The Daily Mail Online

Hudson-Catskill Newspapers

COXSACKIE — Coxsackie Town Supervisor Alex Betke was stricken with Pandemic Flu Tuesday night.

The Greene County Department of Public Health kicked off the Coxsackie Town Board meeting Tuesday with a Pandemic Influenza informational session, and Betke was just one causality among a room full during a demonstration by Director of Public Health Marie Cross Ostoyich, who says one in three people contract the virus when Pandemic Flu strikes.

Community emergency preparedness coordinator Kerry Miller joined Ostoyich and Megan Dole — a recent graduate of the SUNY School of Public Health. Together the trio explained what Pandemic Flu is, how to identify one, and measures which should be taken if one occurs.

Tuesday night’s stop was one of more than a dozen the department is making in an effort to “reintroduce” themselves to the community, while simultaneously educating the public.

“We’re trying to peak everyone’s interest about Pandemic Flu,” said Miller, who noted that with the county’s small public health department preparedness is key. “We’re just trying to get people and municipalities thinking and planning.”

According to the American Red Cross, a “pandemic” is a disease that spreads all over the world and affects a large number of people. Notable pandemics in recent history include the “Spanish Flu” of 1918, which killed 675,000 Americans, the 1957 “Asian Flu” which killed 70,000 Americans, and the 1968 “Hong Kong Flu” which killed 34,000 Americans.

Ostoyich says that pandemics usually begin in Asia because of the continent’s contrary weather patterns, and according to Miller a pandemic is currently “very likely.”

Signs and symptoms of Pandemic Influenza are similar to those of a common flu, and include muscle pain, fever, persistent cough and tiredness. Measures should be taken to reduce fever and prevent dehydration, and symptoms should be monitored in a “care log.”

Care should be taken to prevent the spread of the virus to others. To do this the Red Cross recommends that you:

n Clean your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

n Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough of sneeze and clean your hands afterward. Put used tissues in a wastebasket.

n Cough or sneeze using your upper sleeve if you don’t have a tissue.

n Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth to prevent germs from entering your body.

“We’re a small health department and there are 48,000 people in Greene County,” said Miller. “In the event of a pandemic we’re going to have to prioritize, and we’re asking residents and municipalities to as well.

Miller recommended that individuals and families prepare for a pandemic using a checklist available for free on the county’s website, and that businesses and municipalities create a “continuity of operations plan” to ensure a minimal amount of disruption in the event of a pandemic.

“We’re currently working on one,” said Betke.

The Greene County Department of Public Health is currently establishing a volunteer database to assist county workers if a pandemic strikes. There are more than 100 people currently in the database, and medical and non-medical volunteers are welcome.

“I feel confident that we in Greene County will be as prepared as possible in the event of a pandemic,” said Ostoyich, “but we need people to help us out.”

For more information on Pandemic Flu, or how to volunteer, visit: http://www.greenegovernment.com/department/publichealth/

Reader Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of TheDailyMail.net .

nigelthomas wrote on Aug 13, 2008 1:31 AM:

" Good article. We need to keep Bird Flu preparedness at the forefront of every business manager's mind. It won't go away so better start preparing.

Nigel Thomas
For free references and tools go to Bird Flu Manual Online or, if you need more comprehensive tutorials and templates, consider Bird Flu D-I-Y eManual for business preparedness and survival. "

nigelthomas wrote on Aug 13, 2008 1:32 AM:

" Good article. We need to keep Bird Flu preparedness at the forefront of every business manager's mind. It won't go away so better start preparing.

Nigel Thomas
For free references and tools go to Bird Flu Manual Online ( http://www.birdflu-manual.com ) or, if you need more comprehensive tutorials and templates, consider the Bird Flu D-I-Y eManual ( http://www.birdflu-manual.com/bird-flu-emanual/bird-flu-emanual.htm ) for a complete preparedness solution. "

Kobie wrote on Aug 13, 2008 8:10 AM:

" Great article you all are way ahead of even the pack. You even give a way for people to volunteer.

Federal web site - check out 1 hourweb casts on the home page
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/

Citizens guide
http://www.newfluwiki2.com/upload/InSTEDD%20Influenza%20Manual%20v1-5.pdf

Another place to blog, talk, give and get information.
http://www.newfluwiki2.com/frontPage.do

South Idaho Pandemic flu blog drill by the public health folks
http://sdhdtraining.wordpress.com/

Regards,
Kobie "

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