LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
With a new school year around the corner and a never-ending influx of trainees, Lackland health officials have taken an aggressive, proactive approach toward confronting the public health challenges posed by the H1N1 influenza virus.
"(H1N1) flu is (different from the regular flu virus which prefers cooler weather) because it has continued to cause illness in the U.S. throughout the summer. In Texas, there have been more than 5,372 cases, 278 in Bexar County alone," said Lt. Col. Cynthia Cogburn, 37th Aerospace Medical Squadron.
Colonel Cogburn added that because not all people who are ill seek medical care or are tested, many cases are not reported. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that there are more than 1 million cases in the U.S.
On Lackland, proactive monitoring is targeted at reducing the spread of on-base H1N1 cases. According to Capt. Aretha Clisby, 37th AMDS, anyone exhibiting influenza-like-symptoms, such as a fever higher than 100 degrees, cough, and/or sore throat, when arriving at a health care facility on base is tested for the virus.
Childcare and youth facility employees are also taking steps to prevent the virus from spreading. Employees regularly clean and sanitize frequently touched surfaces including desks, doorknobs, computer keyboards and toys. Additionally, the 37th Mission Support Group commander asked parents to keep ill children at home and promptly report cold symptoms to a doctor.
"The safety and well being of children are our top priority," Col. Patrick Fogarty, 37th MSG commander, said in a letter to parents dated July 29.
According to the CDC, seasonal influenza causes an estimated 36,000 deaths in the United States each year. Influenza and other contagious illnesses are always a concern for the 737th Training Group, home to Air Force Basic Military Training. The group, which houses and cares for approximately 35,000 trainees each year, is also taking steps to safeguard their people.
Master Sgt. Donald Coughlin, the 737th TRG medical operations flight superintendent, said an H1N1 containment plan was put in place which includes daily surveillance of trainees. Those exhibiting symptoms are sent to the Reid Clinic for a medical evaluation. If H1N1 is suspected, the trainee is tested, put on anti-viral medication and isolated. Additionally, all graduated Airmen have their temperature taken and recorded the evening prior to their departure from BMT; trainees with elevated temperatures are sent to Reid Clinic for evaluation.
"Each week approximately 650-850 new trainees arrive at Lackland to begin their Air Force career from places throughout the world," Sergeant Coughlin said. "This is an enormous challenge when dealing with disease prevention and surveillance; as a population increases so does the risk of spread of disease. Whether on a deployment to Iraq or here at Lackland, the prevention and containment of illness is critical. Without it, (the mission is at risk)."
Even though H1N1 has been relatively mild, some people are still at risk for complications. Those at risk include children younger than 5, persons with chronic respiratory illness such as asthma, children and adolescents receiving long-term aspirin therapy, persons with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, liver or kidney diseases or immunosuppressive illness and women who are pregnant. If they become ill, those at risk should contact their primary care provider for anti-viral medications which are effective in reducing the severity and length of illness.
The best protection against any type of flu is vaccination, and this year there will be two separate flu vaccines to protect against seasonal flu and H1N1 flu, Colonel Cogburn said. The CDC recommends healthy children and adolescents 6 months to 18 years of age be vaccinated for seasonal influenza and those 6 months to 24 years of age be vaccinated for H1N1. Those at risk for complications will be a priority for the vaccinations.
Vaccines will not be available until October and the H1N1 vaccine could be in limited supply, Colonel Cogburn said. In the meantime, personal hygiene is the key to disease prevention, especially as school starts. She recommends the following precautions:
· 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 for 20 seconds, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
· Avoid close contact with sick people, staying at least six feet away. Flu is generally spread through respiratory droplets that fall to the ground usually within six feet of an ill person.
· The CDC recommends that those with flu-like illness stay home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone, except to get medical care or for other necessities. The fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.
· Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.
The symptoms of seasonal influenza and H1N1 are similar and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Many people who have been infected with the H1N1 have also reported diarrhea and vomiting which is not commonly seen with seasonal flu.
Those who are sick should limit contact with other people and stay home until 24 hours after their fever has subsided; those who work in health care should remain home for seven days after symptoms begin or they have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. Active-duty members should follow normal sick call procedures if they become ill. Those with a severe illness or at high risk for flu complications should let their health care provider know immediately.
Those experiencing any of the following warning signs should seek emergency medical care.
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
· difficulty breathing or shortness of breath;
· pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen;
· sudden dizziness;
· confusion;
· severe or persistent vomiting; and
· flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough.
In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
· fast breathing or trouble breathing;
· bluish or gray skin color;
· not drinking enough fluids;
· severe or persistent vomiting;
· not waking up or not interacting;
· being so irritable that the child does not want to be held; and
· flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough.
For more information, visit the CDC Web site,
www.cdc.gov.