News

Kane County starts flu education campaign

Posted September 29, 2009 11:00 pm

If you have the flu now, chances are it's the H1N1 "swine" strain, according to the Kane County Health Department and an emergency room doctor at Delnor Hospital in Geneva.

The two agencies teamed up Tuesday to announce the department's new campaign: "Stop the Flu, It Starts With You," targeting seasonal and the H1N1 influenzas. It emphasizes the three Cs we've all heard about: Cover your mouth and nose when cough or sneeze, clean your hands frequently, and contain your flu-ridden self or kids at home.

There is "sporadic" H1N1 activity in Kane, said Paul Kuehnert, health department executive director. And Dr. Steve Hall said Delnor is seeing more children show up with flu symptoms. "It is highly unusual to see influenza in Illinois in September," Kuehnert said.

Kuehnert said the health department is talking to employers about changing sick-leave policies, at least for this flu season, so that workers don't risk losing their jobs for taking off to care for themselves or a relative. Schools in Kane County typically require that a student not return until 24 fever-free hours, without the use of fever-reducing medication, have passed.

But people should plan, too: "A family really needs to talk about 'What if A, B, C, if somebody gets sick or all of us get sick ... what are we going to do if we need to keep our child home?,' " Kuehnert said.

"Businesses do have big issues here in terms of addressing their personnel policies. I think many employers are wrestling with this now."

The campaign is being paid for with federal money, as are the H1N1 immunizations, which Kuehnert expects will be available in October. The county has lined up 200 providers. The providers can charge an administrative fee.

Unlike the regular annual flu vaccines, adults 65 and older are not among the "high risk" people that will get the first doses. That's something the senior clientele at Dreyer Medical Clinics are confused and asking about, said Suzanne Phillips, marketing director. They want to know if there will be enough vaccine for seniors to get a shot.

H1N1 seems to be rougher on young children and pregnant women, so they will be given first priority. Kuehnert said up to 120,000 Kane County residents fall in the high-risk category.

Kuehnert said he expects there will be enough by the end of the year for senior citizens.

At Delnor, swine flu tests are only run on people sick enough to be admitted to the hospital; it takes five days to get results, which don't affect treatment anyway, Hall said. And antiviral drugs are being prescribed only to people at high risk of developing complications from influenza. Giving them to everyone will foster drug resistance, Kuehnert said.

Antivirals can reduce the severity of symptoms, and may shorten the disease by a day.

Representatives of several school districts spoke about practices for keeping children out of school when they are ill. But one certified school nurse pointed out that when schools were closed last spring for the H1N1, other community activities that gather large numbers of people went right on schedule, as did commerce.

And even though the H1N1 is already here, getting a vaccine may still keep people from getting sick. The disease comes in waves - you may not catch it in October, but that doesn't mean you are out of the woods, according to Kuehnert.

About 80 people died from influenza and pneumonia in 2006 in Kane County.

More information is available at kanehealth.com. Campaign materials will be translated into Spanish by next week.

Fighting the flu There's no need for most people to see a doctor when they have the flu, according to health experts, as long as they don't have the following complications: Children • Fast breathing or trouble breathing • Bluish or gray skin color (call 911 immediately) • Not drinking enough fluids • Not waking up or not interacting • Being so irritable the child doesn't want to be held Adults • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath • Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen • Sudden dizziness • Confusion Both • Severe or persistent vomiting • Flu-like symptoms improve, but then return with fever and worse cough Source: Illinois Department of Public Health; Dr. Steve Hall

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