Influenza Makes It Way To County

Influenza A was diagnosed in a Roosevelt County resident who had no travel history on Monday, Dec. 8. The Fort Peck Tribal Health Department has also reported one case of influenza this season.

Report

Influenza is a reportable condition in Montana. Anyone who has knowledge of a case must report it to the local health jurisdiction. Cases are reported from county to state weekly, on an aggregate basis. Influenza hospitalizations and deaths are reported individually.

Vaccinate

Vaccination provides the best protection against influenza. Private pay (insurance or cash) and Vaccines For Children (VFC) doses are available for children age 6 months to 18 years. VFC is a federal program that provides vaccine to uninsured, underinsured, Native American/ Alaska Native, and Medicaid-eligible children ages 18 and under. At the Roosevelt County Health Department, no child is denied vaccine due to inability to pay.

Roosevelt County Health Department has three strengths of influenza vaccine available for adults:

• Standard Dose – this dose is approved for individuals 6 months and older

• Influenza High Dose – four times as much influenza medicine as standard dose. Approved for individuals age 65 and older.

• FluBlok – three times as much influenza medicine as standard dose. This vaccine is for individuals 9 years and older who want extra protection from influenza.

Antiviral Medication

Prescription antiviral drugs can treat influenza. To be effective, the treatment must start within the first few days of illness. Early treatment is especially important for the elderly, the very young, people with certain chronic health conditions and pregnant women.

Everyday Preventive Actions

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. This will block the spread of droplets from your mouth or nose that could contain germs.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

• Limit contact with others as much as possible to help prevent spreading illness. Stay home for at least 24 hours after fever is gone except to seek medical care or for other necessities. Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.

• Routinely clean frequently touched objects and surfaces, including doorknobs, keyboards, and phones, to remove germs.

• Train others on how to do your job so they can cover for you in case you or a family member gets sick and you have to stay home. If you begin to feel sick while at work or school, go home as soon as possible.

• At school, separate sick students and staff from others until they go home.

To track influenza cases in Montana: https://dphhs. mt.gov/publichealth/cdepi/ diseases/Pan-Respiratory/ Pan-RespiratoryDashboard Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program Eligibility | VFC Program | CDC For more information, call Roosevelt County Health Department at 406-653-6223.