Swine Flu pandemic in Connecticut: How to protect you and your family
Since the beginning of the 2009 Swine Flu Pandemic, the disease has been in the back of
people's minds. In Connecticut, according to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, the H1N1 virus is widespread.
The H1N1 virus, called swine flu when it was first discovered, was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009 - spreading from person to-person worldwide, at the same rate regular seasonal influenza viruses spread, according to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention.
Worldwide, swine flu has killed 429 people and in the U.S., including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, 170 people.
The virus mainly spreads from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people who already have the H1N1 virus. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something - such as a surface or object - with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
Symptoms of the 2009 H1N1 flu virus are fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.
The Center of Disease Control and Prevention enforce the following procedures to protect from contracting the virus:
•Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
•Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
•Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
•Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
•If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (The fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.
•Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
•Be prepared in case you get sick and need to stay home for a week or so; a supply of over-the-counter medicines, alcohol-based hand rubs, tissues and other related items could be useful and help avoid the need to make trips out in public while you are sick and contagious.
On September 8, Western Connecticut State University reported its first probably case of the H1N1 virus.
"An adjunct faculty member became the first person on campus to be infected with a probable case of the H1N1 virus. The faculty member took the appropriate action and stayed home as soon as she came down with flu-like symptoms," said university spokesman Paul Steinmetz.
An e-mail was sent out informing all students and university authorities posted information about the case on the university Web site.
Steinmetz said because of the wide spread of the flu this spring, the campus was prepared.
"We thought it was inevitable," he said of the first case of the illness.
Western Connecticut State University has been preparing for the possible spread of the virus and has established a team that has been working on this issue since April 2009.
Dr. Susan Cizek, WestConn's director of health service, said the campus formed its own National Incident Management System team this spring when it became clear H1N1 was becoming widespread.
The campus now has about 40,000 sanitary wipes available around campus to let students keep their hands germ free.
Students have also been instructed to cough and sneeze into their arms and elbows if they don't have a tissue available.
Cizek said the adjunct professor did the entire campus a favor by staying home when she was sick.
"I applaud her. We are very thankful," Cizek said.
The City of Danbury has many resources people can turn to for questions about the H1N1 virus, including the Danbury VNA Flu Hotline at: 730- 5239 and the ALA Flu Hotline to locate flu clinics in Connecticut at: 1-888-No To Flu.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hotline is also available at 1-800-232-4636 and is available in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
