Crawford County Health Department

2009 H1N1 Flu

Overall, reported flu activity in the United States has declined over the past several weeks. This does not indicate that the threat of becoming infected with the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus or a seasonal flu virus has necessarily subsided, instead, we are just experiencing a natural decline in activity. Flu activity from either the 2009 H1N1 virus or a seasonal virus may not rise to levels seen in past months, but is expected to continue over the next several months. Past pandemics have shown that flu activity can occur in waves, therefore, there is the possibility that another wave of flu activity may occur in upcoming months. According to CDC, the majority of influenza viruses currently circulating are the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus.

The proper steps to prevent spreading or contracting influenza viruses (Clean your hands, Cover your cough, Contain your germs) should continue to be followed. CDC is recommending vaccination as the first step to protect yourself against the flu and vaccine for 2009 H1N1 flu is readily available.

2009 H1N1 Vaccinations

H1N1 vaccinations are available during Monday morning walk-ins from 8:00 - 11:00 a.m. or by appointment.

The Health Department has the live, nasal mist H1N1 vaccine that is available to those eligible to receive it.

Live intranasal H1N1 vaccine is licensed only for use in individuals age 2-49 years who are not pregnant and do not have underlying health conditions. Groups targeted to receive the 2009 H1N1 live attenuated influenza vaccine first are healthy people who:

Are from 2 through 24 years of age,
Are from 25 through 49 years of age and live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age or are healthcare workers or emergency medical personnel who have direct contact with patients.

H1N1 Influenza Nasal Spray Vaccine Recall

A voluntary recall of 4.7 million doses of nasal H1N1 vaccine has been announced by the manufacturer, MedImmune. The recall was initiated due to the apparent shortened shelf-life of the product. Routine post-market testing of the vaccine by the manufacturer raised concern with declining potency in 13 different lots of its nasal spray. There are no safety concerns with the recalled lots of vaccine and there is no need to revaccinate persons who have received vaccine from these lots.

CCHD states that all of the nasal vaccine it received and administered was from the recalled lots. The health department plans to follow CDC recommendations of not revaccinating individuals who received vaccine from recalled lots and returning any remaining recalled vaccine to the manufacturer. The health department will not be able to provide nasal H1N1 vaccinations until it is able to obtain a new supply of nasal vaccine.

CCHD still has injectable vaccine for perons over six months of age, but a new shipment of nasal mist will likely not be available for the clinic on December 30. Parents of children needing a second dose of nasal mist should call the health department for further instructions after the Christmas holiday.

View full press release at link at bottom of page.

CDC Nasal Mist Recall info: CDC Nasal Mist Recall info

Local Emergency Partners Address H1N1 Flu

After receiving initial reports of 2009 H1N1 influenza, “swine flu” cases in the United States, local emergency planning partners began coordinating efforts in preparation for potential illness in our area. Our overall goal is to reduce transmission and illness severity of H1N1 flu by providing information to healthcare providers, emergency response partners, and the public. Past planning efforts among Crawford County Health Department (CCHD), Crawford County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), Crawford County Sheriff's Department, Crawford Memorial Hospital, and other emergency response agencies in Crawford County have set plans in place for an event of this nature. This kind of planning has been happening all across the State of Illinois.

2009 H1N1 flu was first detected in people in the U.S. in April 2009. The virus is thought to be spread from person-to-person similar to how seasonal influenza is spread. In June 2009, the World Health Organization declared the situation a pandemic. As of October 27, laboratory confirmed cases of 2009 H1N1 flu have been reported in nearly two-thirds of Illinois' 102 counties, with deaths reported in 7 counties. As of October 15, 2009, four cases of H1N1 influenza have been confirmed in Crawford County.

Symptoms of the H1N1 virus in people include cough, fever, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches, fatigue, and chills. Some infected people have also reported diarrhea and vomiting. The illness has ranged from mild to severe with most who have been infected recovering without treatment.

The H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine. Currently, the following are priority groups recommended to receive the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine, these recommendations are subject to change:

pregnant women
household contacts & caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age
healthcare & emergency medical services personnel
all people from 6 months through 24 years of age
persons aged 25 through 64 years with health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza*

*conditions include pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease (excluding hypertension), asthma, and kidney disease

To prevent the spread of H1N1 flu remember the 3 Cs:

Clean your hands frequently to prevent the spread of germs
Cover your cough and sneeze into a tissue or sleeve
Contain your germs and stay home if you are sick

It is recommended that if you are sick, stay home until at least 24 hours after you fever is gone without using a fever reducing medication. Avoiding unnecessary contact with others when you are sick will help to control the spread of illness.

For more information about both 2009 H1N1 flu and the seasonal flu, contact Crawford County Health Department at (618) 544-8798 or visit www.idph.state.il.us/h1n1_flu/index.htm, www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/, www.ready.illinois.gov, or www.flu.gov. If you are not a resident of Crawford County, contact your local health department for more information on 2009 H1N1 Flu and the seasonal flu.

A preservative-free vaccine for children aged 6 months to 35 months is available.

Vaccination providers have been directed to abstain from offering the vaccinations to persons over 65 years of age, as well as those between age 25 and 64 years of age without underlying illness.

Children under 10 years of age require two vaccinations at least 4 weeks apart in order to be fully immunized. Those who were vaccinated on or before November 2 will be eligible for their final dose at the November 30 clinic.

Parental consent is required for children under 18 years of age. If a parent is not present, written permission is needed.

CCHD’s current vaccine supply for shots is licensed for use with persons age 6 months and up. It is provided in a multidose vial which requires it to contain a preservative. A preservative-free vaccine is available for children age 6 months to 35 months. Live nasal mist vaccine may only be given to healthy, non-pregnant individuals age 2-49 years.

Are from 2 through 24 years of age,
Are from 25 through 49 years of age and live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age or are healthcare workers or emergency medical personnel who have direct contact with patients.

You should not get the nasal spray 2009 H1N1 vaccine if you have a severe allergy to eggs or other substances in the vaccine such as gelatin, gentamicin, or arginine. The vaccine should also not be given to the following groups:

Children younger than 2 and adults 50 years and older,
Pregnant women,
Anyone with a weakened immune system,
Anyone with a long-term health problem such as heart, lung, kidney, or liver disease, asthma, diabetes, anemia or other blood disorders,
Children younger than 5 years with asthma or one or more episodes of wheezing during the past year,
Anyone with certain muscle or nerve disorders (such as cerebral palsy) that can lead to breathing or swallowing problems,
Anyone in close contact with a person with a severely weakened immune system (requiring care in a protected environment, such as a bone marrow transplant unit),
Children or adolescents on long-term aspirin treatment
Those who are moderately or severely ill

H1N1 Flu Resources

IDPH H1N1 Flu page

CDC H1N1 Flu page

H1N1 Hotline: 1-866-848-2094

Seasonal Flu Resources

IDPH Seasonal Flu page

CDC Seasonal Flu page

Flu.gov

Ready Illinois

CDC-Caring For Someone Sick at Home

H1N1 Flu Vaccine Information Sheets (pdf files)

H1N1 Inactivated Vaccine Information (Flu shot)

H1N1 Live Vaccine Information (Nasal Spray)

H1N1 Information Sheets (pdf files)

CDC Flu Guide for Parents

IDPH H1N1 Questions & Answers

IDPH Protecting Yourself Against H1N1

IDPH Preparing Your Household for H1N1

IDPH Cover Your Cough Flier

CDC's Key Facts about 2009 H1N1 Flu Vaccine

CDC's Free Resources page

Visit the CDC's H1N1 page and IDPH's H1N1 page for more information regarding H1N1 flu. Both the CDC and IDPH pages have links and information for daycares, schools, businesses, emergency responders, healthcare workers, and community & faith-based organizations among others, as well as some of the latest information regarding H1N1 flu.

CCHD H1N1 Press Releases

December 23, 2009 CCHD Press Release

December 14, 2009 CCHD Press Release

November 18, 2009 CCHD Press Release

October 19, 2009 CCHD Press Release

October 15, 2009 CCHD Press Release

October 7, 2009 CCHD Press Release

Updated 2/1/10

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