Our View: No reason to panic over H1N1 flu
News that the death of a 16-year-old boy from Sandwich could be related to H1N1 flu is shocking. It must be devastating to his family and friends, and they have our deepest sympathy.
This should not, however, be an opportunity to draw conclusions or worry unnecessarily or make assumptions.
This young man was ill before he was exposed to H1N1; illness kept him away from school this academic year. The Health Department said in a written statement it is investigating whether other health conditions contributed to his death.
The Health Department also is urging people to follow the same old-fashioned common-sense steps to prevent flu:
• Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze (It's a good idea to cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow, rather than into your hand)
• Speaking of hands, wash them. Frequently. Thirty seconds under warm water with soap will do the job.
• If you feel sick, stay home from work or school.
Though H1N1 vaccine is not yet available to the general public, vaccine for the "regular" influenza still is available. If you haven't already had a flu vaccine, doctors and public health experts suggest you do so. DeKalb County is about to receive a shipment of H1N1 vaccine, and it will first be distributed to first responders and to people who fall into the high-risk category – children and teenagers.
Yes, H1N1 disproportionately affects younger people, including teenagers and young adults. But it's important to remember that symptoms are, in the majority of cases, no worse than those experienced with seasonal flu. That said, people who have more severe symptoms – difficulty breathing, dehydration, confusion, pain or pressure in chest or abdomen – should seek medical attention immediately.
It seems as though more people are feeling under the weather; Kishwaukee Community Hospital put up a tent Tuesday to help accommodate an extra-busy emergency department bustling with people with flu symptoms.
It's important to remember that what happened to the young man from Sandwich is not typical, and there is more to his story than we know. And it's important for reason and common sense to guide our decisions and reactions when it comes to flu – no matter what name it goes by.
