Update: swine-origin influenza virus

Updated 11/9

For the past several months, we have all kept a close watch on the development of the novel H1N1 influenza virus, more commonly known as “swine flu.” We have not had to look far to see evidence that nH1N1 is present in our community.

H1N1 can lead to severe sickness, and even death in some cases. Even young, healthy people can suffer serious consequences when infected. As of Nov. 3, 149 deaths in those with laboratory-confirmed novel H1N1 influenza have been reported in Florida. Approximately 20 percent of those deaths are in people with no clear underlying medical condition.

The Lee County Health Department urges our community to get vaccinations against H1N1, a virus to which we have no immunity. The Lee County Health Department is offering free H1N1 vaccination clinics 12 area high schools throughout the county. Everyone should eventually be vaccinated, but those in high risk categories will be given the first supplies of the vaccine. They include:

• Children and young adults age 6 months through 24 years

• Pregnant women

• People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months old

• Health care workers and emergency medical services personnel

• People age 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza

For more information about the clinics, visit the Lee County Health Department’s Web site at www.leechd.com.

Lee Memorial Health System continues to monitor the situation and is working hard to provide the highest level of safety for our patients, visitors and employees. In an effort to prevent the spread of nH1N1 at LMHS facilities, LMHS has put the following policies in place according to CDC recommendations:

Visitation Policies

• Visitors with fever or cough and any of the following symptoms may not visit patients:
       o Sore throat
       o Runny or stuffy nose
       o Body aches
       o Headache
       o Chills
       o Fatigue

You may visit patients 24 hours after you are symptom free.

• Please remember that children under the age of 12 will not have access to adult critical care areas of the hospitals, the NICU and the PICU.

LMHS Employee Policies

• Once the vaccine becomes available, any LMHS employee or volunteer who comes in face-to-face contact with patients must receive the nH1N1 vaccine, or wear a protective surgical-grade mask at all times while in face-to-face contact with patients.
   

• Employees who develop flu-like symptoms must be screened by an ARNP, physician or a walk-in clinic as soon as possible. Any staff member who is excused from work due to flu-like symptoms will not be allowed to return to work for at least 24 hours after he or she no longer has a fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
   

• This requirement will likely be in effect until springtime 2010, depending on the number of nH1N1 cases we see in Lee County during the coming months.

Updated 8/27:

Children under 12 No Longer Permitted in Adult Critical Care Areas of the Hospitals

School is back in session for many area children. The school year traditionally brings an increase of illnesses to the classrooms and into our homes.

This is of particular concern due to the continued spread of the H1N1 virus, also known as the swine flu. There is a strong concern that a large number of local residents will be affected by H1N1 during the normal flu season, occurring later this year.
 

To keep our community as healthy as possible children under the age of 12 will not have access to adult critical care areas of the hospitals, the NICU, and the PICU.

In preparation for the increase in traffic and potential spread of germs, Lee Memorial Health System will implement a revised version of the visitation policies at:
     Cape Coral Hospital
     Gulf Coast Medical Center
     HealhPark Medical Center
     Lee memorial Hospital
     The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida
     The Rehabilitation Hospital

     HealthPark Care Center
 

Patients, families and visitors are strongly encouraged not to bring children under the age of 12 to the hospitals for visitation.
 

If you have flu-like symptoms, it is highly recommended you wear a mask while in public. If seeking medical treatment, inform the medical staff immediately that you may have the flu.

It’s important to remember that contracting the swine flu is not necessarily a reason to panic. The public is encouraged to stay informed and educated about the H1N1 virus.

Additional good health practices to help prevent the spread of germs include washing your hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds; cough into a tissue or sleeve; avoid large crowds and enclosed spaces when possible; and stay home from work or school if you are feeling ill.
 

For more information about the swine flu, visit www.flu.gov. Additionally a local Lee County Health Department message line has been established to inform the public requesting H1N1 flu information. The information line is available at 239-461-6180.

Updated 8/19:

The Lee County Health Department urges people to wash their hands frequently, stay home from work or school if they feel ill, and cover their mouths with a tissue or their sleeve if they are coughing. These common sense precautions will greatly reduce the risk of transmission of all flu virus whether seasonal or H1N1 (swine flu).

While most cases of H1N1 flu are mild, there are exceptions. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has advised people with chronic pre-existing conditions and pregnant women to be especially vigilant to prevent against infection. If someone experiences flu-like symptoms they should contact their health care providers or hospital for instructions about receiving treatment.

People experiencing cough, fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher and sore throat, possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting, should contact their physician. If you think you have influenza, please call your health care provider and discuss whether you need to be seen in their office, emergency department or stay home. People with influenza like symptoms should stay home from work or school until their fever has been gone for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine

Several strategies are known to help prevent the spread of influenza, including widespread vaccination, frequent hand hygiene, coughing into our sleeves and avoiding crowded areas  when possible. “Unfortunately, the novel H1N1 vaccine may not be available until October or later,” says Stephen Streed, MS, CIC, System Director of Epidemiology for LMHS. “We need to be especially diligent with the other prevention strategies to help slow this disease. When the vaccine does become available, everybody should take the vaccine according to the government recommendations.”

"Lee Memorial Health System will continue to work closely with the Lee County Health Department and the Lee County Emergency Operations Center," says Streed.

The symptoms and health effects of H1N1 flu appear to mirror seasonal influenza. Here are some precautionary steps community members and LMHS employees can take during this time. These steps are identical to those you would take during traditional influenza season:

• Avoid large crowds and enclosed spaces when possible
• Cough into a tissue or your sleeve
• Practice good hand washing by using soap and lathering for at least 15 seconds or using a hand sanitizing gel or spray and following the manufacturer’s instructions

"We continue to recommend the same precautions to the public that we always recommend during the flu season: that everyone should wash their hands frequently, stay home from work or school if they feel ill, and cover their mouths with a tissue or their sleeve if they are coughing," said Dr. Judith Hartner, M.D., MPH, MPA.

If you or a family member are exhibiting flu-like symptoms—fever, cough, headache or fatigue—then you should seek medical attention if you feel it is necessary. “If you are exhibiting these symptoms and choose to seek medical attention or go out in public, we recommend that you wear a mask and inform the medical staff immediately that you believe you may have the flu,” says Streed. He also encourages parents to see their primary care physician if their child is sick.

LMHS will continue to provide regular updates about S-OIV as the situation evolves.

For more information about the swine flu, visit www.flu.gov. Additionally a local Lee County Health Department message line has been established to inform the public requesting H1N1 flu information. The information line is available at 239-461-6180.