|
People
& Families Checklist
 Family Emergency Health
Information Sheet (PDF)
Business
Checklist
Community
Checklist
Community
Organization Checklist
Medical Office
and Clinic Checklist
Schools
^ Top of Page
Medicine: Should I buy my own supply
of Tamiflu, or some other antiviral medication?
No. Health officials say in a pandemic flu outbreak, antivirials need to be
available to those who need them most so public health employees and healthcare providers
must be able to manage available supplies. That’s not possible if people are
hoarding antivirals. Also, personal stockpiling may reduce supplies making it harder
to treat “seasonal” flu in the elderly and others who are at risk of serious
illness or death from complications of “seasonal” flu.
^ Top of Page
Masks: Should I buy some?
You may want to consider using face masks in a pandemic. Face
masks aren't a silver bullet and scientific studies regarding a mask's benefit during a
pandemic situation are unclear. However, common sense tells us masks might help if
used correctly along with other protective measures like avoiding crowds, hand washing,
covering your cough, staying away from sick people and staying home if you're sick.
Masks are
currently recommended for healthcare providers to prevent exposure to respiratory
infections. State health officials say anyone who chooses to wear a mask may reduce
the risk of contracting a virus.
There are
three types of masks:
N95 – This type of mask reduces exposure to
airborne particles. A mask with a N95 rating is designed to filter extremely small
infectious particles that float through the air (airborne spread). A N95 mask is
used to prevent diseases that travel this way, like tuberculosis.
***Healthcare workers who rely on this type of mask to prevent
occupational exposure to disease are advised to undergo “fit testing” to ensure
a secure fit. Facial hair and variations in facial features may prevent a snug fit.
Surgical
Masks – Surgical masks, which are usually used in surgery, help protect
against larger particles, called droplets. Droplets are produced when people
infected with certain bacteria or viruses cough, sneeze, or spit into the air.
Droplets are
too large to travel very far and can settle on surfaces. Droplets sometimes stay
alive for several hours and can make you sick if you touch the surface and then touch your
mouth, nose, or eyes. Keeping surfaces clean and frequently washing your hands can
prevent this. A surgical mask may also help prevent you from touching your mouth or
nose.
Surgical masks
offer protection against droplets that can transmit respiratory viruses. However, surgical
masks may not adequately protect against airborne particles, primarily because they allow
for leakage around the mask.
Homemade
Mask – Dry T-shirt or bath towel folded twice (4 layers thick) may
offer some protection against droplets.
For masks to
work properly, a snug fit is important. The mask should fit tightly around the mouth
and nose. Some experts recommend taping the edges of the mask to the face.
***A new
report from the Institute of Medicine says people shouldn’t reuse disposable masks
because there isn’t a simple, reliable way to decontaminate them. Masks should
be worn only once and then thrown away.
Masks
are not recommended for people with breathing problems.
Flu
can be spread by airborne particles but it’s usually spread by droplets.
At this point no one knows how a pandemic flu virus (a new virus that spreads easily from
person-to-person) will spread because there isn’t any pandemic flu in the world right
now. If a new flu virus emerges and is spreading person-to-person, public health
officials will study it, determine how it spreads and how you can protect yourself.
^
Top of Page
Eye
protection is also something you may want to consider during a pandemic. Once again,
the scientific studies regarding how much, if any, flu viruses are transmitted by droplets
entering through the eye is unclear. However, eye protection is recommended for
healthcare providers in high-exposure situations. Anyone else who chooses to wear
eye protection may reduce the risk of contracting a virus.
Goggles
- Appropriately fitted, indirectly-vented goggles may provide the most reliable eye
protection from splashes, sprays and respiratory droplets. Many styles of goggles
fit over prescription glasses with minimal gaps. However, goggles must fit snugly,
particularly from the corners of the eye across the brow.
Contact lenses, by themselves, offer no infection control protection. However, contact
lenses may be worn with any of the recommended eye protection devices.
^ Top of Page
Poultry: Should I eat chicken?
It is safe to eat properly handled and cooked poultry. The U.S. government has also
banned imported poultry from countries affected by various strains of bird flu, including
H5N1.
^ Top of Page
Travel: Is it OK to travel to Asia?
Yes. CDC does not recommend that people avoid travel to any of the countries affected
by bird flu, but it does recommend that travelers follow certain precautions.
^ Top of Page
Cover Your Cough
This link provides materials for schools, healthcare providers and communities.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those
around you from getting sick.
^ Top of Page
Contact:
If you have bird flu or pandemic flu questions or would like additional information, email
birdflu@dhhs.ne.gov or call the DHHS Disease
Surveillance area at 471-2937.
|
