Monticello — The Lake Cumberland District Health Department has reported the death of
a McCreary County resident as the second H1N1 influenza-associated death in
the area. The victim was a female in her mid-50's, who passed away at a
hospital out-of-state.
It is not known if there are underlying health conditions. Health
officials are continuing to investigate.
The death is the twelfth in Kentucky associated with the H1N1 (swine
flu) outbreak.
The other death in this area was reported at Lake Cumberland Regional
Hospital in October, when a 28-year-old man died of H1N1.
Lake Cumberland District Health Department continues to work closely
with local and state officials to obtain the H1N1 flu vaccine and to get the
vaccine out to the target groups that health officials are recommending
receive the vaccine first. Those target groups are:
€ Pregnant women
€ People who live with or care for children younger than six months old
€ Health care and emergency medical services workers
€ Children and young adults six months to 24 years old, especially those
with chronic health problems
€ People 25 to 64 years old with chronic health problems
People over the age of 65 seem to be at a lower risk of catching the
swine flu and are encouraged to wait to receive the vaccine until after the
target groups have received it.
Shipments of the vaccine are being received regularly and school
vaccination clinics are being planned, according to information released
last week by the Lake Cumberland District Health Department. Beginning
November 4, elementary schools within the district will start holding
vaccination clinics.
After all the elementary schools have been completed, middle schools and
high schools will be done. Due to the limited amount of vaccine that is
being received, it is not possible to vaccinate all schools at one time.
For specific information about when school clinics are scheduled, please
visit www.lcdhd.org and look under the H1N1 information button. You may also
call 1-800-928-4416, extension 132 for more information.
The most effective treatment for the flu is prevention. You can help
prevent the flu by:
€ Washing your hands often with soap and water for 15 to 20 seconds or,
as an alternative, use alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel
sanitizers.
€ Coughing or sneezing into a tissue or into your elbow if a tissue is
not available.
€ Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a
person touches an object that is contaminated with germs and then touches
his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
€ Get an annual seasonal flu shot to help the human body develop
antibodies to protect against seasonal flu virus infection.
€ Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep
your distance from others to protect them from getting sick.
€ Stay home from work, school and errands if possible when you are sick.
This will help prevent others from catching your illness.