September 9, 2009
Dear Residents,
We have been planning all summer for the return of the flu season. Our actions included:
Working closely with our town departments, schools, daycares, medical providers, public safety and regional health partners to ensure adequate planning
Holding regular meetings with public safety personnel
Developing a tracking system for personal protective equipment and the purchase of supplies
Reaching out to businesses to ensure that they have developed a continuity-of-operations plan if absenteeism reaches the predicted 30-50% rate
Developing preventative methods to contain both viruses in our community
Establishing a web site to present the most current information and developing a system to continuously update the community
Establishing an active surveillance system to track the spread of the disease
Forming a task force in the school system to create containment strategies
Working closely with school nurses to plan prevention activities, surveillance, and school-based clinics
Recruiting volunteers to assist at multiple flu clinics ( for both seasonal flu and H1N1)
Working with faith-based groups to disseminate information and to consider alternative practices which discourage interactions that might potentially spread the virus
Participating in weekly CDC and MDPH calls and keeping current on the changing protocols and guidance
We understand that this will be a very trying year. We will do our best to contain the spread of these viruses. Like so many other public health issues, this requires the help of the whole community. Please do your part and follow the simple, yet effective, measures recommended to minimize exposures to the seasonal and H1N1 viruses:
Get a flu shot every year. Flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself every flu season. Getting flu vaccine also means that you will not pass the flu to others. Dates for seasonal flu are listed below.
Wash your hands and use an alcohol hand sanitizer product often. This is one of the most effective measures. Teach your family how to properly wash hands.
Use good cough etiquette (into elbow, not hands) or cover mouth and nose with tissues when you sneeze or cough. Throw away tissues immediately and wash hands.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. This decreases the chance that you will get the flu virus or other germs into your body, or that you will pass the flu to others.
Avoid contact with ill persons. Avoid unnecessary holding, shaking hands, hugging, or kissing anyone who has a cold or the flu. People with young children who have an immune system problem or a chronic illness should avoid large crowds.
Disinfect items that you touch frequently such as doorknobs, telephones, etc.
Ensure that personal preparedness plans and kits are up to date, including food, medications and water supplies for the family.
Stay home if ill! If you have flu symptoms, stay home from work or school and avoid public activities until fever free for 24 hours without fever reducers.
Ask your health care provider if you should get pneumococcal vaccine. You need pneumococcal vaccine (pneumonia shot) if you are 65 years or older, a smoker, or if you have a medical condition like diabetes, asthma, or heart disease.
Contact your medical provider if you become ill to determine if testing and treatment are necessary
If you become ill and symptoms get worse requiring medical care:
When going to the doctor’s office or the emergency room, you should avoid taking public transportation if possible.
If you go to your doctor, please contact the doctor’s office before you leave home and tell them you have flu-like symptoms. When you arrive at the doctor’s office, go straight to the receptionist or nurse so that you can be put in a private room while you wait. You may be asked to wear a mask and you should sit away from others as much as possible. If you call an ambulance, let the operator know that you have flu-like symptoms, and also let the ambulance crew know when they arrive.
We also encourage all to get immunized against the flu and have arranged the following dates for seasonal vaccine:
2009 SEASONAL FLU/PNEUMONIA CLINICS
September 22
This clinic is for Senior Citizens and High-Risk Individuals*
(*Over 60 years, pregnant women, caretakers of children under 6 months of age, and those with chronic medical illnesses)
Times: 10:00a.m. – 3:00 pm
Time slots arranged by last names
(A-H) 10:00- 11:00
(I-Q) 11:00 – 12:00
(R-Z) 12:00 – 1:00
1:00- 3:00 (Pregnant and high risk persons)
Location: Franco American Club
October 6th
For General Population
Time: 9:00a.m. -2:00 p.m.
Location: JV Fletcher Library
October 14
For General Population
Time: 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Location: Millennium School
October 17th
Family Clinic-Age 6 months to 18 years, with their parents
Time: 9:00am-11:00 am
Location: Millennium School
OCTOBER 20
General Population
Time: 4:00p.m.-8:00p.m.
Location: Millennium School
No appointments are necessary. For additional information or for those requiring a home visit, please call 978-692-5509. ** Please note that because of limited pediatric vaccine, we request that those under the age of 36 months receive their vaccine from their MD if possible. All children under 18 years must be accompanied by a parent at all clinics.
Please watch for additional updates. Information on the schedule for future H1N1 clinics will be advertised when the Health Department receives confirmation that vaccine will be available. Be assured that we will do our best to get this vaccine to residents as quickly as possible.
Please feel free to contact me or our office personnel if you have any additional questions.
Stay healthy,
Sandy Collins, R.N.
Director of Health Care Services
June 18, 2009
Dear Residents,
As you have probably heard on the news the state Department of Public Health (DPH) announced the first death in Massachusetts linked to H1N1 influenza. The victim was a 30 year old woman from Boston. We continue to see person-to-person spread of the H1N1 flu virus here in Massachusetts, and the level of influenza activity in our state is much higher than it normally is at this time of year. CDC has reported that H1N1 flu has now spread to every state in the nation. Likewise, every county in Massachusetts has seen confirmed cases on H1N1 flu. , with 1153 cases reported as of 6/11.
Local surveillance has shown that medical practices are reporting being inundated with patients, many of whom they feel are suspect or probable cases. Schools are reporting rapidly growing absenteeism rates. As testing is no longer being recommended, we are relying on clinical diagnosis and symptom history for diagnosis.
Please understand that any child, who arrives at school ill, will be sent home. Those with influenza like illness
will continue to be excluded for 7 days, or until the person is completely well for a full day, whichever is
longer. Although we do understand how difficult this may be for many, to help contain this pandemic, this
policy will be strictly enforced. Also please note that we will be working with all summer programs and
alert them that this policy will need to continue through the summer and may impact staff or camp
attendees.
Free Pneumonia Immunizations Offered
CDC is also urging vaccination of all individuals for whom pneumococcal vaccine is recommended, to protect them from pneumococcal disease during this H1N1 influenza outbreak. Of special concern are residents 65 years and older and those 2 to 64 years of age with certain high-risk conditions. People in these groups are at increased risk of pneumonia as well as serious complications from influenza. Recently released provisional recommendations also include those 19 – 64 years of age who smoke or who have asthma. Additional information can be found at http://www.immunize.org/vis/vis_ppsv.asp. To assist with this effort, in the next few months the Health Department will offer pneumococcal vaccine to eligible residents using state supplied vaccine. Please call the
office at 978 692-5509 to set up an appointment.
Pregnancy and H1N1
The observed severity of illness among pregnant women in Massachusetts highlights the need for specific new interventions:
· Treatment should be started immediately rather than wait for any confirmation if testing is done.
· Pregnant women who are close contacts of suspect, probable and confirmed cases should be treated
· FDA has authorized the use of antivirals in children < 1 year and pregnant women.
The latest guidance related to pregnant women and influenza A H1N1 can be found on the CDC website. With every advisory we continue to remind all Westford residents to take these simple steps to keep themselves and others healthy.
· Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
· Cover your cough with a tissue or cough into your inner elbow and not into your hands.
· Do not share utensils.
· Stay home if ill!!!!
Please continue to follow the guidance and do your part in helping reduce the spread of this disease. We thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
June 12, 2009
Dear Residents,
Yesterday the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the H1N1 virus alert to a level 6, which means the virus is spreading across the globe and is now classified as a pandemic. What the WHO phases do NOT do is predict the severity of the virus. It is important to understand that this change is based on the geographic spread of the virus to other parts of the world and does not reflect any change in the severity of the virus or associated illness. It will have little impact on our response in the U.S.A. Regardless of the level, public health officials are taking necessary and aggressive measures to protect the health of our residents.
As of today, we have had 1,153 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu in Massachusetts and 80 people hospitalized since the outbreak began. Most cases involved persons between the ages of 0-24 years. Some severe cases occur in people with underlying risk factors such as young children, the elderly, and people with chronic medical conditions.
Testing
Our guidance has changed very little since our last advisory. This week, the Department of Public Health announced that they no longer recommend testing except for certain high risk individuals. Therefore, under most circumstances, we will need to rely on symptom history and the diagnosis of “suspect cases” rather than confirmed cases.
Surveillance
To mitigate the spread of the disease, we continue to work with school nurses to track absenteeism rates within the school system. We are in close contact with the medical practices to track illness trends. Last week, we sent a letter to parents explaining that, based on Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) policy, a school exclusion policy will be strictly enforced. The policy states that any student or staff member with a temperature of 100 or above with one of the influenza-like illness symptoms will be excluded for 7 days from symptom onset or until well, whichever is longer.
Prevention
Because there is no vaccine for H1N1 influenza, we remind all residents to continue taking simple steps to keep themselves and others healthy.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Cover your cough with a tissue or cough into your inner elbow and not into your hands.
•. If you are sick, stay home from work. If your child is sick, keep him or her home from school as required by the exclusion policy.
Treatment
Most people who get the H1N1 flu do not need to be tested or seen by a doctor.~ They can simply stay home, get plenty of rest, and take over-the- counter medication for their fever, aches and pains.~ Although the H1N1 flu does not seem to be more severe than the seasonal flu, certain groups of people may be at greater risk for complications from any flu, whether seasonal or H1N1.~
Residents who are ill, even with mild illness, should call their doctor right away. Antivirals work best if they are taken within 2 days of when symptoms start. Anyone in a group listed below, who has a fever, with influenza like symptoms (cough, runny nose, sore throat, etc.) should contact their doctor to consider treatment with antivirals.
· Children younger than 2 years old
· People aged 65 years or older
· Pregnant women
· People who have chronic health problems like heart disease, asthma or diabetes
· Children and teens who are on long-term aspirin therapy who might be at risk for experiencing Reye’s syndrome after influenza virus infection
· Adults and children who have compromised immune systems caused by medications or by HIV infection
Flu outbreaks evolve in unpredictable ways. We do not know whether the illness will remain at its current severity, which has been relatively mild for most people. We are working diligently to be prepared for whatever happens with H1N1 in the fall, when the traditional flu season starts.
Please feel free to contact the department if you have any questions.
May 7, 2009
Dear Resident,
We currently have 71 reported cases of H1N1 influenza in Massachusetts and 896 cases in 41 US cities. Cases still appear to be milder than originally expected and responding to antiviral meds. Transmission is now not limited to those who travelled to Mexico or affected areas, so we expect cases will continue to rise. We did see a substantial increase in the number of cases in Massachusetts over the weekend. This increase is due to our ability to perform confirmatory testing at the Hinton State Laboratory Institute in Massachusetts. Previously, testing of all suspect and probable cases was performed only at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, which resulted in a backlog of samples for testing. As of today, Westford has no cases, but many of our surrounding communities have received notification of positive
cases.
DPH reminds us that we are still in the early stages of this outbreak and the situation may change. They will continue to monitor information both locally and nationally and continually assess whether changes are needed in disease control measures. We need to remember that even “routine” seasonal influenza can be a severe disease. Each year in the United States more than 200,000 people are hospitalized for flu-related complications and about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes. We also know that viruses can mutate and become more severe.
Prevention is extremely important and it remains imperative that residents continue to practice these simple yet effective measures to reduce chances of exposure and to limit the spread of the disease to your family and community:
- Wash your hands and use an alcohol hand sanitizer product often. This is one of the most effective measures.
- Use good cough etiquette (into elbow, not hands) or cover mouth and nose with tissues when you sneeze or cough. Throw away tissues immediately.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Avoid hugging and kissing ill persons.
- Contact your medical provider if you become ill to determine testing and treatment protocols.
- Disinfect items that you touch frequently such as doorknobs, telephones, etc.
- Ensure that personal preparedness plans and kits are up to date, including food and water supplies for the family.
- If you or family members are ill, you need to stay home. It is recommended that in the school and day care setting, children who exhibit fever accompanied by influenza like illness must remain out of school for at least 7 days (even if symptoms resolve earlier) or 24 hours after they are recovered, whichever is longer.
A special phone line has been set up by the state to address questions on H1N1 influenza. That number is 2-1-1. Please call this number or feel free to contact the Health Department if you have any questions.
For additional information and links to numbers of cases and new guidance, see the Board of Health web page at www.westfordma.gov web site.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Sandy Collins, R.N.
Director of Health Care Services
23 Depot Street
Westford MA 01886
Tel: 978-399-2908
Fax: 978-399-2565
CDC:
Main Swine Flu Web Link:
Case Counts:
Guidance and Recommendations:
Influenza General Resources:
Influenza OPLAN:
Info Phone Line:
1800CDCINFO (18002324636)
Key Facts:
Seasonal Flu Overview:
DHHS:
Public Health Emergency Declaration:
DHHS/PandemicFlu:
Federal and world response stages:
Use of Pneumococcal Vaccine:
State-by-State Pandemic Planning and status:
World Health Organization:
Confirmed H1N1 case count:
Pandemic Alert System/Levels:
Swine Flu Page:
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