Press Release
DECEMBER 17th, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
|
CONTACT: TIM O’CONNOR
PHONE:561-355-3576
FAX:561- 355-3038
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PALM
BEACH COUNTY, FL-The
Palm Beach County Health
Department announced today
it has seen an increase in
the number of reported flu
like symptoms from area
physicians. Because of this
increase in symptomatic flu
activity in the county and
in accordance with Centers
for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) and the
Florida Department of Health
(DOH) recommendations,
health officials are urging
residents to take the
following precautionary
measures to help provide
protection against
influenza.
"In our county, we face the
flu every year," Jean
Malecki, M.D., Health
Department Director said.
"As we begin this year's flu
season, it is important all
individuals take these
precautionary measures to
help prevent the spread of
the flu and other
respiratory illnesses that
are common this time of
year."
The
following simple steps can
be taken to help prevent
catching and spreading
the flu.
Precautionary measures
include:
-
Wash your hands often with
soap and water or an
alcohol-based hand
cleaner.
-
Avoid touching your eyes,
nose, or mouth.
-
Do not share eating
utensils, drinking
glasses, towels or other
personal items.
-
Stay home when you are
sick and keep sick
children home.
-
Avoid close contact with
people who are sick, if
possible.
-
Avoid crowds and areas
where people congregate
and are likely to be
sneezing and coughing
Any remaining supply of
vaccine should be used to
vaccinate Florida's most
vulnerable, the high risk
individuals.
High-risk individuals who
should be vaccinated against
influenza include:
-
Persons 65 years and
older;
-
Residents and employees of
nursing homes and other
long-term care facilities
that house persons of any
age who have long-term
illnesses;
-
Persons 6 months of age
and older who have chronic
heart or lung conditions,
including asthma; or need
regular medical care; or
had to be in a hospital
because of metabolic
diseases (like diabetes),
chronic kidney disease, or
weakened immune system
(including immune system
problems caused by
medicine or by infection
with HIV/AIDS;
-
Children and teenagers 6
months to 18 years who are
on long-term aspirin
therapy and therefore
could develop Reye
syndrome after the flu;
and
-
Women who will be more
than 3 months pregnant
during the flu season.
Health care workers and
additional individuals who
should be vaccinated
include:
-
Doctors, nurses, and other
employees in hospitals and
doctors' offices,
including emergency
response workers;
-
People who provide home
care to those in high-risk
groups; and
-
Household members
(including children) of
people in high-risk
groups.
-
Children aged 6 to 23
months and caregivers of
children younger than 6
months are also encouraged
to receive flu shots
because children younger
than 24 months may be at
higher risk for
complications from
influenza.
During the past two weeks,
ending December 13, 2003,
the sentinel physicians
who track patient visits
reported 9% of the
patients seen had flu like
symptoms. This compares to
5.7% in the week ending
November 29, 2003.
This year, Florida
Department of Health county
health departments received
more than 275,000 doses of
flu vaccine, an increase of
over 40 percent from the
number of Floridians
vaccinated by DOH last year.
In a typical year, 70-75
million Americans receive a
flu shot. For more
information about influenza
and steps to protect
individuals and families,
visit
www.cdc.gov.
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