Friday, 24 July 2009
Public Health Meets West Bay Residents
A public health team visited a West Bay neighborhood yesterday (Thursday, 23 July) to calm fears of a flu outbreak in that neighborhood.
“We met with residents to inform and reassure them, after three residents of the National Housing Trust (NHT) affordable housing development in Capt. Jose Osborne Drive were hospitalized with the flu,” said Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kiran Kumar.
Of the three patients, one is scheduled to go home today (Friday, 24 July)
“We discussed the nature of the H1N1 virus, how to prevent the spread of it, and how to care for those who get sick,” Dr. Kumar said.
NHT’s Special Project Coordinator Odette Campbell was present at the meeting and said it was extremely informative and helpful: “We really appreciate that public health officials were able to have a meeting on such short notice. People were able to get all the answers to their flu questions – what it is, how it spreads and how to care for the sick. Residents were even able to discuss their concerns with public health officials one-on-one after the meeting.”
Dr. Kumar said health officials understand people’s fear, especially in light of the increasing number of cases locally, as well as the rise in the number of hospitalisations.
“We will continue to educate the public, and anyone with concerns should call the Public Health Department. It is important that people have the correct information so they can be full partners in the effort to contain the H1N1 virus,” said Dr. Kumar.
What does it mean to be in a high risk group?
High risk groups are those people who, when they do get the flu, have a higher probability of getting severely ill. It does not mean that they are at higher risk of catching the virus.
In fact, according to the CDC’s statistics, the highest rates of infection are in those under 25, and the median age of hospitalized cases in the US is 19 years old.
This means that, even if you are not in a high risk group, you have to monitor your illness and seek medical attention if your symptoms are severe.
High risk groups include children under the age of five; adults over the age of 65; pregnant women; persons with weakened immune systems; and persons with chronic conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease.
If these persons develop a fever with a cough, sore throat, or runny nose, they should consult their health care providers immediately. In addition, those in high-risk categories who are household contacts with known flu cases should contact their physician to receive Tamiflu, in order to prevent illness even if they feel well.