Somerset County, New Jersey

Residents Requested to Continue Healthy Habits as Flu Season Continues   


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that influenza illness, including illness associated with the novel influenza A H1N1 virus (“Swine” Flu) is ongoing in this country.    This is unusual for this time of year. Some of this is due to a late flu season (with currently circulating human flu viruses), but some of this activity is due to the novel H1N1.   This virus is not “going away” as some people seem to think.

Franklin Township Health Department is working with the New Jersey State Department of Health, the CDC, and other local and county health agencies on influenza surveillance and response activities. The CDC has determined that this virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it has not determined how easily the virus spreads between people.

This outbreak certainly poses the potential to be at least as serious as seasonal flu, if not more so, especially given the fact that there currently is no vaccine against this virus and there is no immunity against this virus in the population.   Seasonal influenza is responsible for over 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths in the US each year.

It’s important that people always take steps to protect their health and the health of their family.  Franklin Township Health Department is continuing to recommend these healthy habits for everyone:   

  • Stay informed. Health officials will provide additional information as it becomes available.
  • 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 often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

 

  • Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
  • If you are sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer.  Also, limit contact with others to keep from infecting them and spreading the virus further.

People who develop an illness with fever and respiratory symptoms, such as cough and runny nose, and possibly other symptoms, such as body aches, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, should contact their health care provider. Their health care provider will determine whether influenza testing is needed.

For the most up-to-date information on H1N1 (“Swine” Flu), please visit www.franklintwpnj.org/Health-influenza-updates.html or the Centers for Disease Control website at  www.cdc.gov/H1N1.   
 
If you do not have internet access, and need further information, you may also contact Franklin Township Health Department at 732-873-2500, extension 372, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at 1-800-CDC-INFO.