Public Health
Director Gayle B. Harris announced late this afternoon that officials have
confirmed Durham County’s first novel H1N1 (swine) flu case. The individual is currently being
treated in an area hospital. All necessary protocols and procedures are being
followed and the State is appropriately involved. Contacts of the case have been
identified and are being managed appropriately.
Officials note that the Durham
County case is unrelated to the Orange County case announced Friday. This is the
14th case confirmed in North Carolina.
###
Health
Information: Guidance
on the novel H1N1 flu (swine flu) from national and state officials to the
public and health care professionals continues to change to respond to the
spread and severity of this flu in the state and country. Officials from the Health
Department, local medical facilities, educational institutions, and others
continue to monitor and plan for flu like illnesses. Remember to use these health habits daily to help
prevent flu like illnesses:
1.
Cover
your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the issue in
the trash after
you use
it. No tissue handy? Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve,
not your hand.
2.
Wash
your hands often with
soap and water, especially after you cough
or
sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners
are also effective
3.
Avoid
touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Germs spread that way
4.
Stay
home if you get sick.
Additionally,
follow public health advice regarding the novel H1N1 flu and develop your family
plan
Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updates
H1N1
flu http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
What
to do if you get flu like symptoms:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm
Guidance: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/
Information
for Specific Groups
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/groups.htm
CDC
updates by date http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/whatsnew.htm
North
Carolina updates http://www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/gcdc/flu.html
