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Christian County Health Department

The Christian County Health Department has received a shipment of injectable H1N1 vaccine.  Individuals in the priority groups may walk in at the health department between 12:00 and 3:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday, while supplies last.  Please call to check on availability and refer to this press release for information on priority groups.

If you have other questions about the flu, or swine flu, please don’t hesitate to contact the Christian County Health Department. Call them at (270) 887-4160.

The Christian County Health Department has scheduled it's first flu shot clinic and it is scheduled on Sept. 16  from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. It will be held at the old convention center at the Western Kentucky Fairgrounds. Appointments are not required. Another clinic is set for 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Sept. 23, also at the convention center. Additional clinics could be scheduled later.  Anyone who is over the age of 6 months may get a flu shot through the health department for $20.  And, the health department will also accept Medicare Part B and Medicaid as payment for the shot.  After the first September 16th clinic, they will also begin scheduling appointments for the seasonal flu shot. Anyone who wants to get a shot at the health department must call in advance during regular office hours between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Visit their website at http://christiancountyhd.com/QCMS/

How Well Do You Know the Flu?

Many of us have had the flu at least once in our lives, some much more than others, but not many of us know exactly what the flu is. Sure, we know that it causes us to miss school or work, and we know that it causes aches and pains, but why is that?

What is the Flu?

The flu, more scientifically known as influenza, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. The influenza virus usually enters the body through mucus membranes in the mouth, nose or eyes. When a person with the flu coughs or sneezes, the virus then becomes airborne and can be inhaled by anyone nearby.

In most communities, school-age children are the first age group to get the flu. They then carry it into their home and to places where they interact with other kids, such as after-school activities. The flu virus will usually be prominent during the fall and winter, the time of year typically known as “flu season”.

Some people, such as older adults, young children, and people with specific health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications. In extreme cases, complications can lead to death. On average in the United States each year: 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu; more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications; and about 36,000 people die from the flu.

How to Know If You Have the Flu

While it’s pretty normal to mistake the flu for another ailment such as a cold or just “feeling under the weather,” it’s important to know the difference — because if it’s the flu, the sooner you can get help from your doctor, the better.

If you’re not sure it’s the flu you have, keep these things in mind.  Flu symptoms generally appear 1 to 3 days after exposure to the virus. The onset of symptoms often seems sudden: people describe the feeling “like they’ve been hit by a truck.” Flu symptoms can be mild or severe — and if they’re mild can become severe without much notice. Be aware of your body and monitor your body temperature.

The common symptoms of the flu include:

• Fever (usually high)
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Chills
• Extreme tiredness
• Dry cough
• Runny nose may also occur but is more common in children than adults
• Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, may also occur but are more common in children than adults

You don’t need to experience all of these symptoms to have the flu. If you have one or two, it’s recommended that you see your doctor.

CHILDREN: THE FLU'S FAVORITE TARGET

Did you know that children are 1.5 times to 3 times more likely than adults to get the flu? Research shows that children age 6 to 10 have the highest flu infection rates. This high infection rate is thought to occur because, compared with adults, children have had less lifetime exposure to influenza and therefore do not have as much natural immunity built up. Add to this close contact with each other in school, which increases children’s risk of getting and spreading the virus. Luckily, there are flu treatments that can shorten the duration of the flu — or help them avoid it altogether. Be on the lookout for flu symptoms so you can act fast:

• Rapid onset of high fever
• Dry cough
• Chills
• Muscle aches
• Headaches
• Younger children have a greater tendency for high fevers and stomach problems such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

School children tend to catch the flu early in the season and are infectious longer than adults. Research shows that the occurrence of flu in families with school children is double that of families without children in school or daycare.

What is Swine Influenza?

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930.

How many swine flu viruses are there?

Like all influenza viruses, swine flu viruses change constantly. Pigs can be infected by avian influenza and human influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses. When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, the viruses can reassort (i.e. swap genes) and new viruses that are a mix of swine, human and/or avian influenza viruses can emerge. Over the years, different variations of swine flu viruses have emerged. At this time, there are four main influenza type A virus subtypes that have been isolated in pigs: H1N1, H1N2, H3N2, and H3N1. However, most of the recently isolated influenza viruses from pigs have been H1N1 viruses.

What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans?

The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?

No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You can not get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.

How does swine flu spread?

Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs. Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can also occur. This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

What do we know about human-to-human spread of swine flu?

In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman was hospitalized for pneumonia and died 8 days later. A swine H1N1 flu virus was detected. Four days before getting sick, the patient visited a county fair swine exhibition where there was widespread influenza-like illness among the swine.
In follow-up studies, 76% of swine exhibitors tested had antibody evidence of swine flu infection but no serious illnesses were detected among this group. Additional studies suggest that one to three health care personnel who had contact with the patient developed mild influenza-like illnesses with antibody evidence of swine flu infection.

How can human infections with swine influenza be diagnosed?

To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness (when an infected person is most likely to be shedding virus). However, some persons, especially children, may shed virus for 10 days or longer. Identification as a swine flu influenza A virus requires sending the specimen to CDC for laboratory testing.

What medications are available to treat swine flu infections in humans?
There are four different antiviral drugs that are licensed for use in the US for the treatment of influenza: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir. While most swine influenza viruses have been susceptible to all four drugs, the most recent seven swine influenza viruses isolated from humans are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine. At this time, CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses. More information on treatment recommendations can be found at www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/recommendations.htm.