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Kittitas County Emergency Response Information
2009 H1N1 flu (swine flu)
A new strain of influenza, called 2009 H1N1 flu or swine flu, was identified in the United States in April 2009.
The severity of the illness has not changed at this time. Those at highest risk of complications from
2009 H1N1 flu include individuals with asthma, diabetes, suppressed immune systems, heart disease, kidney disease,
neurocognitive and neuromuscular disorders, or those who are pregnant.
Updates
Symptoms
- Symptoms of this illness are the same as those for seasonal
flu. Most people will have a fever >100 °F
and a cough and/or sore throat. Other symptoms may include
headache, muscle ache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and diarrhea.
More adults have reported vomiting and diarrhea with 2009 H1N1
flu than with seasonal flu.
Testing
- There have been four confirmed cases of 2009 H1N1 flu in
Kittitas County. One of these cases was in May, the other three
were in Central Washington University students in September.
- There are likely many more cases, but the Washington State
Department of Health has recommended limiting testing since we
know 2009 H1N1 flu is circulating in Washington State. Testing
is now being used only to monitor for increased severity of
illness.
- The only people who are currently being tested for 2009 H1N1
flu are people who are hospitalized with flu-like symptoms or
people who die that have had flu symptoms immediately before
their death.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports
that 99% of samples testing positive for flu are the 2009 H1N1
flu.
Treatment
- Washington State Department of
Health recommends that you treat flu symptoms as you would
during a normal flu season. If you would not normally see a
health care provider because of the severity of your symptoms,
it is not necessary to see a health care provider. If your
symptoms worsen, contact a health care professional.
- Those with higher risk for complications of flu should
contact their health care provider if they become ill. This
includes pregnant women or women who have given birth within the
past two weeks, people 65 and older, people who have
chronic health conditions, and children younger than five (but
especially children younger than two years old).
- Most patients with flu-like illness will do well if they are
drinking plenty of fluids, taking medications for fever if
necessary, and staying home until 24 hours after fever has gone
away without the use of fever reducing medications.
Vaccination
- The best way to prevent 2009 H1N1 flu is vaccination. A
vaccine has been developed and tested, and began arriving in
Kittitas County on October 13 for use in those 6 months and
older. There should be enough vaccine for everyone who wishes to
be vaccinated to do so by early December.
- The vaccine to protect against 2009 H1N1 flu is a separate
vaccine than the seasonal flu vaccine that is currently
available.
- Residents are encouraged to use their normal route for immunizations. If you have a local health care provider,
contact your provider to see if vaccine is available. If you do not have a local health care provider, contact
the Kittitas County Public Health Department at (509) 962-7515.
- Initially, when vaccine availability is limited, the vaccine
will be administered only to the priority groups identified by
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At this
time, these groups are:
- Pregnant women,
- Health care and emergency services personnel,
- People who live with or care for children less than 6
months of age,
- People between the ages of 6 months through 24 years of
age, and
- People from ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher
risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or
compromised immune systems.
-
Due to delays in vaccine manufacturing and the limited amount of vaccine available in Kittitas County,
vaccine is currently reserved for those in the five listed
priority groups. A limited amount of vaccine is being
distributed to each primary care provider in Kittitas
County. Due to high demand, health care providers may not
yet have enough vaccine for each of their patients that fall
into one of the five priority groups. In these cases, the
provider may need to limit vaccine administration to certain
groups.
-
Due to national delays in vaccine production, vaccine may
not be available to the general public until January.
- Children 6 months through 9 years of age will need to
receive two doses of vaccine at least 28 days apart to be most
effective.
- School-based immunization clinics began in early November and
will continue at least into January. This is an opportunity for
children to be vaccinated during school hours. We encourage
parents/guardians to allow their children to participate as it
will reduce the burden on local medical providers.
School-based Vaccination Clinics
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Vaccination clinics are being held at local schools as vaccine supply allows, during school hours.
-
There is be no cost for vaccines given during school-based clinics.
-
Currently scheduled or previously held clinics include:
- Cle Elum-Roslyn Elementary School, November 3
- Easton School, November 4
- Damman School, November 5
- Kittitas Elementary School, November 9
- Mt Stuart Elementary School, November 10
- Ellensburg Christian School, November 12
- Thorp Schools, November 12
- Morgan Middle School, November 16
- Lincoln Elementary School, December 1
- Valley View Elementary School, December 2
-
Packets that include a consent form are being sent home with students or mailed to families as
clinics are scheduled. Packets for currently scheduled schools can be viewed here:
- Students will not be vaccinated unless the consent form is returned to school.
- Parents/guardians do not need to be present.
- Due to the current vaccine supply, nasal spray will not be
available for students at middle and high schools. All
participating middle and high school students will receive
injections. Students at elementary schools will receive vaccine
in the nasal spray form unless they are ineligible because of
their health history. Those elementary school students who are
ineligible for the nasal spray will receive an injection.
- Only students of the schools holding the clinics will be
eligible for vaccination. Staff members and older/younger
siblings or other family members of students will not be able to
receive vaccine at the school-based clinics.
- A second school-based clinic will be held at elementary
schools to administer the second dose of vaccine recommended for
children through age 9. Parents/guardians will receive a second
consent/health history form that will need to be returned for
children to receive the second dose. These clinics will be
scheduled as vaccine allows.
Prevention
- Anyone who is sick with a respiratory illness and fever
should stay home, not go to work or school, wash their hands
often, and cover their cough/sneeze. Stay home until 24 hours
after fever has gone away without the use of fever reducing
medications.
- The best way to protect yourself and others from illness is to:
- Avoid contact with ill individuals;
- Stay home from work or school when you are sick;
- Cover your cough and/or sneeze; and
- Wash your hands many times a day.
- It is recommended that all individuals who have
influenza-like illness wear a face mask when they must enter
crowded areas, such as a health care facility. Those with
influenza-like illness should not enter crowded areas unless
absolutely necessary, especially without a face mask.
- If you are planning to visit a health care provider and you
have influenza-like illness symptoms, call ahead to request a
mask to wear in the health care facility.
- Health care providers treating individuals with
influenza-like illness are being recommended to use special face
masks called N95.
Additional Information and Resources
- United States
- Washington State
- Personal preparedness
- Parents
- Health professionals
- Businesses
Archive
= posted within the last 48 hours.
April 2009
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