Doctors at Wayne County Hospital (WCH) and clinics have yet to see a case of Influenza A (H1N1) flu. In the meantime they are taking precautions and working with a heightened sense of awareness. According to Dr. Joel Wells, Chief of Staff at WCH, the staff has been alerted to watch for possible signs and symptoms of the Influenza A (H1N1) flu.
“WCH will follow precautionary measures and follow recommendations of the CDC and our regional public health department,” Wells advised. The staff has been alerted to watch for possible signs and symptoms of Influenza A (H1N1) flu including:
- Temperature over 100F
- Coughing
- Sore Throat
- Extreme Tiredness
Call your healthcare provider if you experience these symptoms so you can arrange to be seen and tested.
This illness is not contracted by eating pork products or being around pigs.
Precautionary measures include social distancing when ill, washing hands, and covering mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing. Social distancing includes staying at least 3 feet from a sick person as all three types of flu spread via droplets from a sneeze or cough. Droplets can travel as far as 3 feet. If you feel ill, stay home and don’t send children to school if they feel ill.
The Centers for Disease Control, working with the World Health Organization to keep the disease controlled, has issued travel warnings to Americans saying that non-essential travel to Mexico should be postponed. The CDC has raised the pandemic threat level to 4, meaning the virus can no longer be contained. The seasonal flu vaccine is not believed to protect against this novel strain of influenza.
The Influenza A (H1N1) Hotline has been established for the public to answer questions about the illness:
1-800-447-1985.
(Posted April 30, 2009)