Huron County – The Huron County Health Unit says the announcement that we are in a global H1N1 pandemic does not change the activities going on in Huron County at this time.

The World Health Organization (WHO) raised its pandemic level to Phase 6 on June 11. This is the highest phase and indicates the world is in a Pandemic situation and that the H1N1 flu virus has caused sustained community level outbreaks in at least two WHO regions.

There are no confirmed cases of H1N1 Flu Virus in Huron County. Dr. Nancy Cameron, Medical Officer of Health, says the health unit continues to work with local health care providers to monitor illness in the County. Dr. Cameron says it’s important to remember that almost all cases in Canada have been mild. The World Health Organization says, while the virus is spreading around the world, it hasn’t changed in severity of illness.

Dr. Cameron says Huron County residents should continue to take the usual measures to reduce the risk of spread of respiratory illness. This includes:

• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and hot water or, if soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Sneeze or cough into your sleeve or arm.
• Stay home from work or school if you are ill.
• See your health care provider if your symptoms are severe. Make sure you call ahead so people in the waiting room can be protected.

Symptoms for H1N1 influenza are similar to those for seasonal flu: headache, chills, cough, fever, loss of appetite, muscle aches and fatigue, runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes and throat irritation. Vomiting and diarrhea have also been reported in some cases.

Influenza and several other (severe) respiratory infections are transmitted from person to person through coughs and sneezes that release droplets into the air and onto surfaces. People may become infected by breathing in the germs or touching contaminated surfaces and not washing their hands afterwards.

The Health Unit will continue to post updates on the status of H1N1 flu virus on its website.

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