Influenza:

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Influenza
Protecting yourself, your family and your church
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Im confused about all the kinds of flu!

• Seasonal Flu every winter based on flu strains
  in Asia the year before
• H1N1 Flu first appeared March 2009 in Mexico
  now pandemic worldwide
• Avian Flu Anticipated flu which will likely be
  transmitted to humans by birds will be
  worldwide pandemic as well probably H5N1
• Stomach Flu no such thing!

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Flu Symptoms much the same for all three kinds

• Body muscle aching
• Headache
• Fever (use a thermometer!)
• Cough
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Sore Throat
• Nasal stuffiness
• Vomiting, diarrhea?

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How Serious Is It?

• Seasonal flu 35000 people die in the US every
  year from it mostly elderly, weak, immune
  compromised
• H1N1 Mostly younger people at risk
• Pregnant women 6 of those who died (cf. to only
  1 of the population is pregnant!)
• More pediatric hospitalizations than usual

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How can we protect against it?

• Handwashing and hand sanitizers
• Hands away from face
• Cover your cough tissues or sleeves (cough
  into your elbow!)
• If you are sick, stay at home!
• Dont go to work for 7 days or until fever gone
  at least 24 hours without suppression by
  medications like Tylenol

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How can we protect against Seasonal Flu?

• Get your Flu shot ASAP This will NOT protect you
  against H1N1 but will protect against the usual
  seasonal flu that is already starting up
• Two kinds
• The shot for most people over 6 months
• The nasal spray for age 2-49 if not pregnant

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How can we protect against H1N1?

• Immunization will be available very soon
• Again, the nasal form for age 2-49 if not
  pregnant
• Injectable priorities
• Pregnant women
• Contacts of children lt 6 months old
• Health providers (direct care)
• 6 months to 24 years
• gt 24 yrs with serious health conditions

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Can we treat the flu?

• Most people need nothing more than Tylenol or
  Ibuprofen
• Doctor visits for seriously ill, difficulty
  breathing, those with concurrent disease
• Your doctor may prescribe
• Tamiflu
• Relenza Nasal spray

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Caring for someone sick with H1N1

• Avoid close contact
• Wash hands often
• Separate room if possible
• Pt should wear mask to go out
• Paper towels or separate towels for pt
• Clean all surfaces often
• Normal hot dishwashing and linen washing

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Warning signs in children

• 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
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with
  fever and worse cough

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Warning signs in adults

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with
  fever and worse cough

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Who should be treated with anti-virals?

• People with more severe illness, such as those
  hospitalized with suspected or confirmed
  influenza
• People with suspected or confirmed influenza who
  are at higher risk for complications
• Children younger than 2 years old
• Adults 65 years and older
• Pregnant women
• People with certain chronic medical or
  immunosuppressive conditions
• People younger than 19 years of age who are
  receiving long-term aspirin therapy

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What are the implications for our church?

• Personal protection Equipment
• Hand sanitizers
• Tissues and waste baskets everywhere
• Masks maybe in nursery
• Surface cleaning
• Strongly advise the sick to stay home
• Hand-shaking and hugging
• Closing down worship services
• Ministry to shut-ins and the sick

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Communicate with your people often and creatively

• Church email
• Phone contacts
• Posters in classrooms

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Implications for our church

• Care buddy system
• Collaborate with other churches
• Connect with local government
• Offer church for clinics, immunizations, etc.
• Social Distancing
• Special precautions on potlucks, dishwashing,
  communion cups

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Crisis or Opportunity?

• How can our church use this epidemic to reach
  out?
• Members and attenders
• Community
• The vulnerable, elderly, immigrants, non-English
  speakers, transportation challenged and
  incapacitated
• Home child-care for single parents
• Alternative worship modes internet, phone
  messages, etc.

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Resources

• www.flu.gov for general information
• www.hhs.gov/fbci for churches
• www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu for detailed current
  information

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