News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Irene G. Warren, Director of Development
October 21, 2003
(937) 374-5626 or 1-866-858-3588
GREENE
COUNTY COMBINED HEALTH DISTRICT
ANNOUNCES CLUSTERS OF INFLUENZA A
HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED
(Xenia,
OH) Greene County Health Commissioner, Mark McDonnell announced today that
clusters of Influenza A have been identified, and reports underscore the
importance of timely Influenza Vaccination.
Additional Flu Clinic
Information: (937) 374-5600 and 1-866-858-3588. Cost of the flu immunization is
$15, Medicaid and Medicare Part B accepted when presented at the time of
service.
During
the first week of October, Texas health authorities reported cases and school
outbreaks of laboratory-confirmed influenza A infections in the Houston
metropolitan area. Influenza
subsequently has been reported from several counties in Texas.
During
August and September, CDC had received influenza isolates from sporadic cases in
Alaska, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New York, Texas, and the
District of Columbia and Influenza A isolates from sporadic cases in Louisiana,
Texas, and Washington. While influenza activity in the United States usually
starts in November or December and reaches peak levels from late December
through April, the timing of influenza activity is highly variable from year to
year and influenza outbreaks have been reported in October in some previous
years. Influenza cases and isolated outbreaks can occur at any time of the year.
Supplies
of influenza vaccine are adequate in the United States this year. The adequate
supply, coupled with appearance of community influenza activity in Texas in
early October, serves as a reminder of the need for timely vaccination against
influenza, particularly among persons 6 months of age
or older and who are at increased risk for complications of influenza. Such
"high-risk" groups include:
·
Persons
65 years of age and older
·
Women
who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during influenza
season
·
Persons
with one of several chronic, long-term health problems (e.g., heart or lung
disease, kidney problems, asthma, and HIV/AIDS or any other illness or condition
that suppresses the immune system).
Influenza
vaccination is also recommended for other target groups, including:
·
Persons
aged 50 to 64 years because of the increased prevalence of high-risk conditions
in this age group.
·
Health-care workers and others in close contact with high-risk
individuals because of the possibility that this group might transmit influenza
to persons in high-risk groups.
For
the 2003-04 influenza season, influenza vaccination also is encouraged, when
feasible, for children 6 to 23 months of age and their household contacts and
out-of-home caregivers because young children are at increased risk of
influenza-related hospitalization. For 2004-05, influenza vaccination will be
recommended for these groups for the first time.
The Greene County Combined Health
District (GCCHD) will offer Flu Clinics at the following sites throughout Greene
County:
·
Greene
County Combined Health District, 360 Wilson Drive, Xenia, the following Mondays:
October 27th; November 3rd; from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
and 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., and a late night clinic on November 10th
from 12:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
·
Jamestown
United Methodist Church, 22 E. Washington Street, Wednesday, October 22nd,
from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
·
Yellow
Springs Senior Citizens Center, 227 Xenia Avenue, Thursday, October 23rd,
from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
·
Fairborn
Senior Citizens Center, 325 N. Third Street, Friday, October 24th,
from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
·
Golden
Age Senior Citizens Center, 130 E. Church Street, Xenia, Wednesday, October 29th,
from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
·
Cedarville
Senior Citizens Center, 48 North Main Street, Tuesday, November 4th,
from
12:30
p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
·
Bellcreek
Senior Center, 26 East Franklin Street, Wednesday, November 5th, from
12:30
p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
·
Spring
Valley Senior Citizens Center, 1498 W. Spring Valley-Paintersville Road, Friday,
November 7th, from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
From
November 3rd on, GCCHD is urging adults 18 years and older to get the
vaccination.
Children meeting the following
requirements are eligible to receive a flu vaccination at the Health District
office located at 360 Wilson Drive, Xenia, on Tuesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00
a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.:
·
Must
be at least 6 to 23 months of age
·
Must
be 18 years or younger and live in the same household with someone under age 2
years
·
May
not have health insurance
·
May
have Medicaid
·
American
Indian or Alaskan Native
For
questions regarding the Flu Clinic contact, the Greene County Combined Health
District, at (937) 374-5600 or 1-866-858-3588.
Greene
County Combined Health District – Your center for public health services and
health information in Greene County for over 70 years.
Healthy People…Healthy Communities
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