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MORE RECENT UPDATES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: August 21,
2009___
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
SENIOR SERVICES
HOSTS 2nd SERIES OF FLU SUMMITS
For the past
two days, New Jersey health officials
have convened to continue New
Jersey’s preparedness efforts
in planning for H1N1 influenza. This
past July, a summit was held
over two days addressing the essentials
of New Jersey’s response to H1N1
influenza:
surveillance, community mitigation,
vaccination planning and communications.
These four key
areas have continued to be addressed
during these past two days.
Freeholder Deputy Director Gerry P.
Little stated, “The Ocean County
Health Department has been represented
at both summits. Our staff has learned
and shared many best practices that
they can incorporate into their H1N1
efforts. Yesterday’s summit was
directed at Health Officers and how
local health departments will deal with
outbreaks, mass vaccination clinics
in addition to their seasonal flu campaign.
Ella Boyd, VMD, Ocean County Health
Department (OCHD) Public Health Coordinator,
attended this session. She stated, “Any
information gathered to help with our
H1N1 planning is essential. Many things
discussed today address the goal of
reducing illness and death in addition
to minimizing social disruption.”
In addition, a session was held yesterday
on epidemiology and disease surveillance.
Reporting methods and updates and guidelines
on surveillance and testing were discussed.
Jen Crawford, Supervising Field Representative,
Communicable Disease, stressed not
only the importance of working closely
with the New Jersey Department of Health
and Senior
Services Communicable Disease Division,
but added that the OCHD has an excellent
working
relationship with the school nurses
throughout Ocean County. She said, “By
communicating
with our local school nurses in the
manner we have over the past several
months, we have an
idea of what types of illness are being
seen in their individual schools and
can keep a close eye
on H1N1 influenza.”
There was much discussion on the H1N1
vaccine which is in the process of being
produced. It is expected to be in a
two-dose vaccine, which presents challenges
in tracking
people who received the first injection
and also setting up a second series
of flu clinics for H1N1.
Also, the flow from seasonal flu shots
into the two-part series of the H1N1
vaccine was
discussed at length.
There was also discussion on the priority
populations to be immunized during the
first
wave of vaccine received. Priority populations
are pregnant women, children from six
months to
24 years, parents and caregivers of
children under six months, healthcare
workers and emergency
response workers, and adults under the
age of 65 that have underlying medical
conditions.
Today’s summit focused on communications,
continuity of operations, and pandemic
influenza planning challenges.
There was discussion on community mitigation
using the key messages that we have
been using all along: cover your cough,
wash your hands with soap and water,
stay home when
sick, etc. Public Information staff
needs to get out the message why it
is important to get
vaccinated, staying home when sick and
using preventive hygiene measures. Consistent
messages being distributed during these
times are extremely important. There
was also much
discussion on barriers to educating
the public and medical staff on H1N1
influenza and how
these barriers can be overcome.
Next Tuesday, August 25th, the New Jersey
Department of Education will be holding
a
summit regarding the H1N1 response and
schools. Dr. Bruce Greenfield, Ocean
County
Executive Superintendent, along with
several other Ocean County Superintendents
will be
attending in addition to health officials
from the Ocean County Health Department.
They will
also be working along with other counties
as we prepare Ocean County’s H1N1
response for our
schools.
----------------------------------
OCEAN COUNTY CONFIRMS SECOND H1N1-RELATED
DEATH (7/14/09)
The Ocean County
Health Department was notified today
that a person who had received a laboratory-confirmed
result for the H1N1 virus last week,
died on July 10th. The Brick Township
resident had significant, underlying
medical conditions.
There are three additional laboratory-confirmed
cases of H1N1 in Ocean County bringing
the county’s total to 47. Two
adults, one from Berkeley and one from
Manchester, and a young child from Lakewood,
are all recovering at home.
“At this time, the majority of
municipalities have been affected by
at least one confirmed case of H1N1,
stated Freeholder Deputy Director Gerry
P. Little, liaison to the Ocean County
Health Department. “The Health
Department has increased its surveillance
of influenza-likeillness and is working
closely with area hospitals and the
New Jersey Department of Health and
Senior Services.”
Leslie Terjesen, Ocean County Health
Department Public Information Officer,
said that H1N1 is a new, or novel, virus
and most people have no immunity to
it. She said, “Although we keep
sending out the following information
over and over, we do know that these
behaviors can protect us and our loved
ones from becoming ill.
• Wash your hands with soap and
water especially after you cough or
sneeze. Alcoholbased
hand cleaners are also effective.
• Cover your nose and mouth with
a tissue when you cough or sneeze and
throw away the
tissue or cough or sneeze in your sleeve.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose
or mouth.
• Try to avoid contact with people
who are ill.
• If you are sick, stay home.
• Wipe common household/workplace
surfaces with disinfectants whose labels
report
virus-killing properties.
• Stay informed about the situation
as it evolves from credible sources
such as the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov)
, the New Jersey Department of
Health and Senior Services (www.state.nj.us/heatlh/er/h1n1)
or the Ocean County Health
Department (www.ochd.org ).
Information packets on H1N1 have been
sent to Ocean County summer camps. For
more
information or packets, please call
Leslie Terjesen at 732-341-9700, ext.
7224 or at
Lterjesen@ochd.org.
----------------------------------
ADDITIONAL CASES OF H1N1 REPORTED (7/8/09)
“Two
more cases of laboratory confirmed H1N1
cases have been reported in Ocean
County; both are children, one in Jackson
and one in Barnegat. This brings the
total number of
confirmed cases in Ocean County to 42.
“At this time, the majority of
municipalities have been affected by
at least one confirmed
case of H1N1, stated Freeholder Deputy
Director Gerry P. Little, liaison to
the Ocean County
Health Department. “The Health
Department has increased its surveillance
of influenza-likeillness
and is working closely with area hospitals
and the New Jersey Department of Health
and
Senior Services.”
-------------------------
NUMBER OF H1N1 CASES CONTINUES TO RISE
IN OCEAN COUNTY (7/6/09)
“Presently,
there are 40 laboratory-confirmed cases
of the novel H1N1 in Ocean County,”
said Freeholder Gerry P. Little, liaison
to the Ocean County Board of Health.
“The
Communicable Disease staff at the Ocean
County Health Department continues to
closely
monitor influenza-like activity within
Ocean County.”
Jen Crawford, Ocean County Health Department
Supervising Field Representative-
Disease Control, pointed out that the
confirmed cases are from Toms River
(an adult and child),
Tuckerton (a young child); Jackson (an
adult and child), and Lakewood (an adult).
All 6 have
fully recovered or are recovering.
Leslie Terjesen, Ocean County Health
Department Public Information Officer,
said that
H1N1 is a new, or novel, virus and most
people have no immunity to it. She said,
“Although we
keep sending out the following information
over and over, we do know that the following
behaviors can protect us and our loved
ones from becoming ill:
• Wash your hands with soap and
water especially after you cough or
sneeze. Alcoholbased
hand cleaners are also effective.
• Cover your nose and mouth with
a tissue when you cough or sneeze and
throw away the
tissue or cough or sneeze in your sleeve.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose
or mouth.
• Try to avoid contact with people
who are ill.
• If you are sick, stay home.
• Wipe common household/workplace
surfaces with disinfectants whose labels
report
virus-killing properties.
• Stay informed about the situation
as it evolves from credible sources
such as the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov)
, the New Jersey Department of
Health and Senior Services (www.state.nj.us/heatlh/er/h1n1)
or the Ocean County Health
Department (www.ochd.org ).
------------------------------
OCEAN COUNTY CONFIRMS FIRST H1N1-RELATED
DEATH (July 1, 2009)
The Ocean County Health Department today
announced its first death of a county
resident, who was confirmed by the State
Public Health Laboratory yesterday,
with the novel
H1N1 virus. In addition, the young child
had other underlying medical conditions.
The individual, a child from Jackson
Township, was admitted to the hospital
on June 25th
and died on June 27th.
Ella Boyd, VMD, Public Health Coordinator
, said that residents of Ocean County
need to
continue taking proper precautions to
protect themselves and their families,
including:
• Wash your hands with soap and
water especially after you cough or
sneeze. Alcoholbased
hand cleaners are also effective.
• Cover your nose and mouth with
a tissue when you cough or sneeze and
throw away the
tissue or cough or sneeze in your sleeve.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose
or mouth.
• Try to avoid contact with people
who are ill.
• If you are sick, stay home.
• Wipe common household/workplace
surfaces with disinfectants whose labels
report
virus-killing properties.
• Stay informed about the situation
as it evolves from credible sources
such as the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov)
, the New Jersey Department of
Health and Senior Services (www.state.nj.us/heatlh/er/h1n1)
or the Ocean County Health
Department (www.ochd.org ).
Leslie Terjesen, Ocean County Health
Department Public Information Officer,
said, “If
you become ill with influenza-like symptoms,
including fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit,
or
greater), body aches, runny nose, sore
throat, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea,
you should contact
your health care provider.”
At this time, most people who have become
ill with novel H1N1 virus in the United
States have experienced typical flu
symptoms and have recovered without
complications.
--------------
NUMBER OF H1N1 CASES RISE IN OCEAN COUNTY
(June 26, 2009)
“Presently,
there are 33 laboratory-confirmed cases
of the novel H1N1 in Ocean County,”
said Freeholder Gerry P. Little, liaison
to the Ocean County Board of Health.
“At this time, all
are recovering or completely recovered.
The Communicable Disease staff at the
Ocean County
Health Department continues to closely
monitor influenza-like activity within
Ocean County.”
Jen Crawford, Ocean County Health Department
Supervising Field Representative-
Disease Control, pointed out that 10
of those affected are over the age of
18, 7 are adolescents
and 16 under the age of 13. Areas of
Ocean County that have been affected
are Barnegat,
Beachwood, Brick, Eagleswood, Jackson,
Lakehurst, Lakewood, Little Egg Harbor,
Manchester,
Ocean, Plumsted, Stafford, Toms River
and Tuckerton.
“The Health Department has sent
out information to all of the camps
in Ocean County
with pertinent information on what camp
administrators and staff need to know
about H1N1.
Health Department staff from the Communicable
Disease Division is available to answer
questions for camps regarding staff
and campers with influenza-like illness.”
stated Leslie
Terjesen, Ocean County Health Department
Public Information Officer.
Terjesen said that H1N1 is a new, or
novel, virus and most people have no
immunity to it.
She said, “Although we keep sending
out the following information over and
over, we do know
that these behaviors can protect us
and our loved ones from becoming ill.
This information was
also included in all the packets to
our camps:
• Wash your hands with soap and
water especially after you cough or
sneeze. Alcoholbased
hand cleaners are also effective.
• Cover your nose and mouth with
a tissue when you cough or sneeze and
throw away the
tissue or cough or sneeze in your sleeve.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose
or mouth.
• Try to avoid contact with people
who are ill.
• If you are sick, stay home.
• Wipe common household/workplace
surfaces with disinfectants whose labels
report
virus-killing properties.
• Stay informed about the situation
as it evolves from credible sources
such as the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov)
, the New Jersey Department of
Health and Senior Services (www.state.nj.us/heatlh/er/h1n1)
or the Ocean County Health
Department (www.ochd.org ).
------------------------------
Update: June 9, 2009
OCEAN COUNTY CONFIRMS TWO ADDITIONAL
CASES
OF H1N1 INFLUENZA VIRUS
“Additional
cases of the novel H1N1 influenza virus
have been laboratory-confirmed in
two adults with underlying health conditions,
one in Toms River and one in Brick,”
said
Freeholder Gerry P. Little, Liaison
to the Ocean County Health Department.
“Both have been
discharged from the hospital and are
recovering at home. To date, there have
been 5 laboratoryconfirmed cases of
H1N1 in Ocean County.”
“The Ocean County Health Department
has received numerous calls regarding
H1N1
from school nurses and the general population
with concerns about this virus. We have
had
reports that individuals have received
a rapid diagnostic test at his or her
doctor’s office and have
tested positive for influenza A. A rapid
diagnostic test that yields influenza
A infection could
mean that the person has H1N1 or has
the seasonal flu, which is still circulating,
or the patient
yielded a false-positive test. Health
care professionals use the rapid influenza
diagnostic tests to
help diagnose and manage the treatment
of patients,” stated Ella Boyd,
VMD, and Ocean County
Health Department Public Health Coordinator.
Influenza-like illness, which may be
H1N1, seasonal flu or other viral illness
will be seen
and diagnosed by physicians throughout
Ocean County. Not all cases of H1N1
will be definitely
laboratory-confirmed by testing as there
is no need to do so. Both seasonal flu
and H1N1 are
treated the same. Leslie Terjesen, Health
Department Public Information Officer
says, “The
New Jersey Department of Health and
Senior Services (NJDHSS) have reviewed
the Center for
Disease Control and Prevention guidelines
for laboratory testing of H1N1. NJDHSS
has
recommended that only people who are
hospitalized with influenza-like symptoms
or people
who are part of a cluster of individuals
with influenza-like illness be tested
for H1N1. A cluster
is defined as 2 or more individuals
with symptom onset within 7 days of
each other residing in
the same household or associated with
the same institution/activity/event
(i.e., work, school,
travel).”
H1N1 is a new, or novel, virus and most
people have no immunity to it. We do
know
how we can protect ourselves and loved
ones by continuing to do the following:
• Wash your hands with soap and
water especially after you cough or
sneeze. Alcoholbases
hand cleaners are also effective.
• Cover your nose and mouth with
a tissue when you cough or sneeze and
throw away the
tissue or cough or sneeze in your sleeve.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose
or mouth.
• Try to avoid contact with people
who are ill.
• If you are sick, stay home from
school or work.
• Stay informed about the situation
as it evolves from credible sources
such as the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention,
the New Jersey Department of Health
and Senior
Services or the Ocean County Health
Department.
Dr. Boyd also stated, “Infected
people may be able to infect others
beginning 1 day
before symptoms develop and up to 7
or more days after becoming sick and
children may be
contagious for a longer period of time.
That means that you may be able to pass
on the flu to
someone else before you know you are
sick, as well as while you are sick.
If you become ill with
influenza-like symptoms, including fever
(100 degrees Fahrenheit, or greater),
body aches, runny
nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting
or diarrhea, you should contact your
health care provider.”
---------------------
Update: May 20, 2009
OCEAN COUNTY CONFIRMS NOVEL H1N1 INFLUENZA
IN
TWO RESIDENTS
The Ocean County
Health Department confirmed the first
two cases of the Novel H1N1 virus in
Ocean County. Both men, aged 23, of
the Borough of Lakehurst, experienced
mild flu symptoms, are fully recovered
and back to work. Currently, in New
Jersey, there are 22 confirmed cases
of the Novel H1N1 Influenza.
The New Jersey Department of Health
and Senior Services will post daily
H1N1
influenza summaries on its website http://nj.gov/health/er/h1n1.
Freeholder Gerry P. Little, liaison
to the Ocean County Health Department,
stated, “Our staff at the Ocean
County Health Department has increased
their surveillance of influenzalike
symptoms throughout Ocean County. Knowing
the mobility of our county residents
and also the fact that many of our residents
commute to areas where there have been
confirmed cases, we are not surprised
that the H1N1 influenza virus has appeared
in Ocean County.
Fortunately, to date, the virus does
not seem to cause illness that is more
severe than seasonal flu and while there
is no vaccine presently available, there
are actions that we can take to help
prevent the spread of influenza germs,
including:
* Wash your hands with soap and water,
especially after you cough or sneeze.
* Alcohol-based hand cleaners containing
at least 60% ethyl alcohol are also
effective.
* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue
when you cough or sneeze and throw away
the tissue or cough or sneeze in your
sleeve.
*Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
*Try to avoid contact with people who
are ill.
*If you are sick, stay home from work
or school.
Ella Boyd, VMD, Ocean County Health
Department Public Health Coordinator,
stated, “Infected people may be
able to infect others beginning one
day before symptoms develop and up to
seven or more days after becoming sick.
Children may be contagious for a longer
period of time, both before and after
symptoms. If you become ill with influenza-like
symptoms, including fever (100 degrees
Fahrenheit, or greater), body aches,
runny nose, sore throat, nausea,
vomiting or diarrhea, you should contact
your health care provider immediately.”
Leslie Terjesen, Ocean County Health
Department Public Information Officer,
offers these steps to prevent the spread
of flu in your home if you have an infected
household member.
These include:
* Keep the person who is ill away from
other people as much as possible.
* Remind the sick person to cover coughs
and sneezes and wash their hands with
soap and water often.
*Have everyone in household wash hands
often.
* Ask your health care provider about
antiviral medications for household
contacts of the sick person, particularly
those contacts that may have chronic
health conditions.
* Flu virus on surfaces can be killed
by using household disinfectants.
Information on the H1N1 virus is available
on the Ocean County website at
www.ochd.org or at http://nj.gov/health/er/h1n1.