Feeling Good, HCCInformation About the Flu and Pandemics
Catching a flu bug is always miserable. And this year, concern about a possible pandemic – a very serious and deadly flu – makes it all the more important to beat the bug.
This website offers tips for staying healthy and information about the pandemic, the avian or bird flu, links for swine flu information and what it means for you.
Our next Flu Clinic will be on September 29, 2009 and October 5, 2009 in RCF 400 from 11-1pm.
About staying healthy
About the pandemic
What can I do to avoid getting the flu?
- Cover your cough or sneeze! Use a tissue or cough into your sleeve.
- Wash your hands often, especially after coughing or sneezing.
- Get a flu shot.
- Eat healthy, drink water, and get lots of sleep.
- Avoid sick people.
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How can I make my office/home more flu-proof?
- Wash hands and disinfect key surfaces.
- Stay home when you’re sick and urge co-workers to do the same.
- Use antiseptic wipes on phones, keyboards, conference tables, remote control, and kitchen faucets and refrigerator door handles
- Disinfect all light switches
- Carry hand sanitizers.
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Where can I get a flu shot?
Check with your doctor or health plan.
The Howard County Health Department will hold 9 public flu clinics from mid October thru mid December. Click here for a schedule: www.hchealth.org.
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How can I tell the difference between a cold and the flu?
Flu Symptoms:
- Fever between 102 and 104
- Sudden severe headache
- Severe muscle aches
- Extreme tiredness
- Hot flushes or chills
- Duration: 1-2 weeks
Cold Symptoms:
- Dry or mild hacking cough
- Mild muscle aches
- Stuffy and runny nose
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Duration: 10-14 days
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How is the flu spread?
The flu virus can live for up to 48 hours on the surface of objects such as tables, desks, chairs, doorknobs, phones, keyboards, elevator buttons, pens and other utensils.
The flu virus spreads through tiny droplets of respiratory fluid. This means that when infected people cough, sneeze, or even talk they may be sending out the virus to others.
People who are carrying the virus can be contagious 1 to 4 days before their symptoms appear, so they can pass it on before they even know they're sick.
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What is the pandemic all about?
A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. A flu pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which people have little or no immunity, and for which there is no vaccine. The disease spreads easily person-to-person, causes serious illness, and can sweep across the country and around the world in very short time.
It is difficult to predict when the next influenza pandemic will occur or how severe it will be. Wherever and whenever a pandemic starts, everyone around the world is at risk. Countries might, through measures such as border closures and travel restrictions, delay arrival of the virus, but cannot stop it.
Source: www.pandemicflu.gov
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How does the avian (or bird) flu relate to the pandemic?
Health professionals are concerned that the avian flu virus (which has a technical name, H5N1) could create a serious pandemic. In other parts of the world, humans have contracted avian flu, mostly by being exposed to infected poultry. So far, there have been no cases of human-to-human transmission.
But this virus continues to evolve. If it starts spreading among people, it could quickly infect the entire world.
For more information, visit www.pandemicflu.gov
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How can I prepare for a pandemic?
Imagine what would happen if millions of people became seriously sick at the same time. Businesses would be disrupted. Basic supplies like food or gas would be hard to get. Schools would close. Transportation would be affected. You may not be able to get to work.
It is important to think about the challenges that you might face, particularly if a pandemic is severe. Here is a Web site that presents some situations and possible ways to address them: http://pandemicflu.gov/plan/individual/index.html
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What’s the difference between a pandemic and a seasonal flu?
Check out this Web site for a side-by-side comparison: http://pandemicflu.gov/season_or_pandemic.html
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How is HCC planning for a pandemic?
HCC is creating and testing a plan with actions for four stages of a pandemic:
- Pre-pandemic (actions that can be taken now)
- Human-to-human transmission anywhere in the world
- Confirmed case in North America
- Confirmed case in Mid-Atlantic states
In general, the plan calls for steps to help minimize spread of the disease, providing services when a large number of people are sick, an orderly closing of the college when necessary, and resuming services when the pandemic has passed.
View HCC's Pandemic Plan
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Where can I access more information about Swine Flu?
We urge you to visit www.hchealth.org or call the Flu Hotline at 410-313-6503 for more information about Swine Flu.
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