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You can find current information on health and disease surveillance activities here. Winter Weather Safety, Shoveling Safety, Preventing Frostbite Pregnant Women Targeted for H1N1 Vaccine President Signs H1N1 Emergency Declaration Chronic Diseases Place Heavy Burden on Iowans High
activity expected to last several weeks The
Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) reports Respiratory Syncytial Virus,
commonly called “RSV” activity is at high levels, and several more weeks of
high activity are expected. Other states are seeing similar levels of activity,
as this is the typical time of year that RSV causes respiratory illnesses. RSV
can occur at any age, but almost
all children are infected with RSV by their second birthday. It is
the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the
lung) and pneumonia in U.S. children under one year of age. “RSV
is spread from person-to-person in the same way colds and influenza are
spread,” said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “While there is
no RSV vaccine, its spread can be controlled by remembering to cover coughs and
sneezes with your elbow or sleeve and by washing hands or using a gel hand
sanitizer frequently, just as you do to stop the spread of the flu.” Illness
usually begins four to six days after exposure with a runny nose and decreased
appetite. Coughing, sneezing and fever typically follow and wheezing sometimes
occurs. In very young infants, irritability, decreased activity and breathing
difficulties may be the only symptoms. Most
otherwise healthy infants infected with RSV recover in one to two weeks without
complications. However, a health care provider should be seen right away if a
child’s condition worsens. Warning signs in children include: ?
Fast
breathing or working hard to breathe ?
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 that improve but then return with fever and worse cough ?
Fever
with a rash ?
Being
unable to eat ?
Having
no tears when crying RSV
is not tracked on a case-by-case basis in Iowa; however, up to 125,000 children
in the U.S. are hospitalized each year due to RSV infection.
Still
Recovering from There
is Hope. The Iowa
Department of Human Services announces the Ticket
to Hope Program, specifically to help those Iowans impacted by the
natural disasters of 2008.
Shoveling
injuries range from aches and pains to heart attacks As the
state digs out from the first winter storm of the season, the Iowa Department of
Public Health (IDPH) encourages Iowans to remember their health as they clear
their driveways and sidewalks. “It’s not uncommon for people to hurt
themselves shoveling snow,” said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk.
“People forget that shoveling puts a lot of stress on the body in a short
amount of time. This can result in injuries ranging from minor aches and pains
to fatal heart attacks.” While the
Office of the U.S. Surgeon General counts 15 minutes of snow shoveling as
moderate physical activity, it can be too demanding for some individuals. Those
at most risk of a heart attack while show shoveling are individuals who had a
previous heart attack, people with a history of heart disease, those with high
blood pressure, smokers, and people who don’t exercise on a regular basis. There are
tips to follow for safe shoveling: ·
Use a smaller shovel ·
Use light weight
plastic shovels rather than metal shovels ·
Pick up smaller loads
of snow. Shovel by sections. ·
Take frequent breaks,
even if only for a couple of minutes ·
Stop and go inside if
you become overheated or become too cold ·
Drink fluids ·
Don’t try to fling
snow long distances ·
Stop any time you
feel pain Warning
signs that you should stop shoveling include shortness of breath, heavy
sweating, or pain. For more information about winter weather safety, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/adper/winter_weather.asp. Take
precautions to protect health Bitterly
cold air has moved into Frostbite
is an injury to the body caused by freezing. It most often affects exposed parts
of the body like the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers or toes. Severe cases of
frostbite can lead to amputation. "If you do go outdoors, dress warmly and
stay dry,” said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “Parents
especially need to remind children to wear a hat and a scarf to cover their face
and mouth. Choose mittens over gloves because mittens keep your hands warmer.”
Multiple layers of clothes are better than one piece of heavy clothing. Signs
of frostbite include white or grayish-yellow patches of skin, skin that feels
unusually firm or waxy, or numbness. A person is often unaware of frostbite
until someone else points it out because the frozen tissues are numb. If
you must be outside for any length of time, make sure you frequently check
yourself and your children for these signs. If your skin shows these signs of
freezing, go into a warm place immediately. Warm up frozen/chilled skin by
pressing against normal temperature skin (put frozen fingers in arm pits). DO
NOT massage frozen/chilled skin; DO NOT rub with snow; and DO NOT place hot
items against the cold skin as this could cause more damage. Seek medical
attention if skin does not quickly return to normal color and sensation. More
information on preventing frostbite and other winter health precautions can be
found at
www.idph.state.ia.us/adper/common/pdf/winter_weather/frostbite_factsheet.pdf.
Pregnant
Women Targeted for H1N1 Vaccine Iowa
Flu Information Hotline: 1-800-447-1985 Three
weeks after the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine began arriving in Iowa, the supply
continues to be allocated to counties on a staggered basis. Until the vaccine is
widely available, vaccination priority groups have been established to target
those individuals known to be at highest risk for complications from H1N1. Pregnant
women are an important part of this targeted population. All influenza can be
dangerous to pregnant women and their babies. The Iowa Department of Public
Health (IDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend
seasonal and 2009 H1N1 vaccines for pregnant women. “Compared with people in
general who get H1N1, pregnant women with H1N1 flu are more likely to be
admitted to hospitals, more likely to have serious illness, and more likely to
die from H1N1,” said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. Pregnant
women should get both the 2009 H1N1 flu shot and the seasonal flu shot. Both
these injected vaccines are ‘killed’ vaccines, so you cannot catch the flu
from getting these shots. (The other type of flu vaccine – a nasal spray –
is not recommended for pregnant women.) Women can receive flu shots at any stage
of pregnancy. If
you are pregnant and have flu symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat,
runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, or fatigue, call your health
care provider right away. If H1N1 is suspected, your health care provider may
prescribe antiviral medicine that treats the flu. Being pregnant should not stop
women from using antiviral medicines if their doctor decides that they are
needed. Women
who are breastfeeding and are sick with the flu should continue to breastfeed.
Babies who are breastfed get sick from infections like the flu less often and
less severely than babies who are not breastfed. Postpartum women should also
contact their health care provider immediately if they have symptoms of the flu. For
more information on pregnancy and H1N1, visit www.cdc.gov/Features/PregnantH1N1Flu/.
Additional information about H1N1 influenza can be found at www.idph.state.ia.us/h1n1/default.asp. President
Signs H1N1 Emergency Declaration Declaration
provides additional response tool President Barack Obama has signed a National
Emergency Declaration for the ongoing H1N1 flu pandemic. What does this mean to
residents of The emergency declaration does not mean the virus
is becoming stronger or more deadly. It’s
also not because of vaccine supply issues. The declaration is simply a
regulatory move that will make it easier for health care facilities to respond
to the ongoing outbreak. The declaration will enable the This is a welcome move that provides additional
ability to prepare for the continued spread of H1N1.
The virus is moving rapidly through the county and the state. As H1N1 vaccine continues to arrive in limited
amounts in A
statewide toll-free hotline has been established for public questions about
seasonal and H1N1 influenza at 1-800-447-1985. More information can also be
found at www.idph.state.ia.us or www.calcopublichealth.com News
Release Why
is My Nurse Wearing a Mask? Masks another
tool in battle against disease spread As the 2009 H1N1 and seasonal influenza seasons
progress this fall and winter, you may see more individuals, especially health
care workers, wearing protective masks. Does this mean the H1N1 virus is
becoming stronger? Should you be wearing a mask? Is it dangerous to go out in
public without a mask? These are among the many questions raised by “Although seeing a health care worker wearing a
protective mask can be startling, it should actually provide you with a level of
comfort,” said Jane Condon, Public Health Administrator. “It’s a sign your
health care provider is protecting themselves from the H1N1 virus, and in turn,
protecting their patients.” Masks help decrease the spread of influenza in your
health care provider’s office, and so you may be asked to wear one to if you
are coughing or sneezing. “If you’re coughing or sneezing, wearing a mask
while you wait to be seen by a health care provider is a thoughtful action you
can personally take to stop the spread of disease,” said Condon. If your
health care provider wears a mask, it does not mean they are concerned about
attending patients. Instead, it is a sign the worker is taking extra steps to
stop the spread of the virus to themselves, and the patients they see each day. “Additionally, we know some employers are asking
their workers to be checked by a doctor if they are going to be off work for
several days, or before they return to work after illness. Since it is important
to keep hospitals, ERs and clinics available to the sickest people, it would be
helpful to forgo that practice this flu season,” said Condon.
“We are hearing that some offices are already overwhelmed with ill
patients.” A
statewide toll-free hotline has been established for public questions about
seasonal and H1N1 influenza at 1-800-447-1985 or at Calhoun County Public Health
712-297-8323. More information can also be found at www.idph.state.ia.us
or www.calcopublichealth.com ### H1N1:
When Should You See a Doctor? Public
Flu Hotline: 1-800-447-1985 The Iowa
Department of Public Health (IDPH) reports the 2009 H1N1 virus continues to
spread rapidly throughout Children
who should be considered for early antiviral treatment, and whose parents or
caregiver should contact their health care provider as soon as influenza-like
symptoms begin, include: ?
Those
younger than 2 years of age in particular, and some children up to 4 years of
age. ?
Children
and adolescents with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma and diabetes. ?
Adolescents
who are pregnant (and up to two weeks after giving birth). ?
Children
and adolescents who are on long-term aspirin therapy. It is
important to recognize that even healthy older children can have severe or fatal
outcomes after influenza infection. In all children, warning signs indicating
the need for urgent medical attention include: ?
Fast
breathing or trouble breathing ?
Bluish
or gray skin color ?
Not
drinking enough fluids (dehydration) ?
Severe
or persistent vomiting ?
Not
waking up or not interacting with people and things around them ?
Being
so irritable that the child does not want to be held ?
Flu-like
symptoms improve, but then return with fever and worse cough To
date in Influenza
Activity Increasing in Iowa Schools
bitten by the bug The
number of Iowa schools with absences due to influenza-like illness is rising.
Monday, October 12, 56 schools in 23 counties reported to the Iowa Department of
Public Health (IDPH) that at least 10 percent of their enrollment was absent due
to illness. The average percent absent for the schools reporting was 15 percent
of students out due to illness. “This
is not unexpected,” said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “So
far with H1N1 influenza, the largest number of cases has been in people between
the ages of 5 and 24. Schools are a typical place where viruses spread among
students, from students to their teachers, and from students to their
families.” Because the H1N1 vaccine is being allocated to states on a
staggered basis and may not be immediately available to all school children, it
is important for students to be watchful for the signs of influenza and take
action to prevent the spread of the virus at their schools. By
planning ahead, child care can be easier for everyone. Parents can contact
others in the neighborhood or parents from their children’s classroom to make
prior arrangements for ill children. For example, parents can stagger their time
off from work by arranging for several children to go to one parent’s home one
day, and someone else’s the next. If you have several ill children in one
home, it’s a good idea to keep them in separate rooms if possible. This will
help slow the spread of any additional viruses circulating among the kids. Symptoms
of H1N1 influenza are similar to seasonal flu and include a fever, cough, sore
throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some
people with H1N1 flu may also have diarrhea and vomit. Because H1N1 is spread by
person-to-person contact, it is important for students who are ill to stay home
from school until their cough significantly improves and they are fever-free for
24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. For more information about H1N1 influenza, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/h1n1/default.asp. Chronic
Diseases Place Heavy Burden on Iowans Seven
of every 10 Iowans die of chronic diseases Although
among the most common health problems, chronic diseases are also among the most
preventable. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), chronic
diseases like heart disease, cancer and diabetes account for 68 percent of all
deaths in Iowa. The most recent (2007) IDPH Chronic Disease Report indicates
heart diseases account for one of every four Iowa deaths. “One
of the most critical conclusions to draw from this report is the importance of
prevention. There are a host of opportunities to prevent chronic disease,”
said IDPH Director Tom Newton. “Simple acts like moving more and eating less
go a long ways toward the prevention of chronic disease.” According to the
report, tobacco use is the leading risk factor for chronic disease in Iowa. Poor
nutrition and physical inactivity (combined) are the second leading risk
factors, followed by excessive alcohol use. The
report outlines personal behaviors that can reduce the risk of chronic disease,
including: ?
Preventing
tobacco use ?
Achieving
and sustaining an ideal body weight ?
Increasing
physical activity ?
Maintaining
good nutritional behaviors ?
Reduction
of alcohol use The
entire report, which is a project of the IDPH Chronic Disease Integration Team,
can be found at www.idph.state.ia.us/apl/common/pdf/health_statistics/chronic_disease_report.pdf.
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