Op-Ed: How to fight off the H1N1 virus

Over the course of the past month, two patients at Fremont Medical Center passed away from what may have been the H1N1 virus, commonly referred to as the swine flu. We offer condolences to the families and sympathize with their loss.

Flu-related hospitalizations and deaths continue to increase and are very high nationwide compared to what is expected for this time of year. Statewide, there have been about 250 deaths attributed to H1N1 since April. Approximately 30 percent of patients who were sick enough to need care in an ICU died. The deaths at Fremont were the first that might be attributable to the swine flu in Yuba-Sutter counties. However, 38 of 48 counties in California had previously reported a death. The Fremont-Rideout Health Group laboratory has logged about 170 positive flu tests since September.

As with seasonal flu, some patients are at higher risk of complications and death than others. Most of these risk factors are obvious and expected, such as diabetes, cancer, and lung disease, but obesity has also proven to be a new and unexpected risk factor. One thing is certain: the H1N1 virus is extremely serious and aggressive. In June it was officially classified as a global pandemic — the first in more than 40 years — by the World Health Organization. A typical flu season will affect 5-10 percent of the population, but this pandemic is expected to affect more than one-third. The flu itself is not much more severe than usual, but people are much more likely to be exposed to it, get infected, and therefore there will be greater numbers of complications and deaths than when fewer numbers of people get sick.

At FRHG, we are closely following the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines to ensure the safety of our patients, visitors, and staff. We are also working collaboratively with the UC Davis H1N1 task force and the Yuba and Sutter Health Departments to identify and implement best-practices in fighting the spread of the virus as well as educating our medical staff on an ongoing basis.

FRHG has established a task force to assess the extent of the virus among our facilities and monitor virus-related developments across the region, statewide and nationally. One of the task force's responsibilities is to monitor the number of employees and patients with flu-like symptoms daily to ensure the efficacy of preventive and protective measures.

Among those protective measures is the isolation of patients who have or may have the virus. Visitors are limited to two at a time, and children 14 and under are not allowed to visit at any time. Public educational information has been posted throughout our campus.

Public entrances have been equipped with hygiene stations, including hand sanitizers, tissues, and masks, and hand sanitizer stations have been added throughout our facilities for both public and hospital staff use. We are also working with laboratories to ensure speedy turn around on H1N1 viral testing.

Hospital staff, physicians, and volunteers are at particularly high risk for contracting the virus and we are vaccinating them against both the H1N1 and seasonal influenzas.

Should the incidence of infection surge in our communities and surrounding areas, we are prepared to utilize additional space to treat and handle more cases and house patients with the virus. We have even run mock drills to ensure that such sites could be quickly established.

That's what we're doing at FRHG to fight the H1N1 virus. But everyone in our communities can play an important role by adhering to common-sense precautions. When you sneeze or cough, cough into your sleeve or elbow. Wash your hands well and frequently, use an alcohol based hand sanitizer often, and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. If you exhibit flu-like symptoms, stay home and avoid crowds. And as with any flu virus, drink plenty of fluids and get lots of rest.

But by far the most important thing you can do is get vaccinated against both the H1N1 and seasonal influenzas. You will need separate shots for each variation. For H1N1 vaccine, please contact your doctor. At this time FRHG and our County Health Departments do not have H1N1 vaccine available for the general public. Initial supplies are only for targeted high-risk groups determined by Centers for Disease Control. Find information at www.cdc.gov/ h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm.

We are committed to leading the effort to defeat H1N1 in our community before it spreads further or claims any more lives.

Dr. Robert Plass is chief medical officer, Fremont-Rideout Health Group.