The Napa County Public Health Division wants to ensure that you have the information you need to keep yourself and your family healthy this flu season, not only from seasonal flu but also H1N1, which was declared a pandemic (worldwide illness) this summer and continues to spread throughout the United States, California and Napa County.

Consider both vaccines

Seasonal flu vaccine is especially recommended for senior citizens, children up to age 5, health care workers and those with underlying chronic illnesses that make their immune system less robust than most.

Seasonal flu vaccine is available at doctor’s offices, pharmacies such as CVS and Safeway, and at public clinics. People who do not have health insurance or cannot get a flu shot through a provider can get a free seasonal flu vaccination at Public Health’s Immunization Clinic, 2344 Old Sonoma Road. Call 253-4270 for more information

H1N1 vaccine is highly recommended for everyone. Pregnant women, children from age six months to age 24, caregivers and family members of infants up to age six months, health care workers and those with underlying chronic illnesses, especially respiratory illnesses such as asthma or chronic lung disease, are high on the priority list as vaccine becomes available.

The county is slowly receiving H1N1 vaccine doses from the state, and a few private and public health care facilities have small inventories available. The initial shipments of vaccine are reserved for those in the high-priority groups, including pregnant women and children.

To receive the H1N1 vaccine, call your health care provider to see if he or she will be dispensing the vaccine this season. If not, Napa County Public Health will consider large-scale vaccination clinics for all residents as more vaccine becomes available nationwide, probably in November.

Good hygiene, good manners

Practicing good hygiene and good social manners is almost as effective as getting vaccinated.

• Wash your hands with warm water and soap several times a day.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

• Cough and sneeze into your sleeve or into a tissue; dispose of the tissue immediately.

• Limit unnecessary physical contact with others, such as hand shaking.

• If you feel ill, especially if you have a fever and a cough or sore throat, stay home until 24 hours after your fever has resolved itself without the aid of medications such as Tylenol or ibuprofen.

To doc or not to doc?

Most cases of flu, whether seasonal flu or H1N1, will resolve without the need for medical intervention. That is, most people recover with rest and time.

One of greatest threats our community faces from the flu season is an overtaxing of our health care system, especially emergency departments and doctors’ offices, from people concerned that their symptoms are serious enough to warrant emergency care.

Of course, if you or a family member is seriously ill, you should call your doctor and discuss the situation with him or her.

Here are some guidelines.

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing

• Bluish or gray skin color

• Not drinking enough fluids

• Extreme vomiting or vomiting for a long time

• Not waking up or not interacting

• Being so upset that the child does not want to be held

• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen (stomach)

• Sudden dizziness

• Confusion

• Extreme vomiting or vomiting for a long time

• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Stay informed

You can keep informed about H1N1 and seasonal flu in Napa County in a variety of ways:

• Visit the Public Health Web site by visiting www.co.napa.ca.us and clicking on the H1N1 logo on the Home page.

• Become a Facebook fan of Napa County H1N1.

• Call the recorded flu line at 253-4540 or Public Health at 253-4270.

• Watch the Register and other Napa Valley Publishing papers for information about free seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccination clinics throughout the County.

The best treatment for flu is to avoid becoming ill in the first place. Stay healthy!

This information was provided by Napa County. Questions or comments can be directed to Elizabeth Emmett, 253-4111 or eemmett@co.napa.ca.us.