IDPH confirms fourth death; reports illnesses increasing

    For months, two primary questions about H1N1 influenza have been circulating. When will the H1N1 vaccine arrive, and who should get it?
    The first question has been answered as shipments of the H1N1 vaccine will begin arriving in Chickasaw County by next week.
    “Allocation of the vaccine to Chickasaw County is being determined by the state according to population,” said Chickasaw County Health Director Kathy Babcock. “As a county, we are working with partners to administer the vaccine through the public health agency.”
    The vaccine will continue to be shipped to Iowa through the winter months. Clinics will be announced when the vaccine is available for the targeted population.
    As for those who should receive the vaccine, Chickasaw County is following CDC guidelines, which state that the H1N1 vaccine should first be made available to the following priority groups:
    * Pregnant women.
    * People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months.
    * Health care and emergency medical services personnel.
    * Persons between the ages of 6 months through 24 years.
    * And people from ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher       risk for novel H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.
    Because the first shipment of H1N1 vaccine is in the form of a nasal spray, which is not recommended for some people such as pregnant women and children with asthma, it is important to talk to a health care provider about getting the vaccination.
    The seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine can be given at the same time in any sequence with one exception – if using the live nasal spray vaccine for both the seasonal flu and H1N1, they should be given four weeks apart to ensure the best protection from both vaccines.
Fourth death in Iowa reported
    The Iowa Department of Public Health received laboratory results Wednesday confirming the fourth death associated with the 2009 H1N1 virus in Iowa. The victim was an adult in Pottawattamie County with medical conditions that increased the risk of complications. The 2009 H1N1 virus continues to circulate in Iowa; IDPH surveillance indicates influenza and influenza-like illnesses are increasing across the state.
    Until more vaccine becomes available, it’s important to continue to take personal action to prevent the spread of illness. These steps include cleaning your hands frequently; covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve; and containing germs by staying home when ill.
    Symptoms of H1N1 influenza are similar to seasonal influenza and include a fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people with H1N1 flu also have diarrhea and vomit.
    A statewide toll-free hotline has been established for public questions about seasonal and H1N1 influenza at 800-477-1985. More information can also be found at www.idph.state.ia.us.
Latham to discuss H1N1
    Iowa Congressman Tom Latham also will lead a discussion on H1N1 influenza during the latest episode of the Congressional Report, Latham’s monthly television show that airs throughout Iowa and is available online.
    Sharon Stanley, chief nurse of the American Red Cross, joins Latham to discuss the origin of H1N1 and how Americans can protect themselves and their families from getting sick. The informative episode also features a discussion on the availability of vaccines to fight the influenza.
    “H1N1 continues to be a major concern for American families as we get closer to the fall and winter,” Congressman Latham said during the show. “Authorities have confirmed cases across the country and around the world, but the strategies discussed on the show today will help keep you and your family from getting sick.”
    Stanley said that the H1N1 strain is having an unusually severe impact on younger populations, which differentiates it from the normal seasonal flu strain.
    “The biggest factor in the difference of this particular strain is that it is affecting young people,” Stanley said. “And you talk about risk categories of people getting this flu and becoming seriously ill, it is affecting our young population.”
    The Congressional Report airs statewide on Mediacom Channel 22 on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. and on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Episodes of the show are also available on www.Latham.House.Gov, and on Latham’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/user/Congress-manTomLatham.