H1N1 Influenza Information
The Marshall County Health Department, along with state and local health
officials have been hard at work preparing for the potential of increased
illness this flu season because of a new flu strain called the H1N1 virus in
addition to the regular seasonal flu virus. Staying healthy this flu season
will need to be a shared responsibility – one that requires everyone to take
action, like getting a flu shot.
Each year 5-20% of the population gets the seasonal flu. Some people are hospitalized
and some die. Flu symptoms include a fever of 100°F or above, headache, body
aches, exhaustion, chills, and weakness.
The best way to protect yourself and your family against the flu is to get a seasonal
flu shot this year and every year and get the H1N1 flu shot when it is
available.
Everyone should also make sure they practice good health hygiene by following the
3Cs:
- Clean – your hands.
- Wash hands often with soap and water long enough to sing the Happy Birthday song twice or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Cover – your cough.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and immediately throw it away or use your elbow or shoulder, not your hands.
- Contain – your germs. Stay home when you are sick.
- If you are mildly sick stay home for 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (without the use of fever-reducing medicine). A fever is defined as 100°F or 37.8°C.
The items below link to Adobe PDF files (portable document format files). If needed, a PDF reader is available at no cost on the Adobe website.
Vaccine Information Sheets and Consent Forms:
Information for the General Public:
Information for Daycares and Schools:
Information for Businesses and Community Organizations:
Information for Healthcare Providers:
Other Information:
