No Reason to Panic

From MSNBC
Pay attention, but don't panic! That's the the bottom line from Dr. Lee Harrison, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Right now, the average citizen doesn’t need to do anything except to pay attention to news on the developing pandemic and to keep away from others if flu symptoms strike. There is no call to action at this point, except follow basic flu etiquette — don't cough on people and wash your hands often. If you show symptoms of the flu — such as coughing or sneezing — don't go to work or school and spread your germs around, whether they're the swine kind or a garden-variety cold. If you have a fever or difficulty breathing, call your doctor.

World Health Organization Raises Pandemic Alert

Click here for the full article from MSNBC.

• What is pandemic flu? Influenza viruses cause infections of the respiratory tract (breathing tubes and lungs). A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. A pandemic flu occurs when a new flu virus emerges in humans. This new human flu virus then begins to cause serious illness and the new flu virus spreads easily from person to person worldwide.
• What is the difference between pandemic flu and seasonal flu? Every year, there are seasonal flu viruses that are spread from person-to-person and most people have some natural resistance against those viruses. A pandemic flu is a new flu virus that the human population has never been infected with before. People would have little or no natural resistance to such a virus.
• How would a pandemic flu affect communities and businesses? Because most people would have little or no natural resistance against a new pandemic flu virus, many people could become sick and would not be able to go to work or school. Many people would also stay at home to care for sick family members. Schools and businesses might close to try to prevent disease spread. Large group gatherings might be canceled. Public transportation might be limited. These are examples of challenges that local communities, schools, civic organizations, and businesses will have to work together on a plan for response.
• What can be done to protect people from a pandemic flu outbreak? In the event of a pandemic, or any other disease outbreak situation, certain public health measures may be important to help contain or limit the spread of infection as effectively as possible. The following actions could include:
  
  1. Isolating sick people in their homes, at hospitals or other facilities,
  2. Identifying and quarantining exposed people,
  3. Closing schools and workplaces as needed,
  4. Canceling public events,
  5. Restricting travel,
  6. Treating sick and exposed people with vaccines or antiviral medication (if available)

In addition, you should protect yourself on a daily basis by:

• Coughing or sneezing into a tissue or into your upper arm or sleeve, click here for more information,
• Washing your hands with soap and water frequently,
• Using antibacterial hand sanitizer and wipes to disinfect your hands and common surfaces,
• Stay home if you are sick so you can recover and do not infect other people.

To access the Federal Pandemic Flu Checklists and additional information regarding pandemic flu, please visit http://www.pandemicflu.gov/ or www.cdc.gov/swineflu

Q & A about Swine Flu

Source: The Associate Press
Robert Bazell
As new cases of swine flu emerge from around the globe, from Ohio to Nova Scotia to New Zealand, the declaration of a "public health emergency" in the United States has further stoked fears and confusion.
NBC Chief Science and Health Correspondent Robert Bazell answers questions on the outbreak:

• If this disease is like a mild flu, why is this being called a public health emergency? Why are officials in the United States concerned? It's about the potential. It's not about what's happening right now. None of the 40 cases so far in the United States have been very serious. But the virus here is genetically identical to the strain of the virus that is killing people in Mexico. This is a new virus, so there is no natural immunity. It has the potential to spread very widely. That's what raises worries about a possible pandemic.
• Don't thousands of people die from the regular flu? What's special this time around? Generally, people who die from influenza are older people or those who already have respiratory problems. They end up dying of pneumonia. But this time around, the people who died in Mexico are younger. They are apparently healthy people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. That's a big deal. When a virus seems to preferentially affect healthy people, it suggests its a new virus and is causing an overreaction of the immune response. That's what happened with the bird flu as well.
• If I have symptoms of the flu, but haven't recently been to Mexico, should I go to the doctor? You should go to the doctor if you have a fever or are really sick, for instance if you have difficulty breathing, even if you haven't been to Mexico. The cases in the U.S. are not just among people who have been to Mexico. And the cases in the U.S. are so geographically dispersed and with no obvious connection to each other, that it seems this virus has already spread widely in the United States. We shouldn't start overwhelming the E.R. or doctor's offices with every little sniffle or cough. If you had the flu bad enough to start endangering you, you would want to go to the doctor anyway. You should also follow flu etiquette. If you are sick, you should stay home from work or school and limit contact with others.
• Why is the disease so much more serious in Mexico than here? Probably because it started in Mexico. That's going to become a big issue over time. There's supposed to be a pandemic prevention plan to contain a new flu virus by giving people in surrounding areas Tamiflu. But it has obviously been spreading in Mexico for up to a month. The new strain of swine flu was discovered in California before the U.S. even knew about the cases in Mexico. The virus could also be mutating.
• Why is there so much uncertainty about what happens next? Every epidemic has its own behavior. There's really no way of predicting. This could really just fade out or it could become very serious. Right now we are in a period of great uncertainty. In public health, that's the hardest thing.

Senior Fair this weekend

The 2nd Annual Senior Connections Fair is coming up this Saturday at the Cowlitz Expo Center from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There will be guest speakers, entertainment, food, prizes, informative booths and much more. Stop by the DEM booth and say hello!

Out of Area Contact

Why you should have one: Following a disaster, if you cannot call or drive home, how will you know if your loved ones are safe? The local telephone lines will be overwhelmed with 9-1-1 calls and there may be widespread damage to roads, overpasses and bridges.

It's Easy! Choose a friend or family member who lives at least 100 miles away. Everyone in the family calls this person to report in and to find out how others are doing. Everyone keeps the numbers in their wallet, purse or backpack to help them remember who to call.

Following disasters: Call your out-of-area contact person. Only call 9-1-1 if it is a life-threatening emergency.

Text messaging--A New Option: Text messaging on your cell phone is a viable alternative to calling an out-of-area contact. This system is very robust during times of disaster. Text your loved ones to let them know where and how you are. Keep your message brief.

From Washington State Emergency Management Division

http://www.emd.wa.gov/

Safe Kids Day

Looking for something fun for the whole family this weekend? Check out Safe Kids Day at the Longview Fire Department! The theme this year is Raising Safe Kids: One Stage at a Time. The event will be held at the Longview Fire Department at 740 Commerce Avenue in Longview on Saturday, April 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Topics and activities include: fire safety, bike helmet fittings, car seat/seat belt safety, poisoning prevention, disaster preparedness, camping safety, stranger danger, games, activities and LOTS of prizes!

Spring Clean Up Weekend!

The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners has declared April 18th and 19th Cowlitz County Spring Cleanup and Beautification Day. To assist in this event, ALL Cowlitz County residents can use the landfill at 85 Tennant Way in Longview FREE OF CHARGE! Click here for rules and restrictions. If you have any flood debris to remove, this would be the time.