Seasonal Flu and Swine Flu (H1N1) Information

All Santa Fe County Flu Vaccine Clinics are cancelled until more vaccine is received.
NM Department of Health Flu Vaccine Info - 505-476-2600.

What can you do to keep from getting sick?

There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get sick with influenza, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Seasonal Flu Vaccination Locations in Santa Fe County:

Download Santa Fe Locations [PDF 103kb] »

Download Pojoaque, Espanola, Edgewood, Cerrillos Locations [PDF 93kb] »

What to do if you get sick

It is very important that you stay home to prevent spreading infection unless you need medical attention. Mild infections usually do not require medical attention. Typical care may include acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever, drinking enough liquids to prevent dehydration, and getting adequate bed rest. If symptoms persist or worsen, or if you have underlying medical conditions, contact your personal physician or regular health care provider. Indications of more serious illness that might need immediate medical care include:

Difficulty breathing
Severe vomiting
Excessive drowsiness
Fever over 100 degrees, especially in young children, the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions
Signs of dehydration in children include being unable to take adequate amounts of fluids, crying without tears, and urinating less often than normal.

Swine Flu & Seasonal Flu in Santa Fe County

Vaccine Information
The Department of Health has ordered 203,710 doses of nasal and injectable H1N1 vaccine. Vaccine is being distributed to providers, hospitals and public health offices statewide as it is received.

The Department of Health is encouraging people in the following current H1N1 vaccination priority groups to get vaccinated as soon as possible: pregnant women, household members/caretakers of infants less than 6 months old, children 6 to 59 months of age, children 5 to18 years with certain chronic health conditions that increase their risk of complications from flu, and healthcare workers and emergency medical service personnel with direct patient care.

The Department of Health is encouraging people in the current priority groups to call their primary healthcare providers first to ask if they are providing the novel H1N1 vaccine. People in the priority groups without insurance or a healthcare provider, or whose provider will not offer the H1N1 vaccine, can get the vaccine from a local public health office. Call your local public health office first to check the availability of H1N1 vaccine. Public health offices are listed in the phonebook’s blue pages under state government or online at www.nmhealth.org.

The total amount of H1N1 vaccine that has been ordered for Santa Fe County as of Nov. 12: 13,985.

Influenza and Persons at High Risk of Complications of Influenza
The Department of Health is recommending that people with influenza-like illness that fall into the following groups should be treated with antiviral medications from their health care provider within 48 hours after developing symptoms:

Children younger than 5 years of age,
Adults 65 years of age and older, and
Persons with the following conditions: Chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological (including sickle cell disease), neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus)
Immunosuppression, including that caused by medications or by HIV
Pregnant women
Persons younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities

Information on Seasonal Flu and H1N1 Situation Update
Weekly influenza disease activity in New Mexico updates are here: Learn More »

Vaccine Information
Health care providers around the state are providing vaccinations to protect people against seasonal flu. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects to begin shipping H1N1 flu vaccine as early as mid-October.

New Mexico will receive vaccine in stages and provide vaccination first to people most at risk for serious illness from H1N1 influenza. The first priority groups that will be vaccinated are: pregnant women, household members/caretakers of infants less than 6 months old, children 6 to 59 months of age, children 5 to18 years with certain chronic health conditions that increase their risk of complications from flu, and healthcare workers and emergency medical service personnel with direct patient care.

The Department of Health advises the following high risks groups get vaccinated against seasonal influenza:

Residents of long-term care facilities
Persons ages 2-64 years with chronic health conditions, such as asthma or other breathing problems, kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, muscle or nerve disorders that can lead to breathing or swallowing problems, and children on long-term aspirin therapy
Children age 6 months up to their 19th birthday
Persons ages 50 years and older
Pregnant women
Health care workers who provide direct patient care
Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children up to age 5, or anyone at increased risk of flu complications

The Department of Health is recruiting health care professionals to help with vaccination clinics and potentially respond to an emergency. To volunteer, go to www.nmserves.org.

CDC Experts Contributing to WebMD's Focus on Flu Blog

Recent Updates of Interest

Flyer: 2009 H1N1 and Seasonal Flu: What To Do If You Get Sick (PDF)

UPDATE: Brochure: CDC Says “Take 3” Steps To Fight The Flu (PDF)

Pediatric Supplement: Recommendations for use of antiviral medications for 2009 H1N1 influenza in children and adolescents
This document provides clinician guidance regarding use of antiviral medications for the management of 2009 H1N1 influenza in children and adolescents. Questions and answers regarding high risk groups, considerations for antiviral therapy, pharmaceutical considerations, and considerations for post-exposure chemoprophylaxis. Additional resources are included.

Updated Recommendations on Antivirals
Updates include: considerations for vaccinated persons, inclusion of the 2-week postpartum period as higher risk, oseltamivir dosing instructions for children younger than 1 year, and a review of antiviral indications and contraindications.

2009 H1N1 Flu: International Situation Update
This report provides an update to the international situation as of October 16, 2009. The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to report updated 2009 H1N1 flu-associated laboratory-confirmed cases and deaths on its Web page.

2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Supply Status
Every Friday, CDC will post updated 2009 H1N1 vaccine supply and distribution data.

U.S. Influenza and Pneumonia-Associated Hospitalizations and Deaths from October 4-10, 2009
During the week of October 4-10, 2009, influenza activity continued to increase in the United States. Flu activity is now widespread. Nationwide, visits to doctors for influenza-like-illness increased over last week and are higher than expected for this time of year. In addition, flu-related hospitalizations and deaths are increasing as well, and are higher than expected.

FLYER: 2009 H1N1 Flu Vaccine: It Takes Two (PDF - Spanish translation)
Get your child a second 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine dose.

FLYER: 2009 H1N1 Flu Vaccine: It Takes Two (PDF)
Get your child a second 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine dose.

Updated: 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine
Updated question and answer for 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine.

2009 H1N1 Flu and Seasonal Flu Information for Rheumatology Health Professionals
This document provides clinician guidance regarding the rheumatologic patient population. Questions and answers regarding risk, vaccines and patient advice are available. Additional resources are included in this guidance as well.

2009 H1N1 Flu and Seasonal Flu Information for People with Inflammatory Arthritis or Rheumatic Disease
The purpose of this document is to provide guidance for people with inflammatory arthritis and rheumatic disease regarding seasonal and H1N1 flu. Important questions and answers are provided for this specific population. Additional resources are included in this guidance as well.

Allocation and Distribution Questions and Answers
The purpose of this document is to provide information on plans for allocation and distribution of 2009 H1N1 vaccine. This document has been updated with additional information about the distribution process.

Questions and Answers about CDC's Interim Guidance on Infection Control Measures for 2009 H1N1 Influenza in Healthcare Settings, Including Protection of Healthcare Personnel
How is this recommendation different from the previous 2009 H1N1 guidance for healthcare personnel?....Who should use this guidance?....

Interim Guidance on Infection Control Measures for 2009 H1N1 Influenza in Healthcare Settings, Including Protection of Healthcare Personnel
Updated interim guidance on infection control measures to prevent transmission of 2009 H1N1 influenza in healthcare facilities. This updated guidance applies uniquely to the special circumstances of the current 2009 H1N1 pandemic and will be updated as necessary as new information becomes available throughout the course of this influenza season.

Questions and Answers Regarding Respiratory Protection For Preventing 2009 H1N1 Influenza Among Healthcare Personnel
Questions and Answers which provide additional information intended to assist healthcare facilities in optimizing implementation of recommended respiratory protection practices in the context of shortages of respiratory protection equipment.

2009 H1N1 and Seasonal Flu: What You Should Know About Flu Antiviral Drugs (PDF)
Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines that fight against the flu in your body.

Additional Updates on the CDC H1N1 Flu Website
To learn about other recent updates made to the CDC H1N1 Flu Website, please check the "What's New" page on the CDC H1N1 Flu website.

Other Resources:

New Mexico Department of Health: http://nmhealth.org/H1N1/index.shtml

Centers for Disease Control (CDC): http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/

Federal Flu Central: www.flu.gov

En Espanol - http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/espanol/

Taking Care of a Sick Person in Your Home

What to Do If You Get Flu-Like Symptoms

Download English/Spanish Flu Prevention Posters

Sign up now to have important CDC information about H1N1 flu and other topics delivered directly to your mobile phone! In September 2009, CDC launched a three-month text messaging campaign pilot to share important, timely health information directly to users.

To subscribe to the pilot, text HEALTH to 87000. Subscribers can expect to receive about three health messages a week during the three-month pilot. Standard text messaging rates will apply. For more information about the pilot, visit http://www.cdc.gov/mobile.