News
Minimize Your Risk of Catching the 'Flu During the Holidays!
As we approach the holiday season please remember that this is also flu season, and Vaira Harik, Director of the Cochise County Health Department would like to remind everyone that influenza "loves" this time of year. Both the novel H1N1 virus and the regular seasonal flu will be circulating in our county during the holidays.
It's cool and dry outside, thus allowing the virus to remain alive on surfaces longer and people attend holiday gatherings in large numbers, potentially sharing germs.
People are also more mobile during the holidays, traveling by car and airplane to see loved ones and potentially carrying the viruses with them if they are sick.
And the beginning of the holiday season means throngs of shoppers will crowd into malls, stores and supermarkets, coughing and sneezing, touching countertops and door handles, and potentially passing on or picking up the flu viruses.
You and your loved ones can reduce your chances of catching and spreading the flu by following a few simple steps:
* Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow, not your hands. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Carry alcohol-based hands cleaners or wipes and use them frequently when you shop, travel, or attend holiday functions.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, and remind the kids not to do so either. Germs spread that way.
* Stay home from work or school if you get sick. Do not return to work or school until 24 hours after your fever is gone.
* GET VACCINATED. Check with your doctor to see if vaccine is available for you, or check with the Cochise County Health Department at www.cochise.az.gov/h1n1 or 520-432-9410 to find public vaccination clinic times.
Both H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine have been in short supply for the past two months. Your doctor may not yet have H1N1 or seasonal flu vaccine. Please make the best use that you can of public clinics, such as those offered by Wal-Mart and other pharmacies for seasonal flu shots, and those offered by the Health Department for H1N1 shots.
Vaira Harik, Cochise County Health Director, explains that "we are continuing to offer the vaccine to the groups that are identified as being at high risk for illness from H1N1 first. Our clinics are running very smoothly and we have enough vaccine available. We have been concentrating on Tier 1 patients as well as all school-aged children from 5 through 18 years of age. In December and January we will be able to vaccinate additional groups, as long as the vaccine supply continues. Eventually, everyone who wants a vaccination will be able to get one from their doctor or from the Health Department."
-Cochise County will publish updates, as needed, on its website at http://cochise.az.gov/h1n1.
-Updated information about swine flu in the US can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.
-Arizona-specific information about swine flu can be found at http://www.azdhs.gov/flu/h1n1/.
Basic clinic information can be found at the Health Department's H1N1 Hotline at 520-432-9410.
It's cool and dry outside, thus allowing the virus to remain alive on surfaces longer and people attend holiday gatherings in large numbers, potentially sharing germs.
People are also more mobile during the holidays, traveling by car and airplane to see loved ones and potentially carrying the viruses with them if they are sick.
And the beginning of the holiday season means throngs of shoppers will crowd into malls, stores and supermarkets, coughing and sneezing, touching countertops and door handles, and potentially passing on or picking up the flu viruses.
You and your loved ones can reduce your chances of catching and spreading the flu by following a few simple steps:
* Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow, not your hands. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Carry alcohol-based hands cleaners or wipes and use them frequently when you shop, travel, or attend holiday functions.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, and remind the kids not to do so either. Germs spread that way.
* Stay home from work or school if you get sick. Do not return to work or school until 24 hours after your fever is gone.
* GET VACCINATED. Check with your doctor to see if vaccine is available for you, or check with the Cochise County Health Department at www.cochise.az.gov/h1n1 or 520-432-9410 to find public vaccination clinic times.
Both H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine have been in short supply for the past two months. Your doctor may not yet have H1N1 or seasonal flu vaccine. Please make the best use that you can of public clinics, such as those offered by Wal-Mart and other pharmacies for seasonal flu shots, and those offered by the Health Department for H1N1 shots.
Vaira Harik, Cochise County Health Director, explains that "we are continuing to offer the vaccine to the groups that are identified as being at high risk for illness from H1N1 first. Our clinics are running very smoothly and we have enough vaccine available. We have been concentrating on Tier 1 patients as well as all school-aged children from 5 through 18 years of age. In December and January we will be able to vaccinate additional groups, as long as the vaccine supply continues. Eventually, everyone who wants a vaccination will be able to get one from their doctor or from the Health Department."
-Cochise County will publish updates, as needed, on its website at http://cochise.az.gov/h1n1.
-Updated information about swine flu in the US can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.
-Arizona-specific information about swine flu can be found at http://www.azdhs.gov/flu/h1n1/.
Basic clinic information can be found at the Health Department's H1N1 Hotline at 520-432-9410.
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