219 E. Market St. | Lima, OH | 45801
| 419-228-4457
Know What to Do About the Flu
Stay Informed about Seasonal Flu
and H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)
It is
important to know about the different flu viruses currently in
circulation, their risks, and what you can do to protect yourself
and the people you care for. There are everyday steps you and your
loved ones can take to help protect against infection from flu
viruses, and there are steps you should take if you become infected.
This page
has basic information and links to more in-depth information. At the
bottom of the page are links to printable
one-page flyers/information sheets.
Seasonal Flu
Vaccine
- People should get vaccinated as soon as vaccine is
available to them.
○Adults
- Our seasonal flu vaccine clinics for adults are finished
for 2009 and into 2010. We do not have seasonal flu
vaccine for adults.
○Children
-
We have nasal spray
vaccine available for children. The nasal spray vaccine can only be used on
healthy 2-18 year old children. If children have other
health conditions such as asthma, they cannot take the nasal
spray vaccine. If your child needs the injectable
vaccine, please verify it is available for your child before you come.
We also recommend:
Check with your health care provider or local pharmacies
Monitor local
media for announcements of seasonal flu shot clinics
H1N1 (Swine) Flu Vaccine
-
If your healthcare provider is not offering the vaccine,
it is available through the health department - call
419-228-INFO (4636) for appointment information.
It
will be very hard to tell if someone who is sick has 2009 H1N1
(Swine) flu or seasonal flu, or something else. People who are
sick should not expect to be tested to determine what type of flu
virus they have.
The
symptoms of the H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the
symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat,
runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A
significant number of people who have been infected with H1N1 virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
Follow
this link for the latest recommendations from the CDC.
If you are sick
with flu-like illness, you should stay home for at least 24 hours
after your fever is gone except to get medical attention or other
necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a
fever-reducing medicine.) LImit your contact others as much as possible.
This is to keep from making others sick.
Be Prepared
If you
don't have one yet, consider developing a family emergency plan as a
precaution. This should include storing a supply of extra
food, medicines, and other essential supplies. Information and
guidance can be found at
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/
Avoid the Flu
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or
sneeze.
If
you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper
sleeve, not your hands.
Put your used tissue in the waste basket.
Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing - wash with soap
and water, or use alcohol-based cleaner
Wash your hands
often with soap and water, especially after you cough or
sneeze or use the restroom and before eating.
If you are not
near soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Try not to touch
your eyes, nose or mouth as germs often spread this way.
