West Virginia News
W.Va. gov steps up swine flu education statewide
AP
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Gov. Joe Manchin announced stepped-up education efforts Monday in West Virginia's fight against the swine flu.
The state's 280,000 schoolchildren will be taking home a letter and fact sheet from Chief Health Officer Dr. Cathy Slemp. It aims to inform parents about the H1N1 virus, and assure them of the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine that is gradually becoming available.
West Virginia had distributed 114,900 vaccine doses throughout all 55 counties as of Wednesday, according to a new Web site that state health officials have launched as an additional resource.
The governor is also urging the basics: wash hands frequently, stay home from school or work if sick, and seek treatment for flu symptoms. Signs of the strain are fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, chills, headaches, fatigue, diarrhea and vomiting.
Health officials are attributing as many as seven West Virginia deaths to the swine flu. Four cases in Cabell and a fifth in Wood County have been confirmed. A cause of death has yet to be determined for a 17-year-old Monongalia County girl with cerebral palsy who died last week after contracting the virus. Kanawha County officials are treating the weekend death of a 58-year-old woman as a potential case as well.
Manchin spoke at the Capitol after Slemp briefed his cabinet, top officials, lawmakers and representatives of private-sector health care providers.
The governor said the apparent lack of knowledge hit home last week, when his son phoned him with questions about the risk posed by the flu to his pregnant wife, and the vaccine's availability. Manchin's daughter-in-law is due in January with his seventh grandchild.
"I just knew then that we had to step it up," Manchin told reporters.
Pregnant women are among five groups being given priority for the vaccine. The others considered at-risk are adults caring for children younger than six months, people between six months and 24 years, adults age 25 to 64 with underlying health conditions, and health care providers working directly with patients.
Manchin said he and First Lady Gayle Manchin will take part in the state's increasing efforts to spread the word.
Citing national estimates, Slemp said she still expects that West Virginia will have enough vaccine doses by January. Nurses, doctors and other providers received an initial batch. Subsequent shipments have gone to the state's local health departments, for them to distribute based on each county's at-risk population, Slemp said. They are providing doses through public clinics, coordinating with private providers and also harnessing existing programs such as Head Start, she said.
The state's 280,000 schoolchildren will be taking home a letter and fact sheet from Chief Health Officer Dr. Cathy Slemp. It aims to inform parents about the H1N1 virus, and assure them of the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine that is gradually becoming available.
West Virginia had distributed 114,900 vaccine doses throughout all 55 counties as of Wednesday, according to a new Web site that state health officials have launched as an additional resource.
The governor is also urging the basics: wash hands frequently, stay home from school or work if sick, and seek treatment for flu symptoms. Signs of the strain are fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, chills, headaches, fatigue, diarrhea and vomiting.
Health officials are attributing as many as seven West Virginia deaths to the swine flu. Four cases in Cabell and a fifth in Wood County have been confirmed. A cause of death has yet to be determined for a 17-year-old Monongalia County girl with cerebral palsy who died last week after contracting the virus. Kanawha County officials are treating the weekend death of a 58-year-old woman as a potential case as well.
Manchin spoke at the Capitol after Slemp briefed his cabinet, top officials, lawmakers and representatives of private-sector health care providers.
The governor said the apparent lack of knowledge hit home last week, when his son phoned him with questions about the risk posed by the flu to his pregnant wife, and the vaccine's availability. Manchin's daughter-in-law is due in January with his seventh grandchild.
"I just knew then that we had to step it up," Manchin told reporters.
Pregnant women are among five groups being given priority for the vaccine. The others considered at-risk are adults caring for children younger than six months, people between six months and 24 years, adults age 25 to 64 with underlying health conditions, and health care providers working directly with patients.
Manchin said he and First Lady Gayle Manchin will take part in the state's increasing efforts to spread the word.
Citing national estimates, Slemp said she still expects that West Virginia will have enough vaccine doses by January. Nurses, doctors and other providers received an initial batch. Subsequent shipments have gone to the state's local health departments, for them to distribute based on each county's at-risk population, Slemp said. They are providing doses through public clinics, coordinating with private providers and also harnessing existing programs such as Head Start, she said.
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