April 29, 2009
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Bureau/Putnam County Health Department would like to assure the citizens of our counties that we are in close communication with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to monitor the recent Swine Flu outbreak in the United States and Mexico.
Symptoms of the swine flu are similar to symptoms of seasonal flu or other viral infections and include a fever (100°F or higher) plus a cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, chills, headache body aches, fatigue or difficulty breathing. In addition some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting. If you have recently traveled to Mexico or feel you have been exposed and are showing these symptoms you should stay home and call your medical provider for guidance.
Diana Rawlings, local Health Department Administrator states that “At this time there are no known cases in Bureau or Putnam County; however we are urging all residents to take preventative measures.” There are precautions people can take to stay healthy. These include:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If you do not have a tissue cough or sneeze into your shirt sleeve.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol based hand cleansers are also effective when soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Avoid close contact with sick people. Influenza is thought to be transmitted mainly person t person through coughing and sneezing of infected people.
- If you are sick stay home from work or school and limit contact with others.
he Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a travel warning recommending that people avoid all non-essential travel to Mexico. For more information you may go to the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov The Health Department is working with IDPH and the CDC to keep area residents informed about the swine flu outbreak.
