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Swine flu widespread, vaccine information clarified
Thursday, November 05, 2009
The H1N1 flu is widespread throughout Geauga County, although no deaths of have been reported, according to the Geauga County Health District.
The number of cases is unknown because the state has made the swine flu an unreportable disease since June, according to Jay Becker, the health district's disease surveillance specialist.
"Testing stopped when the number of cases began to increase to the point that it made it too expensive for the Ohio Department of Health to continuously test for it (H1N1)," he said.
Daily reports from school districts in Geauga County have revealed a 10-20 percent absenteeism rate each day, while some physician offices have reported an increased number of flu cases.
"We're not asking for specific numbers, just what they're generally seeing," Becker said.
University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center has admitted an average of about five patients a week since the beginning of October, which is not a large number given the spread of the virus and the national H1N1 emergency declared last week by President Barack Obama.
Due to increasing cases of the H1N1 flu in the county, however, the hospital has implemented a visitor restriction policy prohibiting visitors under age 18 or visitors with symptoms of influenza-like illness from visiting patients.
Hospital spokesman Mike Ferrari said the decision is a precaution to safeguard patients and health care workers, especially because the H1N1 flu is communicable shortly before symptoms appear.
Exceptions will be made in extenuating circumstances for compassionate reasons, Ferrari added.
"If you've been ill over the past four months, more than likely it's been with H1N1, although some people may have not known it because they were not bedridden" Becker said.
The health district is not necessarily recommending people with swine flu go to their doctors unless they have a medical condition, such as asthma, that could cause serious complications.
These people, as well as the elderly and very young, are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from the virus, he added.
"That's not to say others haven't been affected, because they have. There's no rhyme or reason to it, which is why I think a lot of people are very nervous about it," Becker said.
Regardless of the availability of the vaccine, many people are shying away from being vaccinated with the H1N1 nasal mist rather than a hypodermic needle because of misinformation and rumor.
"We heard people claim that they've heard from someone or read something on the Internet that the nasal mist is bad for you; that if you sneeze afterward, you're spreading this live virus," Becker said. "Nothing could be further from the truth."
Studies have shown the H1N1 intranasal spray is just as safe and effective as a hypodermic injection.
The same rumor arose last week when students in various school districts were given the H1N1 nasal mist flu vaccine last week. Some people, including a few misinformed teachers, thought students vaccinated with the intranasal spray were in danger of spreading to others if they sneezed, Becker said.
"There are some people who can't get the vaccine fast enough, but there are those who've heard the rumor. They only want an injection, which we don't have enough of," he added.
The nasal spray will be administered to healthy people ages 2 to 49 years old at an H1N1 vaccination clinic Nov. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the health district's Chardon office, 470 Center St., Building 8.
More than 700 people were vaccinated last Saturday during a clinic at Kent State University's Geauga campus, where the nasal spray was administered, Becker said.
Some people who have received either the mist and injectable vaccine have reported a minor headache or other minor reactions. Becker such reactions often occur after any kind of vaccination, depending on the individual.
