More news from the McDonough County Health Department

by Dr. Heerboth

Below is the text of a news release from the health department about H1N1 vaccine. We received this today, October 30, 2009. Please contact the health department for further information.

The McDonough County Health Department has begun receiving shipments of the H1N1 vaccine.

When can I get the vaccine for my family?
We have scheduled walk-in clinic dates that include*:
· October 31, 2009 9:00 am -3:00 pm at Macomb High School
· November 2, 2009 5:00 - 8:00 pm at Bushnell High School
· November 4, 2009 5:00 – 8:00 pm at West Prairie Middle School
*Please check our website for cancellations or updates www.mchdept.com

In order for a child (17 years and younger) to receive the H1N1 vaccine a parent or guardian must be present to authorize vaccination for the child. If someone other than a parent or guardian is bringing the child written consent from the parent or guardian is required.

Who is eligible for the vaccine?
H1N1 nasal spray criteria:
· Individuals that can receive the H1N1 nasal spray vaccine include individuals ages 2 through 49 without chronic health conditions (some examples include asthma, blood disorders, heart disease, and diabetes.)
· If you have received the seasonal flu nasal spray vaccine within the last 28 days you must receive the injectable form.
· You may not receive the nasal spray if you are pregnant or think you may possibly be pregnant.

H1N1 injectable form criteria:
· Pregnant women
· People who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age
· Health care and emergency medical personnel
· Anyone from 6 months through 24 years of age
· Anyone from 25 through 64 years of age with certain chronic medical conditions or a weakened immune system

If you do not fall into the above groups please wait until notification about when to get vaccinated. We will continue to receive shipments of vaccine and do not expect a shortage. Everyone will eventually have an opportunity to receive the vaccine.

How much is the vaccine?
The McDonough County Health Department is offering the vaccine to the community at NO COST.

How can I find out more information and stay up to date about H1N1 in McDonough County? For the most up to date information on clinic dates and H1N1 information please check our website at www.mchdept.com or call (309) 837-9951 ext 220 (Linda) or ext 211 (Amy) Monday - Thursday 7 am- 12 pm and 1pm -6 pm.

Update From McDonough County Health Department

From the McDonough County Health Department
Received October 28, 2009

The McDonough County Health Department has begun receiving shipments of the H1N1 vaccine.

When can I get the vaccine for my family?
We have scheduled tentative walk-in clinic dates that include*:
· October 31, 2009 9:00 am -3:00 pm at Macomb High School
· November 2, 2009 5:00 - 8:00 pm at Bushnell High School
· November 4, 2009 5:00 – 8:00 pm at West Prairie Middle School
*Please check our website for cancellations or updates www.mchdept.com

In order for a child (17 years and younger) to receive the H1N1 vaccine a parent or guardian must be present to authorize vaccination for the child. If someone other than a parent or guardian is bringing the child written consent from the parent or guardian is required.

Who is eligible for the vaccine?
H1N1 nasal spray criteria:
· Individuals that can receive the H1N1 nasal spray vaccine include individuals ages 2 through 49 without chronic health conditions (some examples include asthma, blood disorders, heart disease, and diabetes.)
· If you have received the seasonal flu nasal spray vaccine within the last 28 days you must receive the injectable form.
· You may not receive the nasal spray if you are pregnant or think you may possibly be pregnant.

H1N1 injectable form criteria:
· Pregnant women
· People who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age
· Health care and emergency medical personnel
· Anyone from 6 months through 24 years of age
· Anyone from 25 through 64 years of age with certain chronic medical conditions or a weakened immune system

If you do not fall into the above groups please wait until notification about when to get vaccinated. We will continue to receive shipments of vaccine and do not expect a shortage. Everyone will eventually have an opportunity to receive the vaccine.

How much is the vaccine?
The McDonough County Health Department is offering the vaccine to the community at NO COST.

How can I find out more information and stay up to date about H1N1 in McDonough County? For the most up to date information on clinic dates and H1N1 information please check our website at www.mchdept.com or call (309) 837-9951 ext 220 (Linda) or ext 211 (Amy) Monday - Thursday 7 am- 12 pm and 1pm -6 pm.

Things are About the Same

by Dr. Heerboth

It is mid-week already. Things have remained about the same in West Prairie since I last posted on Friday. Overall, our absentees due to illness are still under ten percent each day. We appreciate that parents and guardians are keeping the children home when they are sick.

The state board of education's annual superintendent conference was Tuesday and Wednesday morning this week. Flu or flu-like illness is not everywhere across the state, but where it hits, it seems to move fast and many become ill.

We are continuing to urge our students and staff to wash hands, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay home when ill.

McDonough County Health Department H1N1 Nasal Spray Clinic

by Dr. Heerboth

The county health department asked me to forward the following information to you. They will be sponsoring several clinics in the area. Note the date and time this Saturday. Also note the upcoming clinics tentatively scheduled for the next week. One is scheduled for November 4 at West Prairie Middle School.

This is a copy of what the health department sent:

H1N1 Nasal Spray Clinic

The McDonough County Health Department has just received a shipment of H1N1 nasal spray vaccine. The health department will be holding a nasal spray vaccine clinic on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at the McDonough County Health Department on 505 E. Jackson in Macomb from 1:00-5:00 pm. The H1N1 vaccine will be free of charge. If you are unable to attend the clinic on Saturday we will be holding walk-in clinics October 26-29, 2009 from 2:00-6:00 pm at the health department. The following people who qualify to receive this type of vaccine include healthy people who:

· Are from 2 through 49 years of age,

· Are from 25 through 49 years of age and

o Live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age, or

o Are health care or emergency medical personnel

If you are not in the above list or are pregnant, have a weakened immune system, long-term health problems such as heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease, metabolic disease such as diabetes, asthma, anemia and other blood disorders you must wait until the shot form is available to receive the H1N1 vaccine. Also, if you have received the seasonal flu nasal spray vaccine within the last 28 days or less you will have to wait until the shot form available.

In order for a child to receive the H1N1 vaccine(17 years and younger) a parent or guardian must be present to authorize vaccination for the child. If someone else other than parent or guardian is bringing the child written consent from the parent or guardian is required.

Also we have scheduled tentative clinic dates for nasal and injectable vaccine based upon receipt of both forms of the H1N1 vaccine. Please check our website before attending the following clinics in case of cancellation (www.mchdept.com). If you have any questions please contact 309-837-9951 ext. 220 for Linda and ext. 211 Amy

TENATIVE Clinic Dates:

October 31, 2009 9:00 – 3:00 pm Macomb High School

November 2, 2009 5:00-8:00 pm Bushnell High School

November 4, 2009 5:00-8:00 pm West Prairie Middle School

Mid-Week Update

by Dr. Heerboth

It's Wednesday in West Prairie. We have about the same number of sick children as we had yesterday. There are about fifty children sick out of 700 or so. It looks like parents are keeping the children home while they have fever and for twenty-four hours after the fever goes away.

No one can say how long this is going to go on. If it is any consolation, in the last couple of days the number of children leaving school during the day because they become sick has fallen off from Monday.

Continue to carefully wash hands, cover the coughs and sneezes, and stay home with a fever. The links to the left of this entry will provide you with access to lots more flu information. I have a daily news feed there as well.

Flu is Widespread, According to the Health Department

by Dr. Heerboth

We have quite a few sick children today, but so far, our absence rates have been just a little higher than usual. There are about 49 sick children today out of our 700 or so. That is not a lot higher than we would expect, but the kids who are out sound like they're pretty sick. We appreciate that parents are keeping their children home when they are ill. As far as I know, we don't have any "confirmed" H1N1 cases in the school district, but we assume that what is going around is either seasonal flu or H1N1, which the health department tells me should be approached in the same way.

So far, our teachers are healthy. We continue to urge everyone to practice good hygiene and stay home if sickness comes. I'll continue to communicate through this blog as conditions change.

Flu in the Area

by Dr. Heerboth

I checked in with the McDonough County Health Department this morning. County school districts are starting to see dramatic increases in the number of children and teachers who are out sick. West Prairie absenteeism has increased a little over last week, but we have a much lower rate of sickness than the surrounding school districts in McDonough County. We do not have any confirmed cases of flu (that I am aware of) so far, but it's only a matter of time.

As of this morning, the health department does not have any available H1N1 flu vaccine. They report that they do not know when it will arrive.

I think the smart thing to do is to keep the children home if they are sick. Our teachers and staff will stay home, too. I will continue to communicate with all of you through this blog or directly by email should we begin to face real problems due to illness.

My philosophy is to let our parents and families know the facts about flu in West Prairie. I do not want a lot of rumors flying around. We will do our best to protect the privacy of students and staff. Otherwise, I am committed to letting everyone know what is happening.

by Dr. Heerboth

I am posting this on Friday morning, October 16. This morning there were news stories about an elementary school in West Burlington that was closed because a lot of students and staff were ill. As of today, we have very few students who are out sick and we have heard nothing of West Prairie students with influenza. Since the flu seems to be coming closer to our area, I want to restate what the Illinois Department of Public Health wrote about keeping safe from flu and avoiding behavior that would spread the flu:

Protecting Yourself Against H1N1 Influenza

What is H1N1 flu? H1N1flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that cause regular outbreaks in pigs. Cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses were first confirmed in the United States in the spring of 2009. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Illinois Department of Public Health and local health departments are coordinating the response to this novel flu virus outbreak. Visit www.ready.illinois.gov or www.cdc.gov/h1n1/ for more information.

What are the signs and symptoms of H1N1 flu in people? The symptoms of H1N1flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue, and, in some cases people have reported diarrhea and nausea. Like seasonal flu, H1N1flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

There are simply everyday actions you and your family can take to stay healthy.

• If you have a cough or sneeze, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or cough or sneeze into

your sleeve. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol‐

based hands cleaners also are effective when hand washing facilities are not available.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are spread through such contact.

• Influenza is thought to spread mainly from person‐to‐person through coughing or sneezing of

infected people.

• If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from

infecting them.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?

If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu? Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol‐based hand cleaner. We recommend that when you wash your hands ‐‐ with soap and warm water ‐‐ that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol‐based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

What should I do if I get sick? If you become ill with influenza‐like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose and sore throat, and, in some cases, nausea, or diarrhea, you should contact your health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed. You should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others. CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever‐reducing medicine.)

We will continue to listen for guidance from public health experts as the flu season progresses. In the meantime we wish good health to all of our communities.

Probable Case of H1N1 in McDonough County

by Dr. Heerboth

You will hear, I am sure, that a WIU student has a "probable" case of H1N1 flu. It is interesting to see that the university asked the student to return to her permanent home until her symptoms resolve. As far as we know, there is no better way to prevent the spread of the illness than by staying home if you are sick. Here is a link to WIU's information on this case. You may copy and paste it into your browser:

http://wiu.edu/newsrelease.sphp?release_id=7618

Here in West Prairie, we see no sign that would indicate that flu has arrived here yet. Our rates of absenteeism are normal. We've had a few people say they are ill with "the flu" but they seem to mean that they have upset stomach or other symptoms. So far, (as far as I know) we haven't had anyone in our school families contract influenza.

Maybe you heard about the school district south of St. Louis that closed due to H1N1. I heard the superintendent say that students who were sick with fever and respiratory symptoms were sent to school with Tylenol or Ibuprofin instead of being kept at home. Let's all agree that if we become ill, or if our children become ill, that we will stay at home.

Worried about H1N1 Flu?

by Dr. Heerboth

We receive a lot of information about H1N1 flu each week. During the past year we have also received guidance for school districts from a variety of credible sources. We've heard from the federal government, the Communicable Disease Centers, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the McDonough County Health Department. Some of the information we received in the past has been changed as these organizations receive new information.

I am going to use this blog format to keep the West Prairie community updated with what we know about the disease. I will post the most up-to-date information about the epidemic as we receive it, and will post links to the organizations that provide us with guidance.

Several of these agencies published brochures with a lot of information about H1N1 flu, including information about immunization and prevention.

Our principals, teachers, and custodians are paying attention to hygiene in our buildings. We are asking the children to do the same. They should wash their hands regularly and thoroughly. They should use a tissue or cough into their sleeves. We are installing additional hand sanitizers for staff and student use as well.

October 5, 2009: Right now, we are not seeing student absenteeism above normal levels.