Public Service Announcement Zsolt Koppányi, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.P., District Health Director
West Central Health District | Pamela Fair, Public Relations Information Coordinator
2100 Comer Avenue | Columbus, GA 31904
Phone: (706) 321-6108 | Fax (706) 321-6126
Email: pbfair@dhr.state.ga.us
June 25, 2009
First Cases of Novel Influenza A H1N1 Arrive in the West Central Health District
This week two residents of the West Central Health District who live in Sumter and Muscogee Counties were confirmed positive for Novel Influenza A H1N1 virus.
The Sumter county resident is one of several who attended a camp in Georgia’s Southeast Health District and recently became ill with influenza like illness. The Muscogee County resident was tested while out of the state and associated with several cases of influenza that occurred early in June at a summer camp in Wisconsin.
This virus, which began spreading across the United States at the end of April, most often causes fever with a sore throat or cough, muscle aches, tiredness and some persons may also have diarrhea and/or vomiting.
"This is not an unexpected event and we should not be fearful but rather have a healthy respect for this new virus," says Dr. Koppanyi, Health Director for the West Central Health District. As of June 25, 2009, these cases join 65 other Georgia residents who have been confirmed to have this virus, which in Georgia has mainly infected persons 24 years or younger.
Dr. Koppanyi reminds us to take care of ourselves by taking the following actions:
Continue to protect yourself and others:
- Cover your mouth and nose when you cough. Use a tissue or your sleeve. Immediately throw the tissue away after use.
- Wash your hands with soap for 15 seconds and rinse with water after coughing, sneezing, going to the bathroom, and before you eat or drink anything.
- Use hand sanitizers when soap and water is not available.
- Stay at home if you have a fever of 100 or greater and a cough or sore throat especially if you suddenly feel ill.
- Keep your children home from school, daycare, and camp if they have a fever of 100 and a sore throat or cough and/or diarrhea.
- Avoid crowds when possible.
- Keep at least a two week supply of any of your regular medicines in case you become sick: Be sure you have cough, cold and fever medicines and tissues at home.
- Be sure you have cough, cold and fever medicines and tissues at home.
- Keep a supply of the comfort foods and drinks at home that help someone feel better when they are sick: juices, soda, Jell-O, popsicles, water, tea, soup and the like.
- Check on your neighbors, at least by phone, if you do not see them as usual, especially the elderly or those who live alone.
- Try to take care of yourself at home with sleep, rest, fluids and cold medicines.
- Always contact your doctor's office, if you are taking physician prescribed medicine or under a physician’s care, before taking over-the-counter medicine and let them know of your signs and symptoms if you become ill.
- Calling the doctor or emergency room before you go and let the office or hospital know you are sick. They will give you instructions on when to come or what action to take.
- Immediately seek medical care if someone is experiencing a life threatening emergency.
H1N1 updates, fact sheets, checklists and other pandemic flu preparedness material can be accessed free online at www.columbushealth.com, www.pandemicflu.gov, www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/; or by calling your local health department.
For more information, contact the Columbus Health Department at (706) 321-6108.
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