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Source: http://www.asianjournal.com/dateline...ce-spring.html
25 swine flu deaths in Los Angeles County since Spring
Sunday, 23 August 2009 18:40 Rene Villaroman / AJPress Los Angeles
Director Jonathan Fielding during the LA County Dept. of Public Health briefing on Aug. 19. AJPress Photo by Rene Villaroman
LOS ANGELES ? Los Angeles County suffered 25 deaths and 157 hospitalizations due to swine flu since the outbreak began in spring, Dr. Jonathan Fielding, LA County Public Health Director, announced during a press briefing on Wednesday, August 19.
"This year it?s different because the flu season really never ended," Fielding said. "We?ll probably have more hospitalizations."
Dr. Fielding said that the vaccine situation would also be different this year because there will be two vaccines: the seasonal flu vaccine and a separate H1N1 vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine will be available through the usual sources ? the physicians, pharmacies, clinics and the workplace.
"The H1N1 will start becoming available in mid-October," Dr. Fielding announced. "We do not know how much we will get; unofficially, it could be as much as one million doses."
Dr. Fielding said that the LA Department of Public Health is hard at work with its key partners, with physicians, with pharmacists and all the usual sources. "So we are working hard to get as many of those signed up as soon as possible," Dr. Fielding announced. "We are asking that they sign up at our web site at www.publichealth.lacounty. gov."
The Public Health Director said that the priority groups that would receive the H1N1 vaccine have changed. "The priority is pregnant women, caregivers of children less than six years of age; children and young adults six months to 24 years; and persons 25 to 65 years who have conditions that might give them a more severe case or have complications if they are exposed to the H1N1 virus. Emergency health care workers are also included in this priority group.
The H1N1 vaccine will require two administrations, probably three to four weeks apart, according to Dr. Fielding, as opposed to the seasonal flu vaccine which is administered only once. Dr. Fielding warned that most respiratory conditions are not flu, and he ran through the steps of preventions. "The best way to prevent flu ? whether seasonal or swine flu ? is for all to get the vaccines," Dr. Fielding said. "Basically, everybody is a good candidate for seasonal influenza vaccine."
"Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizers, and use it often," Dr. Fielding instructed. "Also cover your sneeze and cough with a tissue and discard the tissue. Cough into your sleeves. Don?t touch your eyes, nose and mouth with your hands because oftentimes, viruses are on the door knobs, on the phones. Finally, if you are sick, don?t go to work, and if your child is sick, do not send him to school, Dr. Fielding added.
Dr. Fielding is asking the public to log on to www.publichealth.lacounty.gov to get updates on the seasonal and swine flu vaccines and other related health developments.
( www.asianjournal.com )
( Published on August 22, 2009 in Asian Journal Los Angeles p. A5 )
25 swine flu deaths in Los Angeles County since Spring
Sunday, 23 August 2009 18:40 Rene Villaroman / AJPress Los Angeles
Director Jonathan Fielding during the LA County Dept. of Public Health briefing on Aug. 19. AJPress Photo by Rene Villaroman
LOS ANGELES ? Los Angeles County suffered 25 deaths and 157 hospitalizations due to swine flu since the outbreak began in spring, Dr. Jonathan Fielding, LA County Public Health Director, announced during a press briefing on Wednesday, August 19.
"This year it?s different because the flu season really never ended," Fielding said. "We?ll probably have more hospitalizations."
Dr. Fielding said that the vaccine situation would also be different this year because there will be two vaccines: the seasonal flu vaccine and a separate H1N1 vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine will be available through the usual sources ? the physicians, pharmacies, clinics and the workplace.
"The H1N1 will start becoming available in mid-October," Dr. Fielding announced. "We do not know how much we will get; unofficially, it could be as much as one million doses."
Dr. Fielding said that the LA Department of Public Health is hard at work with its key partners, with physicians, with pharmacists and all the usual sources. "So we are working hard to get as many of those signed up as soon as possible," Dr. Fielding announced. "We are asking that they sign up at our web site at www.publichealth.lacounty. gov."
The Public Health Director said that the priority groups that would receive the H1N1 vaccine have changed. "The priority is pregnant women, caregivers of children less than six years of age; children and young adults six months to 24 years; and persons 25 to 65 years who have conditions that might give them a more severe case or have complications if they are exposed to the H1N1 virus. Emergency health care workers are also included in this priority group.
The H1N1 vaccine will require two administrations, probably three to four weeks apart, according to Dr. Fielding, as opposed to the seasonal flu vaccine which is administered only once. Dr. Fielding warned that most respiratory conditions are not flu, and he ran through the steps of preventions. "The best way to prevent flu ? whether seasonal or swine flu ? is for all to get the vaccines," Dr. Fielding said. "Basically, everybody is a good candidate for seasonal influenza vaccine."
"Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizers, and use it often," Dr. Fielding instructed. "Also cover your sneeze and cough with a tissue and discard the tissue. Cough into your sleeves. Don?t touch your eyes, nose and mouth with your hands because oftentimes, viruses are on the door knobs, on the phones. Finally, if you are sick, don?t go to work, and if your child is sick, do not send him to school, Dr. Fielding added.
Dr. Fielding is asking the public to log on to www.publichealth.lacounty.gov to get updates on the seasonal and swine flu vaccines and other related health developments.
( www.asianjournal.com )
( Published on August 22, 2009 in Asian Journal Los Angeles p. A5 )