February 15, 2008
When you have to sneeze or cough, you can cover your mouth with your sleeve.
‘Tis the Season for Colds, Flu and RSV
January, February, and March are the months when Respiratory Synctial Virus (RSV), Influenza (flu), and upper respiratory infections are most prevelant in the YK Delta. In fact, we are seeing the seasonal trend start to increase.
RSV, is a virus that is a common cause of Bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Symptoms of RSV include fever, runny nose, cough, and sometimes wheezing. It may take 1 to 2 weeks to recover from the RSV virus. Younger children, especially babies, may become sicker than older children or adults with the virus.
RSV spreads easily through contact. The RSV virus can live for several hours on surfaces. If you touch something a person infected with RSV touches, you can get the virus and pass it on to others.
Please help to ensure your safety and health, and especially our young children and elders, by following these guidelines:
- Wash hands frequently.
- Avoid sharing cups, glasses, and eating utensils with persons who are ill.
- During illness times, try to avoid kissing children and infants directly on their lips; (kiss them on the top of their heads.)
- Cough into your arm, not onto your hands.
- Wash hands after blowing your nose.
- Wash toys, door knobs, and telephones frequently with a sanitizing solution.
- If you are sick, STAY HOME! You risk infecting others. Get rest; drink plenty of fluids, especially water and juices.
- If you don't have soap and water available, use a waterless hand cleaner. (This does not replace hand washing, but will help when soap and water are not available.)
- Get your influenza and pneumonia vaccines if you haven't done so yet.
- Keep infants and young children at home; avoid large crowds. Children three years old and younger are at increased risk for serious complications from RSV, flu, and colds.
Included below are links to the State of Alaska Epidemiology website where posters and bookmarks may be downloaded. If you have questions, you can get more information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, listed below, or by contacting the Bethel Regional Public Health Center at 1-800-478-2110.
Quyana, and thank you, for helping to keep your communities healthy!
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/respiratory/rsvfeat.htm (CDC fact sheets re RSV)
http://www.epi.hss.state.ak.us/id/dod/rsv/RSV_Poster.pdf (Posters)
http://www.epi.hss.state.ak.us/id/dod/rsv/RSV_RackCard.pdf (Bookmarks)