H1N1 (Swine) Flu Update…

May 5, 2009

In the U.S., the CDC and state officials have confirmed a total of 279 (and may be as high as 380) H1N1 (Swine influenza A) influenza cases reported as of Monday May 4, 2009 with one case resulting in death.

H1N1 influenza 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.

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.

Some questions to ask when you have concerns about employees who may show signs of symptoms or have traveled recently include:

Have you been exposed to anyone in the last seven days with flu like symptoms including fever, body aches, coughing, sore throat, respiratory congestion, vomiting or diarrhea?

Have you yourself experienced any flu like symptoms in the last seven days including fever, body aches, coughing, sore throat, respiratory congestion, vomiting or diarrhea?

Have you traveled to any areas that have had confirmed diagnosis of H1N1 in the last ten days?

While traveling (bus, plane, taxi, boat etc) were you exposed to anyone who was coughing or sneezing around you?

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 (brand name Tamiflu ®) or zanamivir (brand name Relenza ®) 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.

There are insufficient data available at this point to determine who is at higher risk for complications of H1N1 influenza A virus infection. At this time, the same age and risk groups who are at higher risk for seasonal influenza complications should also be considered at higher risk for swine-origin influenza complications.

Groups at higher risk for seasonal influenza complications include:

· Children less than 5 years old;

· Persons aged 65 years or older;

· Children and adolescents (less than 18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection;

· Pregnant women;

· Adults and children who have chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders;

Although indications from Mexico are that the virus may be less lethal and infectious than originally feared and life is returning to a level of normalcy in Mexico, the CDC and world health officials stressed that the global spread of swine flu was still in its early stages and a pandemic could be declared in the days to come. Prevention is the best measure! 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:

Independence Clinical Facility	Johnson County Clinical Facility	St. Joseph Clinical Facility	Grandview Clinical Facility
19000 E. Eastland Center Crt, St. 200	10415 Lackman Road	904 Edmond Street	13830 S Us Highway 71
Independence, MO 64055	Lenexa, KS 66219	St. Joseph, MO 64501	Grandview, MO 64030
816-478-9299	913-495-9905	816-233-7702	816-761-4664
After Hours Available

KCMO/Broadway Clinical Facility	KCMO/Front Street Clinical Facility	Wyandotte County Clinical Facility
1650 Broadway	6501 East Commerce, Suite 110	1333 Meadowlark Lane, Suite 200
Kansas City, MO 64108	Kansas City, MO 64120	Kansas City, KS 66102
816-842-2020	816-483-5550	913-596-2774