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Don’t panic about flu, residents of Valley told
If you experience flulike symptoms, stay home from work and school, a local medical director said.
YOUNGSTOWN — Be aware, use common sense, but don’t panic.
That’s the message from local officials planning a defense against the H1N1 (subtype Influenza A) virus, or swine flu, should it hit this area.
As of Thursday, no confirmed cases of this flu were reported in Mahoning, Columbiana and Trumbull counties; and only one case has been confirmed in Ohio, in Lorain County, officials said.
Public health, hospital, school and emergency management leaders, collectively known as the Mahoning County Preparedness Group, met Thursday to update plans should the swine flu strike here.
“I’m very impressed with the level of cooperation among the group. I believe we have the mechanisms in place needed to deal with the flu should it become necessary,” said Dr. John Venglarcik, spokesman for the group and medical director for the Mahoning County District Board of Health.
He said the group will continue to meet weekly until the risk is abated.
Dr. Venglarcik emphasized that nothing about the epidemic is being kept from residents. He said he was surprised that a number of callers, after he appeared on a radio show Thursday morning talking about the flu, indicated they believed the public is not being given all the information.
“We are being very forthright. What we know, you know,” he said.
He said a cache of medicines from the strategic national stockpile, containing items such as antivirals and Tamiflu and Relenza, has been received in Ohio. These are ready to be dispersed if necessary.
Dr. Venglarcik said the signs that people should look for to identify the flu are rapid onset of high fever above 102-103 degrees, severe muscle aches, fatigue and sore throat. The symptoms come on in a matter of hours, he said.
Typically the flu lasts three to five days from onset of symptoms to recovery. But, at its peak, the illness, called the grippe in the old days, can be “quite debilitating. People may find it hard to get out of bed,” he said.
Keys to not spreading or catching the flu are fairly simple, Dr. Venglarcik said.
“Wash your hands frequently and sneeze or cough an elbow, not into hands. If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, stay home from work and school,” he said.
A check with several area pharmacies found a slight increase in the sale of surgical masks, hand sanitizers and flu medicines.
Nationally, a spokeswoman for Rite Aid said there has been a large spike in demand for masks and hand sanitizers, particularly in its stores in California, New Jersey and New York.
“Social distancing is the most important thing we can to prevent spreading the flu,” Dr. Venglarcik said.
He said actions such as closing schools and other public places might occur, not necessarily when there is one case, but when there is ongoing and continued dissemination of the virus and multiple cases.
In a related matter, Humility of Mary Health Partners is not changing its visitation policies at this time at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, St. Joseph Health Center in Warren and St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center.
“We’re monitoring the situation and have implemented our standard protocol to manage and treat patients with respiratory symptoms or who meet the criteria for suspected H1N1 (subtype Influenza A) virus exposure or infection,” said Dr. Nick Kreatsoulas, HMHP’s chief medical officer.
alcorn@vindy.com