Press Release
MAY 26th, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
|
CONTACT: TIM O’CONNOR
PHONE: 561-671-4013
FAX:
561-837-5197 |
PALM BEACH
COUNTY, FL - Following
the lead of the Florida
Department of Health the Palm
Beach County Health Department,
as of today, will be refocusing
its efforts in the H1N1 outbreak
toward developing vaccination
plans for the fall influenza
season. Surveillance and
monitoring of the virus will
continue throughout the summer
months with situation reports
maintained internally.
The latest information shows there have been 139 confirmed
cases in Florida with 13 being
hospitalized. Palm Beach County
has had eight confirmed cases
the last two being a 22 year-old
female and 42 year-old male.
Both had onset of symptoms May 5
and have since recovered. The
outbreak in the county has been
characterized as mild with
sporadic cases.
CDC no longer recommends that communities with a laboratory
confirmed case of influenza A
H1N1 consider adopting school
dismissal or childcare closure
measures.
A public health emergency has been declared by the State
Surgeon General and will expire
on June 30.
Automated flu information can be obtained in Spanish and
English at 1-800-775-8039.
Health Department Director, Dr. Jean Malecki said, “We will
continue to monitor the number
of H1N1 and other flu cases in
our county throughout the summer
months.”
Dr. Jean Malecki, health
department director
recommends the following:
People with respiratory illness should stay home from work or
school to avoid
spreading infections,
including influenza, to
others in the community.
-
Avoid close contact with
people who are coughing
or otherwise appear ill.
-
Avoid touching your
eyes, nose and mouth.
-
Wash hands frequently to
lessen the spread of
respiratory illness.
If you think you have
influenza, please call your
health care provider or the
health department at
840-4500 and discuss whether
you need to be seen in their
office, emergency department
or stay home. Three websites are
also updated regularly
www.pbchd.com
,
www.cdc.gov,
www.doh.state.fl.us
locally information can be
obtained by calling 211.
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