Protect Yourself, Protect Your Loved Ones,  Get Your Flu Vaccine!

Fall has returned and now is the time to begin thinking about getting your flu vaccine. As you hear every year, the single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each fall. Many people feel that they are healthy and do not need a flu shot, and others may be afraid of the dreaded needle prick. But you may not realize that by getting a flu shot, you not only protect yourself from up to two weeks of influenza misery, but you are also protecting the ones you love�those who may be more vulnerable to serious medical complications from the flu.

Perhaps there is a baby in your household who is too young to receive the vaccine, or you care for an elderly relative. By getting a flu shot this fall and every fall, you ensure that you will stay healthy and that you will not spread the flu virus to those who are at high risk for serious flu complications, such as the elderly, young children and people with certain health conditions.

Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Every year in the United States, on average:

• 5 � 20 percent of the population gets the flu
• more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications
• about 36,000 people die from flu

Remember, the single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each fall. About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that protect against influenza virus infection. Flu vaccines will not protect against flu-like illnesses caused by non-influenza viruses. If you�re afraid of the needle, you may have another option. There are two types of vaccines, talk to your doctor to find out which vaccine is best for you:

• The "flu shot" � a vaccine containing killed virus that is given with a needle. The flu shot is approved for use in people 6 months of age and older, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
• The nasal-spray flu vaccine � a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu. This vaccine is approved for use in healthy people aged 5-49 years who are not pregnant.

If you live in Greater Cincinnati and you�re looking for a place to get a flu shot, call (513) 931-SHOT. An operator will help you find a location convenient to your home or work. You can also search for a flu shot and get more flu-related information on the Hamilton County General Health District�s Web site, www.hamiltoncountyhealth.org. Just click on Flu Vaccine Information.

Have a safe and healthy fall, and remember to get your flu vaccination!

Tim Ingram

Hamilton County Health Commissioner

Swim Healthy in 2006: Healthy behaviors, safety precautions can prevent illness and injury at the pool

Its hot in Hamilton County once again and we�re already turning to our neighborhood and backyard pools for relief. Before you take your first dive this summer, remember there are things you can do to prevent injuries and Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs) such as Cryptosporidiosis (Crypto). 

Last summer, an outbreak of Crypto sickened more than 400 people in Hamilton County. Crypto, and other RWIs, are spread by swallowing, breathing or having contact with contaminated water from swimming pools. The most common RWI is diarrhea. Swimmers who are ill with diarrhea may contaminate the water, posing a health risk for the healthy swimmers in the pool. In addition, high-risk groups such as the young, the elderly, and those who are pregnant or who have weakened immune systems are more likely to suffer severe illness if infected with an RWI.

Even properly maintained pools can spread illness. Chlorine kills most germs over time, but some germs � like Crypto � can survive in chlorinated water up to several days. That is why it is important for pool users to follow the Six PLEAs for Healthy Swimming:

1. Please don't swim when you have diarrhea.  This is especially important for kids in diapers. You can spread germs in the water and make other people sick.
2. Please don't swallow the pool water. In fact, avoid getting water in your mouth.
3. Please practice good hygiene. Take a shower before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers. Germs on your body end up in the water.
4. Please take your kids on bathroom breaks or check diapers often. Waiting to hear "I have to go" may mean that it's too late.
5. Please change diapers in a bathroom and not at poolside. Germs can spread to surfaces and objects in and around the pool and spread illness.
6. Please wash your child thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before swimming. Everyone has invisible amounts of fecal matter on their bottoms that can end up in the pool.

RWIs aren�t the only dangers associated with swimming. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 3,306 unintentional fatal drownings in the United States in 2003. The risk of drowning or other water-related injuries is especially high among young children. There are safety precautions we can take to help prevent poolside injuries and drownings:

• Make sure an adult is constantly watching children swimming or playing in or around the water.
• Never swim alone or in unsupervised places and always swim with a buddy.
• Avoid drinking alcohol before or during swimming or other water activities, or while supervising children who are swimming.
• Enroll yourself and your children in swimming classes.
• Learn CPR.
• Do not use air-filled or foam toys, such as "water wings," "noodles," or inner-tubes, in place of life jackets.
• If you have a swimming pool at your home:

• Install a four-foot fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate.

• Toys should be removed from the pool immediately after use.

I want to make sure we all stay safe and healthy as we enjoy area pools this summer. Swimming is a great way for us to stay active and enjoy our leisure time, but we each have a responsibility to understand and adopt healthy behaviors that will protect ourselves, our families and our fellow swimmers from illness and injury. If you visit a pool this summer, please stay safe and do your part to keep the pool germ free.

More information for both swimmers and pool staff about healthy swimming is available at www.hamiltoncountyhealth.org or (513) 946-7832.

Tim Ingram

Hamilton County Health Commissioner

West Nile Virus

DRAIN, DUNK & PROTECT
Homeowners can help reduce pesky mosquito population and prevent West Nile Virus

HAMILTON COUNTY, Ohio - After a long, cold winter, we are all happy to be welcoming warmer weather back to Hamilton County. But, with the return of warm weather, we should also expect the return of mosquitoes. The Hamilton County General Health District is advising homeowners to Drain, Dunk and Protect now and throughout the summer to help reduce the mosquito population and the risk of mosquito-born illnesses such as West Nile Virus (WNV). WNV is a viral disease affecting the central nervous system that can be transmitted to humans by mosquitoes.

Hamilton County Health Commissioner Tim Ingram suggests three simple steps you can take to help eliminate mosquito breeding sites around your home and avoid mosquito bites:

DRAIN
*Remove any standing water from your property. Some typical items homeowners should check for standing water include old tires, pet bowls,
buckets, flower pots, children's toys, and similar items that could hold stagnant water and become mosquito breeding sites.
*Clean up litter or other incidental items in your yard. Even something as small as an upturned bottle cap can become a breeding site
for thousands of mosquito larvae.
*Change the water in birdbaths every three to four days.
*Drain small puddles after heavy rainstorms.

DUNK
*Apply mosquito larvicide, sometimes called mosquito "dunks," to areas of standing water that cannot be drained. The "dunks" are
environmentally safe and won't harm pets.

PROTECT
*Keep grass cut short and shrubbery trimmed.
*Make sure windows have tight-fitting screens - repair tears or holes in screens.
*Be aware of peak biting periods - night and early morning are peak periods.
*During peak periods, wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing - long sleeve shirts, pants and jackets.
*Use appropriate insect repellants on exposed skin. Most effective repellants contain DEET (N-diethyl-metaoluamide). Carefully read all
instructions on the label before each application:
*Choose a repellent that offers appropriate protection for the amount of time you will be outdoors. A higher percentage of DEET should be
used if you will be outdoors for several hours while a lower percentage of DEET can be used if time outdoors will be limited.
*Though it is safe to apply separate sunscreen and insect repellant products, DEET should not be used in a product that combines the repellent with a sunscreen.
*The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend using DEET on children under 2 months old.

It is important to note that most people who are bitten by an infected mosquito will never become sick. However, we should all be aware of the
symptoms of WNV. Symptoms may develop 3 to 14 days after someone is bitten by an infected mosquito.

Serious Symptoms in a Few People. About one in 150 people infected with WNV will develop severe illness. The severe symptoms can include high
fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis.

These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.

Milder Symptoms in Some People. Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected will display symptoms which can include fever, headache, and
body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, though even healthy people have been sick for several weeks.

No Symptoms in Most People. Approximately 80 percent of people (about 4 out of 5) who are infected with WNV will not show any symptoms at all.

While all residents of areas where virus activity has been identified are at risk, people over age 50 have the highest risk of developing severe WNV infections. Anyone experiencing any of these symptoms should contact their healthcare provider for evaluation.

For more information on WNV, please contact the Hamilton County General Health District at (513) 946-7832 or visit our web site at www.hamiltoncountyhealth.org. And remember, for a mosquito-free summer, Drain, Dunk and Protect!

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