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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NAVAJO AREA I.H.S. ISSUES SWINE FLU UPDATE
Window Rock, Arizona ---Navajo Area Indian Health Service (NAIHS)
stated today that it is monitoring very closely the influenza
cases of swine origin that are spreading from human to human
in several states in the U.S., including one confirmed case in
Arizona. In response to the federal government’s declaration
of a public health emergency in the U.S. on Sunday, April 26,
2009, NAIHS is reviewing and implementing emergency response
measures for the Navajo Area.
The
Area Office activated their Incident Command Team on April 28,
2009 to coordinate the NAIHS’ response to the emerging health
threat. Service units are actively preparing for the
emergency response and a major communications network has been
established.
Since 2006,
NAIHS and local health partners have participated in pandemic
flu exercises and emergency preparedness activities to improve
the local health care system’s response to situations such as
the current swine flu outbreak. NAIHS met with and will
continue to meet with the Navajo Nation to plan and coordinate
emergency response efforts.
Health care
providers, pharmacists, and other personnel will continue to
be provided with the most up- to-date information available on
swine flu activities. NAIHS is also assessing areas such as
the existing supply of medical supplies and there are
discussions occurring with local states and counties regarding
the distribution of antiviral drugs in the event that there
are cases in the local area.
The swine
influenza A virus is contagious and can be spread from human
to human, mainly through coughing or sneezing or by touching
something with flu viruses on it and then touching the nose,
mouth, or eyes. Infected people may be able to infect others
beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more
days after becoming sick. People with swine flu can pass the
flu to another person before they are sick and while they are
sick.
The spread
of germs can be reduced by taking the following steps:
1.
If you are feeling sick, stay
home from work, school, or public places. Avoid contact with
other people so that you don’t infect others.
2.
Cover your nose and mouth with a
tissue when you cough or sneeze or cough into your arms.
Throw the tissue away after you use it.
3.
Wash your hands often with soap
and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Use hand
sanitizers if you are not near any running water and soap.
4.
Do not touch your eyes, nose, or
mouth. Germs spread this way.
5.
Do not shake hands if you are
sick.
6.
Avoid close contact with sick
people.
7.
Some good health habits to follow
to prevent getting sick are to get plenty of sleep, be
physically active, eat nutritious food, drink plenty of
fluids, and manage your stress.
Signs and
symptoms of the swine flu are fever over 100 degrees F.,
cough, sore throat, headache, body aches, chills, and extreme
fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting with
swine flu.
Most mild
cases of the swine flu can be managed at home. Seek medical
care immediately if you have any of the following warning
signs:
In
Children:
Fast
breathing or trouble breathing;
Bluish skin
color;
Not
drinking enough fluids;
Not waking
up or not interacting;
Being so
irritable that the child does not want to be held;
Flu like
symptoms get better but return with a fever and worse cough;
or,
Fever
with a rash.
Adult
emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention are:
Difficulty
breathing or shortness of breath;
Pain or
pressure in the chest or abdomen;
Sudden
dizziness;
Confusion;
or,
Severe or
persistent vomiting.
Most
people who get swine flu recover fully within 1 to 2 weeks.
So far, all of the cases, except one, in the U.S. have
recovered.
There is
no vaccine for the swine flu available at this time since the
virus is very new.
There are
many resources with information on the swine flu, including
websites and toll free telephone numbers. For example,
www.cdc.gov or
www.azdhs.gov has swine flu information updates.
The
Navajo Area I.H.S. will provide periodic updates on the
rapidly changing swine flu situation. For more information,
contact Jenny Notah at (928) 871-5821.
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