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Get Your SHOTS!
Every
flu season has the potential to cause a lot of
illness, doctor’s visits, hospitalizations and
deaths. CDC is concerned that the new H1N1 flu
virus could result in a particularly severe flu
season this year.
Vaccines are the best tool we have to prevent
influenza. The Rusk County Health Department and
local healthcare providers hope that people will
start to go out and get vaccinated against seasonal
influenza as soon as vaccines become available at
their doctor’s offices and in their communities.
The seasonal flu vaccine is unlikely to provide
protection against novel H1N1 influenza. However
a novel H1N1
vaccine is currently in production and may be ready
for the public in the fall. The novel
H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal
flu vaccine – it is intended to be used
along-side seasonal flu vaccine. This means that
individuals will need to get a seasonal influenza
vaccination and two novel H1N1 influenza
vaccinations.
Learn more about the groups recommended to receive
the novel H1N1 influenza vaccine.
Learn more about the major differences between
seasonal influenza and pandemic influenza.
Protect Yourself
A H1N1 vaccine is currently being developed. When
available, a
listing of local providers and clinics will be made
available. Until then, there are everyday
actions that can help prevent the spread of germs
that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza.
Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
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Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you
cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash
after you use it.
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Wash your hands often with soap and water,
especially after you cough or sneeze.
Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs
spread this way.
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Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
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If
you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that
you stay home from work or school and limit
contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Have you seen a healthcare provider recently with
symptoms of H1N1 Influenza?
In order
to protect the health and safety of the public and
prevent the spread of illness, the Rusk County
Health Department strongly recommends the
following:
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If you have
influenza like illness, regardless of what your
lab results say, you should remain at home until
24 hours after your symptoms have ended.
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If your healthcare provider notifies you that
you have tested positive for H1N1 influenza, you
must stay home for a period of seven days.
This period begins with the first day that you
developed symptoms.
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