HEALTH DEPARTMENT ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY TO PREPARE FOR AND PREVENT THE SPREAD OF H1N1 FLU VIRUS

The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services is actively monitoring the H1N1 flu virus incident.  We would like to assure our community that the Health Department is working very closely with the state and county authorities to track the status of the outbreak.  A team of public health professionals has been convened to provide heightened disease surveillance in the area and our website has been updated to provide the latest educational information about protecting ourselves from the swine flu. 

We are updating physicians and other medical providers and encouraging them to test any patients that may be experiencing any influenza like illness, including but not limited to fever, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

Residents should take this opportunity to prepare themselves and their families by putting together an emergency plan and kit.  Prepare as you would for any other emergency, make sure to have sufficient water, food, medications (now would be a good time to ask your doctor for additional doses of any prescription), and any other critical items you and your family may need during and/or after emergency.  Now is also a good time for parents to consider their childcare needs if there are school closures, as there have been some school closures in other states.

It is important for people to prevent the spread of this and any strain of influenza by remembering to practice healthy habits to prevent catching or spreading the flu by:

·           Wash hands with soap and water or a hand sanitizer frequently,

·           Avoid close contact with people who are sick,

·           Stay home from work or school if you are sick,

·           Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or cough or sneeze into 
     clothing (sleeves),

·           Eat healthy food, drink plenty of water, exercise, get plenty of rest, do not smoke and avoid 
     alcoholic beverages.

Remember if you are sick please see your physician, stay home from work or school and maintain good hand hygiene washing your hands at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap.

To view the latest Press Release please click here. 
For further information you may contact Moniek Pointer, Health Department Acting PIO, at (562) 570-4312.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

To view Long Beach DHHS Swine Flu Fighters Video click here
RELATED RESOURCES
City of Long Beach DHHS - English Swine Flu Fact Sheet
Ciudad de Long Beach DHHS - Espanol Hoja informativa de la gripe H1N1

State of California H1N1 Flu Hotline (English and Spanish) 1-888-865-0564
Available Mon. - Fri. 8:00AM - 5:00PM and Sat. - Sun. 8:00AM - 5:00PM

Continuty of Operations Planning (COOP) for Businesses
Center for Disease Control’s swine flu webpage
Los Angeles County Public Health
CA Department of Public Health Swine Influenza Information