Deck the halls with sanitizer

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By Communications Staff
Thursday, December 3, 2009
When it comes to the flu this holiday season - do your best to neither give nor receive.
 
The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) is reporting declining numbers of H1N1 influenza in London and Middlesex communities but with the holidays comes celebratory gatherings and more opportunities to spread viruses.
 
MLHU Associate Medical Officer of Health Bryna Warshawsky encourages members of the community to remain diligent in protecting against contracting or spreading the virus.
 
Forgo the holiday cheer and stay home if you feel ill. Practice frequent hand washing, clean surfaces and use hand sanitizer with a minimum 90 per cent alcohol base. Also, cover the mouth and nose area when sneezing or coughing.
 
Although H1N1 influenza is still circulating – there were nine laboratory-confirmed cases reported between Nov. 23 and 27 – the rate of spread is falling to low levels.
 
The peak activity occurred in mid- to late-October and has since significantly decreased.
 
Warshawsky says it is difficult to predict whether another wave of H1N1 influenza will hit the area.
 
“We do think there have been fair amounts of activity already, plus with the vaccinations people have been getting, between the two of that we hope there is enough protection in the community that the virus won’t continue to circulate, but we don’t know that for sure,” she says.
 
More than 90,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine and about 8,000 seasonal flu vaccines have been administered.
 
Currently, there is no evidence of seasonal influenza in the local population.
 
Clinics will continue to Dec. 17 for H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccines.
 
An updated list of clinics is available at www.healthunit.com. Check out Western’s flu site at http://communications.uwo.ca/influenza-microsite/
 

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