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Editorial — Be prepared for new flu
Flu season officially started on Sept. 1, according to the New York state Department of Health, but this is unlike any flu season we’ve had before — schools, work places and homes across the nation are on the defense against Novel H1N1 Influenza, a new flu.
Every flu season, people are urged to get a flu shot, as well as practice basic hygiene, such as washing your hands frequently and containing coughs and sneezes. But this year, these measures have been heightened.
In schools, teachers and staff are encouraging students to wash their hands properly, as well as how to cough or sneeze. In the Chatham and New Lebanon school districts, posters have been placed throughout the schools showing proper hand washing and coughing. Chatham has already placed hand sanitizers throughout the schools and in classrooms that don’t have sinks, while New Lebanon is in the process of placing hand sanitizers where there is no water available.
Letters from the superintendents have also gone out to parents about how the schools are preparing for flu season and what parents can do to help. Both school districts are working with the Columbia County Department of Health, as well as following state and federal guidelines.
As Chatham Superintendent Cheryl Nuciforo said at a recent school board meeting, it’s a “balance of being prepared and being panicked.”
According to the state Health Department, H1N1 is not the same as swine flu, bird flu or seasonal flu. It’s continuing to be present and affects mostly children and young adults (ages 5-24), which is much different than seasonal flu.
And while the seasonal flu vaccine is available every year for most of the population, the H1N1 vaccine should be available by mid-October, but in limited supply and for those who really need it, such as pregnant women, those with a pre-existing sickness and children.
According to the state Health Department Web site, www.health.state.ny.us, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, which is coordinating with health departments across the country, is “working with scientists and manufacturers in the development, testing and future production of a vaccine for novel H1N1 influenza.”
Yes, this is a new flu and everyone should be extra prepared, but preventative measures should be followed for any sickness. Again, wash your hands frequently and thoroughly (about 20 seconds or as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday”), cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm or a tissue and if you’re really sick, no matter what you may have, stay home. Schools are urging parents to keep their children home if they’re sick.
The schools, the county and state health departments and the CDC are continuing to monitor any changes or information related to H1N1. The NYS Department of Health Web site has a lot more information on H1N1 and is providing updates every Thursday.
So check out the Web site weekly and simply be prepared!
Every flu season, people are urged to get a flu shot, as well as practice basic hygiene, such as washing your hands frequently and containing coughs and sneezes. But this year, these measures have been heightened.
In schools, teachers and staff are encouraging students to wash their hands properly, as well as how to cough or sneeze. In the Chatham and New Lebanon school districts, posters have been placed throughout the schools showing proper hand washing and coughing. Chatham has already placed hand sanitizers throughout the schools and in classrooms that don’t have sinks, while New Lebanon is in the process of placing hand sanitizers where there is no water available.
Letters from the superintendents have also gone out to parents about how the schools are preparing for flu season and what parents can do to help. Both school districts are working with the Columbia County Department of Health, as well as following state and federal guidelines.
As Chatham Superintendent Cheryl Nuciforo said at a recent school board meeting, it’s a “balance of being prepared and being panicked.”
According to the state Health Department, H1N1 is not the same as swine flu, bird flu or seasonal flu. It’s continuing to be present and affects mostly children and young adults (ages 5-24), which is much different than seasonal flu.
And while the seasonal flu vaccine is available every year for most of the population, the H1N1 vaccine should be available by mid-October, but in limited supply and for those who really need it, such as pregnant women, those with a pre-existing sickness and children.
According to the state Health Department Web site, www.health.state.ny.us, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, which is coordinating with health departments across the country, is “working with scientists and manufacturers in the development, testing and future production of a vaccine for novel H1N1 influenza.”
Yes, this is a new flu and everyone should be extra prepared, but preventative measures should be followed for any sickness. Again, wash your hands frequently and thoroughly (about 20 seconds or as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday”), cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm or a tissue and if you’re really sick, no matter what you may have, stay home. Schools are urging parents to keep their children home if they’re sick.
The schools, the county and state health departments and the CDC are continuing to monitor any changes or information related to H1N1. The NYS Department of Health Web site has a lot more information on H1N1 and is providing updates every Thursday.
So check out the Web site weekly and simply be prepared!
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