No serious illness reported in three confirmed cases

The Pike County Health Department will hold a clinic to administer the intranasal H1N1 flu vaccine this week to children two to four-years old.
The clinic will be held at the Nazarene Church at 807 S. Court Street in Bowling Green on Thursday, Oct. 22, 3-6 p.m. Eligible children must be healthy with no underlying medical conditions. There is no charge or appointment necessary to take part in the clinic.
Rhonda Stumbaugh, RN, Community Health Coordinator for the Health Department said there are currently three confirmed cases in Pike County. The cases are mild so far. Stumbaugh reminds citizens that treatment for H1N1 is the same as seasonal flu. Physicians may conduct a test to detect Influenza A, but treatment will be the same.
She pointed out the Health Department is beginning to receive vaccine, but at this time only the intranasal vaccine will be offered.
“It’s a weakened live virus,” Stumbaugh said of the vaccine. “It will not cause illness. It’s very safe.”
Vaccine shots will be made available eventually, which is the dead virus. Stumbaugh said the Health Department does not have enough of the vaccine to offer it in shot form at this time. Young children have been identified as the priority at this time because they are at the highest risk to be severely affected by the virus. Availability of the vaccine to other groups of people will broaden over time.
Another clinic will be offered on Monday, Oct. 2, 1-4 p.m. This clinic will be held for healthy children two to nine-years old. Other priority groups include people (2-49 years-old) who live with or care for infants younger than six-months of age, and health care and emergency medical service personnel (2-49 years-old) who have direct patient contact. No charge or appointment will be necessary for this clinic either.
Stumbaugh said the Health Department will be following the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) priority guidelines for administering the vaccine.
“As more vaccine is received, future clinics will be scheduled and priority groups will broaden,” Stumbaugh stated.
It is important to not that people (including children) who received the seasonal flu mist must wait 28 days before receiving the intranasal H1N1 flu mist. Stumbaugh pointed out staff will be screening those who take part in the clinics.
“There’s a lot of information out there and it can be confusing,” Stumbaugh remarked. “We still encourage people to take precautions like vigilant hand-washing, using sanitizer, and staying home if an illness is suspected.”
Those with questions or concerns about the virus or the vaccine should contact the Health Department or visit cdc.gov or flu.gov for more information. See more on page 19.