Local health officials gear up for H1N1 threat
H1N1 testing no longer performed
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Saturday, October 10, 2009 11:01 PM PDT
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| Larry Meyer | Argus Observer
Malheur County Health Department nurses Kelly Jensen (from left), Lori Heiple and Tammie Dockter discuss the issues related to the H1N1 flu and flu vaccine. |
ONTARIO —Malheur County Health Department registered nurse Lori Heiple said her agency has no illusions regarding H1N1.
“We know there are H1N1 cases out there,” Heiple said.
Framed against the knowledge the number of flu-like illnesses — but not necessarily H1N1 — climbed recently in the county, officials from emergency response agencies in the county met last week to review contingency plans. Those plans included increasing the outflow of information to prevent residents from overwhelming local clinics and hospital emergency rooms
“We know the hospital emergency room and medical clinics and have been getting a lot of business from the people with flu-like symptoms,” Tammie Dockter, RN, Malheur County Health Department, said.
The message the health department wants to deliver to people is that it is no longer necessary to test individuals for the H1N1 flu, and doctors offices, clinics and the emergency rooms are no longer doing routine testing. People are only being tested if they are hospitalized.
According to information provided from the Centers For Disease Control, people should get medical care if the sick person has difficulty breathing, has purple or blue discoloration of the lips, is vomiting and unable to keep liquids down, has signs of dehydration, has seizures or is less responsive than normal.
People should check with their doctors if they are pregnant, or have health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma or emphysema. Also check with the doctor or pharmacist about taking antiviral medications and be alert for possible bacterial infections. If that occurs, people will need to contact their health care providers about taking antibiotics.
“Please understand that our community only has a limited supply (of antivirals). Health care providers have to use these judiciously for those people that are at high risk of complications if they get an influenza illness,” Dockter said.
Health department staff will begin holding clinics at schools in about another three weeks to administer the H1N1 vaccines. They will be held in all schools. The schedule has been posted on the department’s Web site.
“We try to use the mist in schools,” Kelly Jensen, RN, said. “It is easier to administer to children. However, some will require the shots.”
A mass vaccination clinic for the H1N1 flu will be held at the Malheur County Fairgrounds in November, with exact dates to be announced later. The mass vaccination was practiced some time ago as part of the county emergency planning. For more information, check the health department Web site at healthmalheurco.org.
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