Brief
Swine Flu
29/04/09 13:55
Swine Influenza (Flu)
CDC Swine Flu website last updated April 29, 11:00 AM ET
The outbreak of disease in people caused by a new influenza virus of swine origin continues to grow in the United States and internationally. Today, CDC reports additional confirmed human infections, hospitalizations and the nation’s first fatality from this outbreak. The more recent illnesses and the reported death suggest that a pattern of more severe illness associated with this virus may be emerging in the U.S. Most people will not have immunity to this new virus and, as it continues to spread, more cases, more hospitalizations and more deaths are expected in the coming days and weeks.
CDC Swine Flu website last updated April 29, 11:00 AM ET
The outbreak of disease in people caused by a new influenza virus of swine origin continues to grow in the United States and internationally. Today, CDC reports additional confirmed human infections, hospitalizations and the nation’s first fatality from this outbreak. The more recent illnesses and the reported death suggest that a pattern of more severe illness associated with this virus may be emerging in the U.S. Most people will not have immunity to this new virus and, as it continues to spread, more cases, more hospitalizations and more deaths are expected in the coming days and weeks.
Swine Flu
28/04/09 13:54
What is Swine Flu?
“Swine Flu” is an Influenza A virus normally found in pigs. There are many such viruses and they rarely infect humans. The virus currently causing human illness is a new type of swine flu that has developed the ability to infect people and be transmitted from person to person.
Although this new virus is called “swine flu,” it is not transmitted from pigs to humans, or from eating pork products. Like other respiratory diseases, it is spread from person-to-person through coughs and sneezes. When people cough or sneeze, they spread germs through the air or onto surfaces that other people may touch.
What can you do to stay healthy?
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands with soap and water frequently, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
These are the same precautions that should be taken to stop transmitting all influenza viruses and other viruses that are transmitted from the respiratory tract.
What can you do if you get Swine Flu?
Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. Infection occurs when the virus gets into someone’s airway and lungs. However, it isn’t yet known how easily the virus spreads.
Human symptoms for this new type of swine flu are similar to the symptoms of the regular “seasonal” influenza that happens each year. Symptoms include:
• Sudden onset of illness
• Fever higher than 100.4° F (38° C)
• Chills
• Cough
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Stuffy nose
• Muscle aches
• Feeling of weakness and/or exhaustion
• Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain (occur more commonly in children)
Limit all contact with others to keep from infecting them.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that you stay home from work, school, daycare, events, etc., and do not go out into the community while you are sick, which is about 7 days. If you go to the doctor or a clinic, protect others (and yourself) by limiting your contact with others as well. You should stay home until at least 1 day past your symptom period.
Medical conditions considered “high risk” include the following:
• Pregnancy
• Diabetes
• Heart problems
• Kidney disease
• Disease or treatment that suppresses the immune system
• Chronic lung disease, including asthma, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis and tuberculosis(TB)
• Age over 65.
Treatment
There is currently no vaccine to prevent swine flu, but there are medications to help treat it. These medicines are generally used to prevent serious flu complications such as pneumonia and work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms). Whether a person with influenza needs to take one of these medicines is a decision that must be made by the patient and their health care provider.
“Swine Flu” is an Influenza A virus normally found in pigs. There are many such viruses and they rarely infect humans. The virus currently causing human illness is a new type of swine flu that has developed the ability to infect people and be transmitted from person to person.
Although this new virus is called “swine flu,” it is not transmitted from pigs to humans, or from eating pork products. Like other respiratory diseases, it is spread from person-to-person through coughs and sneezes. When people cough or sneeze, they spread germs through the air or onto surfaces that other people may touch.
What can you do to stay healthy?
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands with soap and water frequently, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
These are the same precautions that should be taken to stop transmitting all influenza viruses and other viruses that are transmitted from the respiratory tract.
What can you do if you get Swine Flu?
Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. Infection occurs when the virus gets into someone’s airway and lungs. However, it isn’t yet known how easily the virus spreads.
Human symptoms for this new type of swine flu are similar to the symptoms of the regular “seasonal” influenza that happens each year. Symptoms include:
• Sudden onset of illness
• Fever higher than 100.4° F (38° C)
• Chills
• Cough
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Stuffy nose
• Muscle aches
• Feeling of weakness and/or exhaustion
• Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain (occur more commonly in children)
Limit all contact with others to keep from infecting them.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that you stay home from work, school, daycare, events, etc., and do not go out into the community while you are sick, which is about 7 days. If you go to the doctor or a clinic, protect others (and yourself) by limiting your contact with others as well. You should stay home until at least 1 day past your symptom period.
Medical conditions considered “high risk” include the following:
• Pregnancy
• Diabetes
• Heart problems
• Kidney disease
• Disease or treatment that suppresses the immune system
• Chronic lung disease, including asthma, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis and tuberculosis(TB)
• Age over 65.
Treatment
There is currently no vaccine to prevent swine flu, but there are medications to help treat it. These medicines are generally used to prevent serious flu complications such as pneumonia and work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms). Whether a person with influenza needs to take one of these medicines is a decision that must be made by the patient and their health care provider.
From Fire Marshal's Office
07/02/09 14:38
Follow Up on
the Chimayo Fire
With the recent fire at one of our local restaurants due to spontaneous combustion, County businesses have been asking how they can prevent the same thing from happing to them. The most important point to make is that these fires are extremely rare. However there are some things you can do to lower the chance of ever having one.
Do not put items that have been spotted or soaked with vegetable oil or cooking oil in the dryer. They are a fire hazard. Oil – affected items can ignite spontaneously, especially when exposed to heat sources such as in a tumble dryer. The items become warm causing an oxidation reaction in the oil. This oxidation creates heat. If the heat cannot escape, the items can become hot enough to catch fire. Piling, stacking or storing oil – affected items can prevent heat from escaping creating a fire hazard.
If it is unavoidable that fabrics that contain vegetable oil or cooking oil must be placed in a tumble dryer, wash them first in hot water with extra detergent – this will reduce, but not eliminate the fire hazard. Use the Air Dry cycle of the dryer to reduce the temperature of these items. Do not remove them from the tumble dryer or pile or stack them while they are still hot. All clothes should go through the cool down/airing phase of the cycle.
Please remember the main reason we do fire and life safety inspections in our business community is to keep you, your customers and your lively hood safe from fire
Sincerely,
Robert Low, Fire Marshal
1011 Mullis St
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
378-FIRE
With the recent fire at one of our local restaurants due to spontaneous combustion, County businesses have been asking how they can prevent the same thing from happing to them. The most important point to make is that these fires are extremely rare. However there are some things you can do to lower the chance of ever having one.
Do not put items that have been spotted or soaked with vegetable oil or cooking oil in the dryer. They are a fire hazard. Oil – affected items can ignite spontaneously, especially when exposed to heat sources such as in a tumble dryer. The items become warm causing an oxidation reaction in the oil. This oxidation creates heat. If the heat cannot escape, the items can become hot enough to catch fire. Piling, stacking or storing oil – affected items can prevent heat from escaping creating a fire hazard.
If it is unavoidable that fabrics that contain vegetable oil or cooking oil must be placed in a tumble dryer, wash them first in hot water with extra detergent – this will reduce, but not eliminate the fire hazard. Use the Air Dry cycle of the dryer to reduce the temperature of these items. Do not remove them from the tumble dryer or pile or stack them while they are still hot. All clothes should go through the cool down/airing phase of the cycle.
Please remember the main reason we do fire and life safety inspections in our business community is to keep you, your customers and your lively hood safe from fire
Sincerely,
Robert Low, Fire Marshal
1011 Mullis St
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
378-FIRE