News Release
For Immediate Release: October 21, 2009
Contact Person: Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, 301-334-7730
H1N1 Cases Confirmed in Garrett County Residents
The Garrett County Health Department recently received notification of several laboratory confirmed cases of H1N1 influenza in Garrett County residents.
“This is not surprising,” said Health Officer Rodney Glotfelty, “because H1N1 activity has been wide spread throughout Maryland over the past few months. The disease has probably been circulating among county residents for some time, but in most cases individuals are able to recuperate at home without seeking medical care.”
“In fact, confirmatory testing for positive cases has been suspended by the State lab in Maryland for all but hospitalized patients exhibiting flu-like illness,” Glotfelty said, “This will also now be the recommendation for Garrett County.”
Data across the state and country indicates that the vast majority of people who are infected with H1N1 will have minor disease and can be treated as normal flu with plenty of fluids, rest and over the counter medications to control fever. Symptoms of influenza include fever, cough, and sore throat and in some cases chills, headache, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea or shortness of breath.
As with seasonal flu, a small percentage of people who are infected with H1N1 may manifest more serious symptoms. Complications and death from flu-related illness are more common among those with serious underlying health conditions. With H1N1 these underlying conditions include asthma, diabetes, or a weakened immune system. If you have a flu-like illness and have these underlying conditions and/or begin to experience emergency warning signs, contact your health care provider as soon as possible.
Emergency warning signs in children include: bluish or grayish skin color, not drinking enough fluids, not waking up or interacting, not wanting to be held, fever with a rash, and flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough.
Emergency warning signs in adults include: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness or confusion, and severe or persistent vomiting.
In most cases, physicians' offices can offer needed assistance with these complaints. Services of the emergency room should not routinely be used for milder flu-like symptoms.
Good personal hygiene can reduce the risk of illness: wash your hands often, cover your mouth with a sleeve when coughing or sneezing, and stay home if you have flu symptoms.
The Health Department continues to receive limited supplies of H1N1 vaccine and is working to vaccinate the priority groups, which include:
• Pregnant women
• Persons who live with or care for infants less than 6 months of age
• Health care workers and emergency medical services workers
• Persons 6 months of age to 24 years of age
• Persons 25 to 64 years of age who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for complication from flu, such as asthma, diabetes, or a weakened immune system.
As more vaccine becomes available, general clinics for these priority groups will be announced. School based clinics for H1N1 vaccination are also scheduled for early November, depending on vaccine availability. Once sufficient vaccine has been made available to address priority populations, the Health Department and local providers will begin offering vaccinations to the general public.
For more information, please call the Health Department's Flu Information Line at 301-334-7697 (24-hours a day). Or, during normal business hours call 301-895-3111 and ask to be transferred to the Flu Information Line. Information for flu prevention and vaccination schedules will also be available at www.garretthealth.org .