CREST HAVEN — Cape May County is prepared to protect its residents against the swine flu, according to health officials.
On Oct. 1, two members of the county Health Department briefed the Coalition of Civic Organizations (COCA) on the county’s preparedness for the ongoing pandemic.
Health Educator Joan Rowland’s educational presentation included a definition and history of different influenza virus strains, steps people can take to prevent the spread of the disease and sources of reliable information about the flu.
Health Department Epidemiologist Kim Cervantes then addressed the group regarding the current status of H1N1 activity, local school surveillance and response and vaccination planning.
Rowland explained to the group that the flu is an airborne disease of the upper respiratory tract. Like the common cold, symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body and head aches, chills and fatigue. Unlike the common cold, which comes on gradually, the flu has a sudden onset and lasts for a week or even longer in children.
“The flu virus likes the cold weather,” Rowland explained noting the seasonal flu season occurs annually from October through April.
Influenza kills 36,000 people annually and hospitalizes 200,000, Rowland said. The elderly, people with weak immune systems and young children are at particularly high risk for complications from the seasonal flu.
The current H1N1 swine flu is a novel (new) strain that easily spreads person-to-person.
“It went around the world in a week,” she said. But it luckily causes only mild illness and few deaths in humans unlike the H5N1 avian (bird) flu that causes serious illness and frequent death in humans, but is not easily transmitted between people.
Cervantes said 26 states, mostly in the south, were reporting widespread H1N1 activity, but New Jersey’s activity remains regional. She said this strain differs from the seasonal flu in that most confirmed, hospitalized and death cases are in school aged children.
Asthma, COPD and diabetes were the most common underlying conditions in those hospitalized with the flu, Cervantes said. Groups that are at especially high risk of complications include pregnant women and children with medical conditions.
Cervantes said the Health Department regularly monitors 13 local schools, six long-term care facilities, two primary care physician offices and Cape Regional Medical Center.
Schools are asked to report to the Health Department if 2 percent of the student population visit the school nurse with symptoms. School closures aren’t recommended, but it’s up to school officials to decide, she said.
Regarding vaccination, Cervantes said there are five priority groups targeted for inoculation: those six months to 24 years of age; those 25-64 with chronic medical conditions; healthcare workers; pregnant women; and parents and caregivers of infants less than six months old.
One COCA member over 65 with chronic conditions was disappointed that his was group was not considered a priority.
Rowland said elderly have not been hard hit because the current strain is similar to a strain that circulated from the 1920s through the 1940s giving older adults some immunity to the disease.
Vaccination, which is expected to begin arriving locally in the next few weeks, will be available through the Health Department, schools, private partners and seven proposed public clinics in Upper Township, Ocean City, Woodbine, Wildwood, Lower Township and two in Middle Township.
Apart from the hospital, Cape Community Health Center and the Health Department, 39 providers have enrolled to give the H1N1 vaccine including 21 physician practices, seven pharmacies, seven long-term care facilities and four specialty areas.
Rowland said that due to the huge scale of distribution nationwide, the vaccine would likely come to the county in “dribs and drabs.” Orders will be placed daily as vaccine becomes available over the next several months, a state Health Department release stated. The state will adapt its plans as the process evolves to ensure that vaccine is sent to providers as soon as it is available.
The first shipment of vaccine will be in nasal mist form, Cervantes said. She said persons receiving the mist vaccine should wait a few weeks before receiving their seasonal flu shot. Those who receive the H1N1 vaccine in shot form do not have to wait, she said.
The Health Department is holding a seasonal flu clinic for children under 19 and their parents from 3 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at its offices located at 6 Moore Road. Additionally, the county will hold its popular drive-through seasonal flu clinic at Kindle Ford Autoplaza off Stone Harbor Boulevard, Court House from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18 for persons 16 years and older.
“There will only be one drive-through seasonal flu clinic this year,” said Freeholder Gerald Thornton. “But there is plenty of seasonal flu vaccine available this season and it is being given in many locations.”
Despite the “media sensationalism” that accompanied the outbreak of H1N1 in recent months, Rowland wanted county residents to know that the Health Department is prepared for this disease. The first shipment of vaccine
“We train constantly for these situations,” Rowland said. Health officials work with local schools, healthcare organizations, community representatives and businesses on ways to manage challenges that would arise from a major outbreak in the county.
What can the average citizen do to prepare for the flu?
Rowland suggested creating a personal emergency plan, practicing healthy habits and following information from public health experts.
Emergency plans would include supplies of food, water and other essentials as well as medical, health and other emergency items. Healthy habits include hand washing, sneezing into your arm and staying home if sick. For information on the flu, Rowland suggested visiting the Health Department’s Web sit at cmchealth.net or pandemicflu.gov or njflupandemic.gov.
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com
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