KOTA Territory NewsDon't panic, just prepare

Don't panic, just prepare

Makenzi Henderson

Earlier this week, 21 percent of students at a Lincoln, Nebraska high school were out sick.  Thirteen have confirmed cases of the Swine Flu.  Those students are reportedly recovering, but the virus' resurgence is a concern. 

It's easy to prepare for a stronger strain of H1N1; just do what your mother always told you to do.

As moms play with their toddlers at the park, they're more concerned with keeping the kids entertained, than avoiding the swine flu.

"I'm not really scared of it.  It's a flu," Vicki Post, a mother said.

"I really don't pay much attention to that," Krysia Rudman, a mother said.

And, even though there might be an outbreak of H1N1 come flu season, the moms say they'll continue to do what they've always done to prevent illness.

"I take him [her son] for his regular check ups, and I just make sure that he eats healthy," Rudman said.

"We always put on Germ-X or something like that, I make her [her daughter] wash her hands when we get home; a lot.  But, that's about it," Post said.

And, really that's about all anyone has to do, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Wash your hands often.

Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

Avoid contact with sick people.

And, stay home when you're ill.

Do all the things your mothers always told you to do.

"Exactly, but we need to listen to them this time," said Dr. James Keegan, an infectious disease specialist with Rapid City Regional Hospital.

That's because H1 N1 has the potential to become worse.

For some, government preparation for, and news coverage on a possible resurgence of the virus seems like an overreaction.

"I think if they talk about it too much... people kind of panic," Post said.

But, for Dr. Keegan, it's just proper procedure.

"We may be speculating beyond what we should at this point in time because we don't have a lot of information as far as what this could evolve to.  But, we have to have plans in place if this were to become more severe," Dr. Keegan said.

The plan, right now, is to administer three flu shots.

"This year is different than what we've experienced before," Dr. Keegan said.

One for seasonal flu.  And, two for swine flu.  People will have to get those about one month apart.

Children ages six months to 18 years, pregnant women, and healthcare workers would get the H1 N1 vaccine first.

"It should be as safe as other influenza vaccinations.  However, we're still relatively early in that understanding," Dr. Keegan said.

Because information on this virus changes every day, the best advice doctors can give is stay informed, and don't panic.

Dr. Keegan says contrary to the CDC's recommendations, people in KOTA Territory should get their seasonal flu vaccine in late October or early November.  That's because our flu season usually peaks in February and March.

For a list of the 10 things you need to know about H1N1, go the link provided on this page.