GV ready if flu hits hard

Special to the Green Valley News

Health officials are urging common sense and basic precautions as the state works its way through the H1N1 swine flu outbreak.

As of Tuesday night, there were 35 cases of the flu in Pima County and 186 in Arizona. Most of the cases are mild.

The Green Valley Community Coordinating Council’s Health and Human Services committee is prepared to help the region if the flu sweeps through.

Committee chair Kathy Simpson said a lot of winter visitors have left, which would greatly diminish the impact on the area.

“Timing-wise, we’re fortunate we didn’t have a major outbreak,” she said. “We’re preparing for an emergency; things will be in place.”

Arleen Boyuls, outreach coordinator for United Community Health Care, said the swine flu hasn’t hit its peak, but steps are in place in the event of an outbreak.

“Cover your mouth when you cough; avoid large crowds,” she said. Other basics: Wash your hands with soap and warm water or clean them with an alcohol-based hand cleaner for 20 seconds.

Community Relations Manager Patti Woodcock of the Pima County Health Department said with the recent outbreak of flu, the department has stepped up its disease surveillance activity while continuing to monitor hospitals and health care providers. However, the department on Friday closed its information call center for the public and returned to “business as usual,” she said.

She did not have information on whether any of the 35 cases in Pima County were in Sahuarita or Green Valley.

Woodcock advises residents to have on hand the same cold or flu remedies as for seasonal flu and that caregivers make a plan for someone to take over in the event they get the flu.

Woodcock said Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano recently released part of the national stockpile of anti-virals and medical supplies.

“She released a quarter of the cache. Every state received a share and the Pima County Health Department received its share of that,” Woodcock said. “We have the anti-virals and medical supplies in an undisclosed secure location.”

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.