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Be diligent: Swine flu kills again
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Courtesy of US Centers for Disease Control cdc.gov
A 10-year old boy died on the morning of June 19th just across the river in Morristown, NJ. Strangely enough, he became ill on June 12th, the same date that NYC DOHMH published its “decline” message.
According to the New York City Department of Health, on June 12th, “Community transmission of the H1N1 virus appears to be declining in New York City…” True, Morristown is most definitely not NYC, but it's not that far away either.
The message, then, is that we must all be diligent. Here’s what to do to reduce the risk of infection, and what to do if you feel sick:
1. Wash your hands – your mom was right! You touch doorknobs, handrails, bus poles, grocery carts, and who knows what else in your day to day activities. Viruses spread on contact. Wash your hands!
2. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Your mom was right again! If you don’t have a hankie or tissue then sneeze into your upper arm. This is what chefs do in the kitchen! This prevents your cold or flu from spreading.
3. If you feel ill, call your doc and get in as soon as you can. Don’t forget that there are Community Health Centers throughout the city that see patients on a walk-in basis. Call first.
4. Go to http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/ to find a health center near you.
5. If you are elderly and have a fever or cold, you should be under the care of a doc anyway, but you’re most likely not subject to the H1N1 virus, as you were around for the previous flu pandemics in the 1950’s! Call your doc first with any questions.
6. If you have an infant, or a child with a fever or who is sick, get her or him to a doc IMMEDIATELY. This is where it’s OK to take them to the Emergency Room!
7. If you’re an adult with sniffles, stay in bed for a day and take what you usually take to get rid of the cold. If you develop a fever, get to a doc. See the Community Health Centers in #4 above if you don’t have a doc.
8. Remember, if all else fails, get yourself to an Emergency Room. 911 is always there.
So, unless you're traveling to Mexico or in contact with already-infected New Yorkers (or anyone else by now), following the above suggestons will more than likely keep you out of the Emergency Room! So wash your hands!
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