HUNTERDON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
PO Box 2900
Flemington, New Jersey 08822
908-788-1351
For more information contact Carl Rachel, Director – Public/Media Relations & Strategic Communications

~ INCREASED FLU ACTIVITY IN HUNTERDON SCHOOLS ~

The county health department has received a number of reports from local school officials, private medical practices, and Hunterdon Medical Center of increasing flu-like illness in the county.  The department’s surveillance information confirms this trend.

These developments are expected as the H1N1 pandemic moves through our communities.  The schools are taking the precautions they need to take to exclude sick students, to periodically disinfect commonly touched surfaces, and to reinforce the need for good respiratory hygiene among students and faculty.   This includes stressing the need for frequent hand washing.

Parents of sick children are reminded to hold their children home for at least 24 hours after absence of a fever (without the use of fever-reducing drugs).   H1N1 vaccine remains in very short supply at this time.   Almost all private physician offices in the county have registered to be H1N1 vaccinators when the vaccine arrives, and have orders placed.  The health department also has ordered thousands of doses and is checking the status of these orders daily.  The department is set to announce a series of seven public clinic dates and locations beginning in early November, pending vaccine delivery.

Meanwhile, everyone should practice good cough hygiene, wash hands frequently, avoid sick individuals, stay home when sick, and wait for news announcing vaccine arrival. 

There are fact sheets for parents at the health department website (see H1N1 “Things to Know” then click on Advisories); www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/health.