Flu Updates

April 2010

Highlights

• The number of deaths in Maine due to H1N1 are 20 since August 2009. All deaths related to H1N1 in Maine have occurred among people with underlying health conditions. Please note that an estimated 150 people die in a normal flu season in Maine.

• With more than 900,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine distributed in Maine to about 500 health care providers and a variety of free flu clinic settings throughout the state, everyone should consider getting vaccinated against H1N1 flu.

Where can I get a flu shot?

The Maine CDC suggests people find vaccine through three possible avenues: call your health care provider; call 211; or check http://www.maineflu.gov for a list of public clinics.

Everyday Prevention Tips

• Stay home if you are sick, until you are fever-free for a full 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medicine.

• Cough and sneeze into your elbow, or into a tissue. Throw this tissue away.

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, but especially after coughing and sneezing. Alcohol-based hand gels can also be used.

• Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes. Germs can be spread by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

• Avoid contact with sick people. If you are at very high risk for complication, you may want to avoid large crowds.

• If and when vaccine is available, consider getting both seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines.

• Contact your health care provider if there are flu-like symptoms in a household where anyone is younger than 2 years old, 65 years or older, pregnant, and/or has an underlying medical condition. There are prescription medicines (antivirals such as Tamiflu®) that may help.

• Although most people can stay home without seeing a health care provider, anyone with the flu should seek medical attention for:

o Dehydration; Trouble breathing; Getting better, then suddenly getting a lot worse; Any major change in one’s condition