Swine Flu Update…
April 30, 2009
The World Health Organization on Wednesday raised its alert level to Phase 5, the second-highest, indicating a pandemic may be imminent. The Phase 5 alert — the first ever — activates added efforts to produce a vaccine.
Switzerland and the Netherlands became the latest countries to report swine flu infections. In addition to Mexico and the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Britain, Germany, Spain, Israel and Austria have confirmed cases.
The outbreak appeared to be stabilizing in Mexico, the epicenter. New deaths and cases seemed to be leveling off after an aggressive public health campaign launched when the epidemic was declared April 23. Hospital records suggest the outbreak may have peaked there last week.
In the U.S., the CDC and state officials have confirmed cases in New York, Texas, California, Maine, Kansas, Massachusetts, Indiana, Ohio, Arizona, Nevada and Michigan with a total of 91 cases reported as of Wednesday April 29, 2009.
Swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. The estimated incubation period is unknown and could range from 1-7 days, and more likely 1-4 days. Swine flu has symptoms nearly identical to regular flu — fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue — and spreads like regular flu, through tiny particles in the air, when people cough or sneeze.
If you live or have traveled to areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, contact your health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.
If you or one of your employees experience symptoms, please see your health care provider or stop in at any of our Adult Quick Care locations for diagnosis and treatment. AQC has rapid influenza test kits available. All patients testing positive for influenza A will also have a nasopharyngeal swab specimen obtained and sent to the health department for further testing. Patients who have a high suspicion for influenza by history (including travel history) and physical examination but who do not test positive, will also have a nasopharyngeal swab specimen obtained and sent to the health department for further testing.
Patients who test positive for influenza A should begin treatment as soon as possible after getting sick. The CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. Antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications.
It is important to know that we are still experiencing regional cases of the seasonal form of Influenza A. If someone tests positive for Influenza A, a confirmatory test will need to be sent to identify whether it is the Swine Flu strain. Currently, the number of seasonal influenza cases far outnumbers Swine Influenza cases.
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. However, there are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it then WASH YOUR HANDS.
- WASH YOUR HANDS often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
For more information about Swine Influenza visit the CDC web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu.
If you or an employee have symptoms or feel you need treatment, visit Adult Quick Care at one of our convenient locations:
1650 Broadway, Kansas City MO 64108 ♦ Clinic Hours: Mon-Fri 8am – 5pm
19000 E. Eastland Center Court, Suite 300, Independence MO 64055 ♦ Clinic Hours: Mon-Fri 8am – 10pm
10415 Lackman Road, Lenexa KS 66219 ♦ Clinic Hours: Mon-Fri 8am – 5pm
1333 Meadowlark Lane, Suite 200, Kansas City KS 66102 ♦ Clinic Hours: Mon-Fri 8am – 5pm
904 Edmond Street, St. Joseph MO 64501 ♦ Clinic Hours: Mon-Fri 7am – 5pm
6501 E. Commerce Ave, Suite 110, Kansas City MO 64120 ♦ Clinic Hours: Mon-Fri 8am – 5pm
13830 S. US Highway 70, Grandview MO 64030 ♦ Clinic Hours: Mon-Fri 8am – 5pm
No appointment is necessary at Adult Quick Care.
816-559-6320 ♦ www.AdultQuickCare.com ♦ 816-559-6318 (fax)
*Please feel free to forward this information to any member of management in your company who would benefit from it.*
To view the Tip of the Week in Spanish please visit our Tip of the Week library at http://www.ohscompcare.com/totw/. Please allow a few days for the current Tip of the Week to be translated and placed in to the library.
To learn more about services OHS-COMPCARE has
to offer, contact our Client Services Team at (816) 561-2105 option 1 or by e-mail
at customerservice@ohscompcare.com.
You can also visit us at www.ohscompcare.com.
Why choose us? Because OHS-COMPCARE has a physician on call 24/7/365 days a year to respond to our client's needs.
OHS-COMPCARE has seven (7) area clinical facilities:
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Independence Clinical Facility |
Johnson County Clinical Facility |
St. Joseph Clinical Facility |
Grandview Clinical Facility |
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19000 E. Eastland Center Crt, St. 200 |
10415 Lackman Road |
904 Edmond Street |
13830 S Us Highway 71 |
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Independence, MO 64055 |
Lenexa, KS 66219 |
St. Joseph, MO 64501 |
Grandview, MO 64030 |
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816-478-9299 |
913-495-9905 |
816-233-7702 |
816-761-4664 |
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After Hours Available |
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KCMO/Broadway Clinical Facility |
KCMO/Front Street Clinical Facility |
Wyandotte County Clinical Facility |
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1650 Broadway |
6501 East Commerce, Suite 110 |
1333 Meadowlark Lane, Suite 200 |
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Kansas City, MO 64108 |
Kansas City, MO 64120 |
Kansas City, KS 66102 |
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816-842-2020 |
816-483-5550 |
913-596-2774 |
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