Swine Flu in Idaho (Boise, Shelley: association, activities, offices)

[Mtn. States Resident]

With crowd-breaking records showing up for vaccination in clinics around the state, I was greatly surprised to read the contents of this article.

"The shot form of the vaccine ran out within two hours of the doors opening."

"Yet by 2 p.m., as the clinic closed, there were about 2,000 doses of the nasal mist left, said Julie Graham, health district spokeswoman."

"The leftover doses will be refrigerated and either shipped to area health care providers or stockpiled until the next big public clinic on Nov. 7 at the Spokane Valley YMCA."


Thousands line up for swine flu vaccine | Spokesman.com | Oct 24, 2009

I also saw the headline about the 5 month old who died in a Spokane hospital.

The deadly virus is throughout the state. Please be careful. The threat is real. Contigency plans for hospitals thought perhaps to have to be used in winter are already being activated.

DON'T VISIT HOSPITALS IF YOU AREN'T A PATIENT NEEDING CARE! PLEASE DON'T EXPOSE YOURSELF OR CARRY VIRUS TO OTHERS WHO MAY BE INFECTED.

MSR.

[Mtn. States Resident]

This is an interesting graph for Region 10, ending for Week #41 (10/17/09).

For the region, outpatient visits to health care providers/clinics increased from 2.7% to 12.5% at various survellience regions withint the region.

Idaho is one of 46 states classified as having "Widespread" Influence Like Illnesses.

CDC - Seasonal Influenza (Flu) - Weekly Report: Influenza Summary Update

Hopefully, this is useful to some as they want to break down the data more.

Take care of yourselves and those you love.

MSR

[stockmama]

Thank you so much for working so hard to provide us information! My 5 year old son suddenly layed down on the couch today and had a fever of 102.5--went down to 101.3 and then back up again to 103.7. I called the local E.R., and they referred me to a number in Spokane. Got a call back from a nurse there, and she said it is likely the flu--to keep fluids down him, check his color, and watch him closely in general. I asked if it was likely the swine flu, and her reply was "yes, we are assuming all flu like symptoms are swine flu related at this time" Wow! She went on to say they see 56 or more children in the hospital E.R. everyday lately with flu symptoms. Scary.

Please pray for us, I need to the get off the computer now and be with my son....hoping my 2 year old daughter doesn't come down with this too.

Thanks again!
SM

[cleosmom]

Please tell me you took him in to get the Tamiflu going!!!!

Originally Posted by stockmama

Thank you so much for working so hard to provide us information! My 5 year old son suddenly layed down on the couch today and had a fever of 102.5--went down to 101.3 and then back up again to 103.7. I called the local E.R., and they referred me to a number in Spokane. Got a call back from a nurse there, and she said it is likely the flu--to keep fluids down him, check his color, and watch him closely in general. I asked if it was likely the swine flu, and her reply was "yes, we are assuming all flu like symptoms are swine flu related at this time" Wow! She went on to say they see 56 or more children in the hospital E.R. everyday lately with flu symptoms. Scary.

Please pray for us, I need to the get off the computer now and be with my son....hoping my 2 year old daughter doesn't come down with this too.

Thanks again!
SM

[brokencrayola]

I am worried about the flu with 4 children age 6-22. I am hoping my sons can get the vaccine the beginning of November when it is being offered at the local high school. I pray they do not catch it before then. I am having a harder time finding a way to get the vaccine myself.

Tell me, what is Tamiflu? Is it an antibiotic for this flu in particular or what?

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by brokencrayola

I am worried about the flu with 4 children age 6-22. I am hoping my sons can get the vaccine the beginning of November when it is being offered at the local high school. I pray they do not catch it before then. I am having a harder time finding a way to get the vaccine myself.

Tell me, what is Tamiflu? Is it an antibiotic for this flu in particular or what?

Hi brokencrayola,

I, too, hope your sons can get the vaccine. NO ONE anticipated this much of a shortage.

A virus will not respond to an antibiotic. Viruses have very unique structures that won't allow an antibiotic to work in one of the ways they work on bacterial and certain other infections. A simple way to think of it is a virus is like a parasite. It gets "energy" to survive and infect a person by robbing the host (in this case the person) of the "energy makers" in the cells. A virus can be attenuated (slightly altered) external to a person, such as on a surface. That is why Clorox (or any bleach with chlorine) is a MUST. A virus will not necessarily "die," but cannot continue to function as it did in the past, when treated on a surface with chlorine.

Toys, books, doorknobs, counters, desks, computer keyboards etc. can all be wiped down with a bleach (containing chlorine) solution. I use the spray bleach preparations a lot. Do read the labels as many bleaches are now available that don't contain chlorine. And bleach never can be used in a human, as I'm sure most would logically conclude.

Tamiflu is an anti-viral drug that has proven to be very, very effective in
H1N1. Originally, it was thought that Tamiflu had to be started in the first 48 hrs. of symptoms, as that is how it was tested and passed the FDA guidelines a few years back. However, as some states got hit very hard with H1N1 throughout the summer and reporting continued, the CDC revised their guidelines for Tamiflu use. That info should be posted in this thread somehwere in July, I believe, as well as many posts in Oct. at the CDC. The CDC has a short cut web address now: www. flu.gov.

This may be a helpful page to review both because it shows vaccine availability in any state, plus reviews what parents should do if they suspect their child has H1N1. H1N1 (Swine) Flu Virus: Facts for Parents (& Expecting) There is also information for seniors, caregivers and others.

Both for patients who had reasons to need it longer than the standard dose (auto-immune compromised, chronic illness, cancer survivors etc.) and information regarding dosing in kids, your health care provider can access the correct or revised doses via the Medscape.

Another good website to follow for general info is WebMD. Should your sons need Tamiflu and a physician be uncertain of how to give the dose, first it can be compounded into a liquid solution so it tastes better. Secondly, there is an additional source of information to that found on WebMD. It is information for practitioners called Medscape. If your practitioner doesn't subscribe, s/he can with no charge. I like it because it often references articles anyone can find on WebMD. It's like the professional side of WebMD, if that makes sense.

Most parents prepare for H1N1 like they would for any flu, what will your kids eat/drink, if they are sick? Popsickles are always good for fevers and as a source of fluids. Otherwise, it depends on the age of the child, any specific needs and what the child will or won't eat/drink.

Fever is a big concern for any illness including H1N1. Whatever you keep in your house to manage fever in your children, you may want to consider getting more of it to have on hand.

Always, the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic are among the reliable websites that provide good information: Mayo is at: Mayo Clinic medical information and tools for healthy living - MayoClinic.com - it appears that Mayo did an update as it certainly looks more like the Cleveland Clinic site and how to access info and practitioners etc. than I remember it. The Cleveland Clinic site is: Cleveland Clinic Home. There are other reliable sites too. Your doctor/health care provider may have specific ones s/he likes many link from their own websites, or you can ask.

Plus, the various health depts. in Idaho have their sites posted as well. Most television news channels have the links, or the state of ID, as was posted a few pages back, has the links to the seven regional health departments.

I hope these sites help. Mostly, I hope your sons and everyone in their school will stay as healthy as possible.

Please keep us updated, brokencrayola, of what is happening in your neck of the woods both with outbreaks and vaccine availability. It helps to get reports throughout the state. Good luck!

MSR

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by stockmama

Thank you so much for working so hard to provide us information! My 5 year old son suddenly layed down on the couch today and had a fever of 102.5--went down to 101.3 and then back up again to 103.7. I called the local E.R., and they referred me to a number in Spokane. Got a call back from a nurse there, and she said it is likely the flu--to keep fluids down him, check his color, and watch him closely in general. I asked if it was likely the swine flu, and her reply was "yes, we are assuming all flu like symptoms are swine flu related at this time" Wow! She went on to say they see 56 or more children in the hospital E.R. everyday lately with flu symptoms. Scary.

Please pray for us, I need to the get off the computer now and be with my son....hoping my 2 year old daughter doesn't come down with this too.

Thanks again!

SM

stockmama,

I'm glad you found this thread useful. That is the purpose and since I knew wave #2 would be coming this fall and people read this from various states, although this is too early for the second wave, I've worked to keep it an active site with new information.

The high fevers and temperatures are something that have been documented with most H1N1 cases. There are other viruses and bugs out there, but it sounds like the nurse was trying to encourage you to seek care for your son quickly.

I join cleosmom in hoping your son has been started on Tamiflu.

Certainly, your family will be in my prayers as will many be many others. It is a frightening disease, especially the first time one encounters it in a family member, neighbor or close friend who is seriously ill. I remember only too well having an infected patient cough on me and all the thoughts that flashed through my mind.

Keep us updated about your son, if you can. Your daughter may become a very high priority to get the vaccine now, if she hasn't had it. Your doctor will know the guidelines of who should be at the front of the line for vaccines. You also may want to visit the page I posted earlier the CDC link for parents.

It is hard to keep up where vaccine is available. The CDC site seems as accurate as any I've seen.

Sending you cyberhugs and the best wishes I can across the miles.

MSR

[breer23]

Originally Posted by norcalmom101

Persons experiencing a fever of 101 or higher, severe body aches, severe chest congestion most certainly SHOULD go to the ER if their family doctor or clinic is not open or able to see them, as administering tamiflu immediately can mean the difference between life and death.

I'm not sure if this was how it came off in my last post, but this was _precisely_ my point - if symptoms are severe, please do seek medical attention as quickly as you can, at the ER or otherwise. I was hoping folks wouldn't take it as "stay away from the ER" because that's not at all what I meant!

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by breer23

I'm not sure if this was how it came off in my last post, but this was _precisely_ my point - if symptoms are severe, please do seek medical attention as quickly as you can, at the ER or otherwise. I was hoping folks wouldn't take it as "stay away from the ER" because that's not at all what I meant!

breer23,

I don't know if you got DMs or what concerned you that you may have confused anyone with your comments. It was clear to me. E.R.'s are there for a reason. All hospitals are limiting visitors and asking sick people to stay home and visit those who have been in the hospital when they get home.

I thought your post, like that of NCM's were very appropriate. If others are confused, I hope they'll post here so we any mis-communications or mis-understandings can be be clarified.

MSR

[Mtn. States Resident]

From KIFI Channel 8,

"H1N1 Clinics Canceled In Southeast Idaho"

This news highlights why those hoping to getting H1N1 vaccines need to confirm ahead of time it is still available in the clinics they hoped to get it.

"SOUTHEAST IDAHO - The Southeast District Health Department announced Monday they cancelled three H1N1 vaccine clinics scheduled for Wednesday and Friday."

"The specific locations are:

Lava Health West
Downey Health West
Pocatello Health West"

The remainder of the article is at this website:

H1N1 Clinics Canceled In Southeast Idaho - KIFI - Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Jackson WY - Weather News Sports-

Hopefully some who need the vaccine are getting it!

MSR