Earlier this month, the H1N1 virus—commonly referred to as the swine flu—claimed its first known victim in Santa Barbara County.
According to a press release from the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, the girl, whose name and age weren’t released, had suffered from a chronic medical condition prior to contracting the flu.
In an effort to educate members of the public about the virus, the Public Health Department has started an H1N1 flu information phone line—1-888-722-6358—which will be staffed by a nurse Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The nurse will be able to respond to questions on a variety of H1N1-related topics, including vaccines, preventing the spread of the flu, caring for an ill person, when to seek medical care, and how to plan for the impacts of the flu.
“The Public Health Department is very pleased to provide a knowledgeable resource to our community as H1N1 flu is both similar to and different than seasonal flu in some ways and it can be complicated to understand,” interim department director Michele Mickiewicz said in the release.
Public health officials estimate the H1N1 virus could affect as many as one in every three people this flu season. However, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department emphasizes through its website and phone line that H1N1 is not fatal to everyone, and spread of the illness is quite preventable.
For example, the department recommends vaccinations for both seasonal flu and H1N1 once they become available. According to guidelines developed by the U.S. Center for Disease Control, vaccine eligibility will be based on a person’s age and medical condition. Other suggested prevention methods include thorough hand washing, covering coughs, and avoiding close contact with people who are ill.
For more information about H1N1 flu and how Santa Barbara County is preparing for its impact, call 1-888-722-6358 or visit sbcfluinfo.org.
This article appears in Oct 15-22, 2009.