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Help Prevent the FLU!

Influenza Type A (H1N1) has been confirmed in a small number of people from the San Diego area.  All persons had only a mild illness, and all are doing well.  However, because there remains a risk of being exposed to this virus, there are things you should do to keep from getting sick and to prevent the spread of flu illnesses.

• To help stop the spread:Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze (proper cough etiquette).
• If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
• Put your used tissue in the waste basket.
• Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing.
• Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.  If you develop a high fever and other moderate respiratory symptoms (cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing, significant muscle aches) please contact your primary care manager.  If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

Keeping healthy is no accident.  Do your part to keep yourself and your family, friends, and coworkers from getting sick!

NMCSD staff members experiencing influenza like illness should stay home and not report to work. In order to provide the best care to our patients we ask our healthcare workers or other staff who have an influenza-like illness to contact their supervisor to let them know and to seek additional guidance on whether they should come in for testing/treatment before convalescence at home. 

If you are ill with flu-like symptoms:

• Get lots of rest, drink plenty of liquids, and avoid using alcohol and tobacco.
• Over-the-counter (OTC) medications can relieve the symptoms of the flu (but never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms, particularly fever).
• Remember that serious illness from the flu is more likely in certain groups of people including people 65 and older, pregnant women, people with certain chronic medical conditions and young children.
• Consult your doctor early on for the best treatment, but also be aware of emergency warning signs that require urgent medical attention. 

PREPARING FOR POSSIBLE SCHOOL OR DAYCARE CLOSURES

As the current flu outbreak expands, there may be school or daycare closures in your community. Families should develop plans for alternate child care arrangements. The Centers for Disease Control makes the following recommendation:

If students are dismissed from school, they should be encouraged not to re-congregate outside of school in large numbers. If childcare facilities close and there is need for childcare, families could plan to work together with two or three other families to supervise and provide care (using the same caregivers each day) for a small and consistent group of infants and young children while their parents are at work (studies suggest that childcare group size of five or fewer children may be associated with fewer respiratory infections). Families are encouraged to discuss these potential arrangements in advance with friends and neighbors so that they have a plan in place should such closures occur.