friends and family may be infected with the Novel Influenza A (H1N1) virus, or so-called “swine flu.”  While many health care providers have the capability of conducting rapid flu screening tests in their offices, these rapid tests do not differentiate between regular seasonal influenza A and the new Novel Influenza A (H1N1).  Currently, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that this testing be done only for hospitalized patients.  Therefore, there have only been a small number of confirmed cases of Novel H1N1 in our district.  However, over the past few weeks, approximately 98% of all specimens sent to reference labs for confirmatory testing have tested positive for Novel H1N1.  Therefore, it is highly likely that there are many cases of Novel H1N1 in our communities, and most people who develop “the flu” over the next few weeks will also likely have Novel H1N1!

Most people who have become ill with this new novel virus have recovered without requiring medical treatment.  Spread of novel H1N1 virus is thought to occur in the same way that seasonal flu spreads.  Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza.  Sometimes people may become infected by touching something – such as a surface or object – with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

The symptoms of novel H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, and some have reported diarrhea and vomiting.

Dr. Koppanyi, District Director, West Central Health District, reminds our citizens that currently the CDC is not recommending any school closures unless there are enough students or teachers absent to make holding classes impractical.  Public Health recommends that individuals in all high risk groups consider taking both the seasonal influenza vaccine and the novel H1N1 vaccine when they become available.  The seasonal vaccine should be available through local health departments in early September and the novel H1N1 by mid October.  It should be noted that the “regular flu shot” does not provide protection against novel H1N1, and vice versa. 

“We continue to monitor both the spread of the virus and how severe the illness is.  Meanwhile, it is important to practice prevention measures and to be aware of how to care for loved ones who may become ill, said Koppanyi.”

Protect Yourself, Your Family, and Community

·         Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.

·         Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

·         Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.

·         Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

·         Stay informed. Health officials will provide additional information as it becomes available. Visit the CDC H1N1 Flu website.

·         Consider developing a family emergency plan as a precaution, if you don’t have one yet. This should include storing a supply of extra food, medicines, and other essential supplies.   

When caring for someone with the Flu at Home:

·         check with their health care provider about any special care they might need if they are pregnant or have a health condition such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or emphysema

·         check with their health care provider about whether they should take antiviral medications

·         keep away from others as much as possible. This is to keep from making others sick.
Do not go to work or school while ill

·         stay home for at least 24 hours after fever is gone, except to seek medical care or for other necessities. (Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)

·         get plenty of rest

·         drink clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep from being dehydrated

·         cover coughs and sneezes. Clean hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub often and especially after using tissues and after coughing or sneezing into hands

·         be watchful for emergency warning signs (see below) that might indicate you need to seek medical attention.

Get medical care right away if the sick person at home:

• has difficulty breathing or chest pain
• has purple or blue discoloration of the lips
• is vomiting and unable to keep liquids down
• has signs of dehydration such as dizziness when standing, absence of urination, or in infants, a lack of tears when they cry
• has seizures (for example, uncontrolled convulsions)
• is less responsive than normal or becomes confused

If you should have further questions, please refer to www.cdc.gov , www.flu.gov, or www.westcentralhealthdistrict.com