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The physicians and staff of Longmont Clinic are providing the following information so that you can proactively plan, prepare and protect yourself, your family members and friends from the spread of the swine influenza virus.
Recommendations per the Colorado Department of Health and Public Environment:
Persons with milder influenza-like illness who are not at higher risk for influenza complications should be encouraged to stay at home and not seek testing or prescriptions of anti-viral medication.
High risk individuals are persons with certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabtetes, COPD, cardiac disease or other immunosuppressive disorders), persons age 65 years or older, children less than 5 years of age, and pregnant women. These patients should seek medical attention if symptoms present. Individuals with severe illness, such as difficulty breathing, should contact their health care provider.
Children and adolescents with fever should not go to day care or school. Adults with fever should not go to work until their symptoms resolve. The department advises those who experience influenza symptoms to stay home for seven days after onset of symptoms, or at least 24 hours after the symptoms have resolved, whichever is longer.
The state health department also encourages people to take these personal precautions to decrease their chances of getting the flu:
- Wash hands frequently
- Cover your sneezes and coughs
- Avoid others with respiratory illnesses
If you are experiencing influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact your health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.
Resources & Information Available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Questions & Answers: Swine Flu & You
Additional information is also available through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment web site or by calling their swine flu hotline at 1-877-462-2911.
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