“As from today (22nd June) Swine Flu (H1N1)
has been downgraded in Auckland from containment to management phase,
this now means that there is no mandatory quarantine, and that contact
tracing will cease,” reports Focus 2000 Human Resource Manager
Maxine Hall.
The Ministry of Health are now treating the situation the same way
it would treat seasonal influenza.
"Any change in the Ministry phase does not mean a change to
the advice for people to plan ahead," said a MoH spokesperson.
Many New Zealanders will become ill with this virus over the coming
months and for the vast majority it will feel like seasonal influenza.
The official expectation is to stay home and look after your selves.
As all disabled people are aware “to stay at home and look
after ourselves” more often than not means extensive support.
Are you prepared?
For example is there anyone who could help you with food and supplies
if you and your household are ill? Do you have the telephone numbers
of people who live near you, as well as your doctor’s phone
number? Keep these numbers in a place that is easy to see, e.g.
on the fridge door.
An emergency supplies kit is absolutely essential, especially if
the situation worsens. In this kit there should be a week’s
supply of long-lasting foods in cans and packets. Dried foods are
also recommended. The kit should also contain medicines, such as
Paracetamol which is good for aches and pains and for reducing high
temperatures, masks which can help stop the spread of germs, tissues
(or toilet paper) and plastic bags for used tissues.
Hygiene is of the utmost importance. Washing and drying your hands
properly are one of the best ways of protecting yourself against
the spread of germs. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with
soap or an alcohol-based rub. Keep your coughs and sneezes covered.
Put tissues straight into a covered, lined rubbish bin or a plastic
bag and try to stay a metre away from sick people to reduce the
spread of germs.
A quick ring around medical centres offers a variety of flu prevention
remedies, All medics contacted recommended everyone should check
with their own doctors first. However zinc tablets and turmeric
tablets rated highly as preventive medicines.
If you already have the flu, large doses of vitamin C are recommended.
There is a possible side effect of diarrhea when taking large doses,
but if that happens, you just reduce the dose. Typical doses you
can have range from 10,000mg to 20,000mg spread over the day. Vitamin
C is water soluble and surplus is lost in the urine, so you need
to dose frequently, say 1000mg to 4000mg every one to two hours
during the peak of the illness. You can purchase slow release tablets
which can be combined with powder or quick release tablets.
For continuing update information ring Ministry of Health’s
Healthline on 0800 611 116. Or click on Health related websites
http://www.arphs.govt.nz/
or http://www.moh.govt.nz/pandemicinfluenza
Ross Flood
rflood@cpsociety.or.nz
|
