An update on H1N1 in this area
Koochiching County Public Health Director Susan Congrave says the H1N1 influenza has definitely arrived in the area, but suspects that cases will increase. Currently, the severity of the outbreak in Borderland seems to be slightly behind other areas of the state.
Terry Ehrman, emergency room manager and registered nurse for the Rainy Lake Medical Center hospital campus, said that the hospital has seen just slightly more traffic through the ER due to the current influenza season.
He explained that the typical flu season lasts six to 12 weeks, and estimated that International Falls was only about three weeks into the season now — several weeks behind other Minnesota cities further south.
“The further north we come, it hasn’t hit us yet,” he said.
Congrave said that anyone with flu-like symptoms currently examined at the Rainy Lake Medical Center clinic or hospital is reportedly categorized as having H1N1 because no arrival of any other type of flu has yet been noted.
Ehrman said that when examining a patient, it is often difficult to tell the difference between symptoms for the seasonal flu and the H1N1 strain.
From 1 p.m. today until 7 p.m. tonight, the county is offering a free H1N1 intranasal flu vaccine clinic for specific candidates. The vaccine clinic is at the County Health Department at 1000 Fifth Street in the Falls.
Eligible for the nasal mist are healthy children ages 2 to 4 (not having reached the fifth birthday) and any care giver age 49 and younger (mothers, grandparents, etc.) of babies 6 months old and younger. These candidates must be in good health.
Congrave noted that people with chronic illnesses who have compromised immune systems are not good candidates for the nasal mist vaccine which is comprised of a live virus. The mist is also not trialed on people of age 50 and older. Injected dead viruses are more desirable for those with chronic illness, she said, because there is less involvement of the body’s immune system.
Rainy Lake Medical Center has recently vaccinated some of its staff, per recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health, according to RLMC communications director Sage Johnson.
However, she explained that except for the clinic that the county health department is offering today, it is difficult to say when more shots or nasal spray will be available.
“You don’t know it’s (H1N1 vaccine) here until it’s on your doorstep,” she said, adding that there have only been limited quantities available to this point.
At this time, Congrave said there are no plans to hold vaccination clinics in the schools. “But it’s kind of a work in progress,” she noted, adding that things can change as the flu season progresses. Asked about the severity of the flu cases being reported, Congrave said there is variance in the illness.
“It is something to be taken seriously,” Congrave said. “It’s hitting some harder than others.”
She reminds the public to continue “social distancing,” which is attempting to stay five to six feet away from another person and avoiding crowds, as well as staying home to stop the spread of illness when experiencing fevers, sneezing or coughing.
“Hand washing is still the number one way to prevent the spread,” Congrave said. She urges people to sneeze or cough into their sleeves and use hand sanitizers when hand washing isn’t available.
Rainy Lake Medical Center has also taken the precaution to temporarily restrict hospital visitors under age 18 to curb the spread of the flu. Johnson noted that this restriction applies to visitors and not to patients under 18 who seek medical treatment.
“While specific rules vary between organizations, the widely accepted rule of thumb is that people with flu-like symptoms should stay home to avoid exposing others,” said Rainy Lake Medical Center CEO Brian Long in a recent press release.
Johnson said that RLMC “phones have been inundated with people calling with questions” about the H1N1 flu.
She directed residents to Minnesota FluLine, a toll-free line for medical advice and treatment options for those with flu symptoms. Congrave also strongly recommends that people with flu symptoms do not immediately visit a medical center. The FluLine has been established precisely for those circumstances, she said.
Ehrman noted that the clinic was already running at patient capacity, and pointed to the FluLine and RLMC informational pamphlets as an avenue for those with questions and mild symptoms.
The FluLine is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Translators for non-English speakers are available. The line was created in late October in response to already crowded hospitals and clinics, which feared an increase in patients as flu season progressed.
Congrave said that although the FluLine has also been inundated with inquiries, callbacks to patients have reportedly been occurring usually within four to eight hours.
Nurses and other medical personnel on the call lines have been authorized to prescribe antivirals such as Tamaflu to sufferers, and prescriptions are called into local pharmacies from the center. She noted that for the uninsured or the underinsured, there is no cost for the antivirals. Antivirals are most effective when used within 48 hours from the onset of flu symptoms.
Questions about the county vaccinations may be addressed by calling 283-7070 or 800-950-4630. The number for Minnesota FluLine is 866-259-4655.
For a clip out of cold vs flu symptoms, pick up today's edition of The Daily Journal.
