Cape May County Sees Increase in Flu-like Illness

COUNTY PRESS RELEASE:
COURT HOUSE — County Health Officer Kevin Thomas encourages residents to be alert for signs of flu-like illness. “We have received several reports of increased flu-like illness in Cape May County,” said Thomas, “and it is important for people to take the steps necessary to protect themselves and others.”
Increased flu-like illness has been reported from physician’s offices, the hospital emergency department, and several County schools, including the Middle Township High School and the Dennis Township schools. The Cape May County Department of Health is working with the school nurses to ensure infection control policies are in place and that sick children are kept
home. “Parents can help by keeping their children home if they are sick,” said Thomas. “Most people who are infected with H1N1 flu run a fever for 2-4 days, so this means they should be out of school or work for 3-5 days on average.”
To stay healthy, Thomas recommends that residents wash their hands frequently with soap and water, particularly after coughing or sneezing, and coughing or sneezing into a tissue or a shirt sleeve, but not into the hands. “People with the flu are most contagious when they have a fever. For this reason, it is absolutely necessary for people with a fever to stay home
until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours,” added Thomas.
The symptoms of H1N1 flu are similar to seasonal flu – fever, cough, sore throat, headache, and body aches. People may also experience vomiting or diarrhea. Most people who are infected with H1N1 flu have an uncomplicated illness that does not require antiviral treatment. However, persons who are at high risk of influenza complications or persons with severe illness
should contact their physician, who may determine if antiviral treatment is needed. Persons at high risk of influenza complications include children less than 5 years and particularly less than 2 years, persons 65 years and older, pregnant women, and persons with diabetes, diseases of the blood, lungs (including asthma), heart, kidney, liver, neurological disorders,
neuromuscular disorders, and persons with a weakened immune system.
The Department of Health will hold its first H1N1 flu vaccination clinic on October 30 from 11am to 4pm at the Atlantic Cape Community College’s Cape May County campus, located at 341 Court House-South Dennis Road in Cape May Court House. While the initial supply of H1N1 flu vaccine is limited, vaccination will only be given to persons in CDC high-risk groups. Thomas
advises residents, “We need to make sure that the initial vaccine gets to those groups who most need it. Residents will have to certify on their patient consent form that they fit into a priority group. Once we have a larger supply of vaccine, we will be able to expand the vaccination to other groups. We expect to receive plenty of H1N1 flu vaccine for everyone who wants to be vaccinated, but right now we need to target it to those at greatest risk.” The priority groups for vaccination are pregnant women, healthcare workers, anyone 6 months through 24 years of age, persons 25-64 years of age with a chronic medical condition that places them at high-risk for influenza complications, and parents or caregivers of infants less than 6 months of age. Residents who aren’t in a high-risk group should wait to get their vaccine until the vaccine supply is adequate.
Certain persons should not receive the H1N1 flu vaccine. Similar to seasonal flu, persons with a severe allergy to eggs, any of the vaccine components, or who have been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome will need a prescription from their physician to get a flu vaccine.
The Department will be holding many other public clinics around the county starting in November. All clinic information will be posted at www.cmchealth.net and at 463-6581. Patient consent forms are available in advance from the Department of Health.