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v
Flu shot: you are encouraged to have flu
vaccination during the flu season from September to March each
year
v
Spring
is warm and beautiful. But some of us might not be
able to enjoy it, because flowers have started
pollinating.
Pollen counts can be very high in certain
days. People
suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis and
asthma might experience exacerbation of their
symptoms including sneezing, runny/stuffy/itchy
nose, itchy/red/watery eyes, dry cough, shortness
of breath and/or wheezing.
If this happens to you, please come in for
a thorough evaluation and treatment.
v
Spring, summer, and fall are seasons of tree,
grass, and weed pollens, respectively. Therefore,
your symptoms of allergy are worse in certain
months of the year depending on the types of
pollens you are allergic to.
v
Individuals
older than
65 and those persons having chronic
conditions such as asthma, chronic lung disease,
diabetes, heart diseases and other chronic
illnesses should have pneumonia shots.
v Answers
to Your Questions About Bioterrorism From Santa Clara County Public Health
Department. September 21, 2001
What is bioterrorism?
How would I know if I've been
exposed?
What
can I do to prepare my family and me for a bioterrorist event?
What
is Santa Clara County Public Health Department's Emergency Plan?
What
protection would I get with a gas mask (respiratory protection)?
Where
can I get the smallpox vaccine?
What
would happen if I were exposed to anthrax?
Where can I
get the anthrax vaccine?
Should
my doctor prescribe preventive antibiotics against anthrax, plague, or other
diseases?
Where can I
find more information?
v
Tips
of the day
Tips on Pollen Avoidance
Tips for Dust Avoidance
Summer Tips
Tips
on Pollen Avoidance
If you are
allergic to plant pollen, you should know the
following facts to reduce your exposure to them:
1)
Pollen counts are heaviest in the early
morning and late evening.
2)
On windy days pollen will be more widely
spread.
3)
Pets can bring pollen into your home on in
their fur.
4)
Eating foods that contain or are related to
inhalants (e.g. wheat, rice, and oats) can
aggravate inhalant allergies.
5)
When yard work can not be avoided, protect
yourself with a dust or pollen mask.
6)
When traveling by car ride with windows
rolled up and use air conditioning whenever
possible.
7)
Remove allergy pollen producing plants from
your property.
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Tips for Dust Avoidance
By
reducing dust in your home, your allergy problems
can be better managed.
House dust consists of fabric fibers, human
and pet hair, dander, dust mites and cockroaches.
It exists in all homes, even the cleanest
ones. Since
more time is spent in the bedroom than any other
room in the house, extra effort should be taken to
reduce dust there.
You can accomplish this in the following
ways:
1.
Replace carpet with wood or tile floors
when possible.
Rugs should be vacuumed weekly.
2.
Wash bedding and pillows weekly in hot
water and dry them in the dryer at high
temperatures.
3.
Regularly vacuum mattresses or encase them
in plastic.
4.
Replace down or cotton comforters and
pillows with synthetic materials such as dacron.
5.
Use special HEPA filters to reduce dust in
the room.
6.
Maintain humidity levels between 30-50%.
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Summer Tips
Sun light is beautiful but can be dangerous
to your skin.
80-90%
of the damage to your skin is done by the time you
reach eighteen years old.
Repeated sun exposure increases the risk of
skin cancer.
THEREFORE,
YOU SHOULD PROTECT YOUR SKIN AND AVOID FURTHER
DAMAGE BY:
-
Avoid
sun exposure during the sun-intense hours,
generally 10 AM to 3 PM. If you must be outdoors
during these hours, try to stay in the shade.
-
Cover
yourself! Wear tightly woven, loose-fitting,
long-sleeved clothes; and a wide brimmed hat to
shade your face and sunglasses.
-
Always
wear sunscreen, even in winter or on cloudy days.
Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen to block both
UVA (the "aging" ray) and UVB (the
"burning" ray). Select products with a
Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
-
Apply
the sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going
into the sun.
-
Apply
sunscreen evenly over the skin that will be
exposed to the sun.
-
Use a
higher SPF on nose, ears and lips if the product
is fragrance free.
-
Always
reapply sunscreen after swimming or exercise, even
if the sunscreen is waterproof or water-resistant.
-
Reapply
sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours while being in the
sun, after swimming or sweating a lot.
-
Be
aware of medications that could cause you to be
photosensitive.
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What is
bioterrorism?
This was previously known as germ warfare. It's the use of
germs that cause diseases to injure or kill people in large numbers. Chemicals
could be used for the same purpose.
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How would
I know if I've been exposed?
At first you wouldn't know. There are different symptoms
for different germs and chemicals. We recommend doing what you would normally do
if you get sick - see your own doctor. The Public Health Department is providing
information to physicians in our county so they would be able to identify any
suspicious illnesses immediately.
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What
can I do to prepare my family and me for a bioterrorist event?
Effective response to the release of germs and chemicals will depend on exactly
what has been released and where. Some of these agents are communicable, meaning
they can be passed on person to person, but many others are not. The response
requires taking specific measures against what has been released.
The best preparation will be the Public Health Department monitoring and
surveillance which includes working with Santa Clara County's hospitals and
physicians to report any suspicious illnesses immediately. If a release were to
happen, emergency response and treatment would be put in place and you would be
provided information and instructions immediately. It's always a good idea to be
prepared for any emergency by having water, food, a radio, and other supplies on
hand.
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What
is Santa Clara County Public Health Department's Emergency Plan?
Three years ago, the Public Health Department began putting its emergency plan
in place. Our County's Emergency Operations Plan includes specific responses to
bioterrorism. As with any emergency, a coordinated response will be conducted
with fire, police, health care providers and other public agencies.
In the case of bioterrorism, the plan addresses detection,
surveillance, laboratory analysis, emergency response, treatment, and
communication with the public. Also, the Public Health Department is instructing
our county's physicians and hospitals to report any suspicious illnesses
immediately.
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What
protection would I get with a gas mask (respiratory protection)?
Gas masks could be effective under the right
circumstances. What you should know is that it is very difficult to get
adequate personal protection with gas masks.
This is because each biological and chemical agent requires a different
filter. If the does not match what has been released, you will not be protected.
Also, you need a professional fitting and proper training to use the mask
correctly.
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Where can I
get the smallpox vaccine?
The smallpox vaccine is not available to the general
public. Part of why the vaccine is
not available is because smallpox was eradicated in 1977. At this time, national
plans do not include routine vaccination of the public for smallpox.
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What
would happen if I were exposed to anthrax?
Anthrax is not communicable, meaning it cannot be
passed on person to person. If you were exposed to a release of anthrax and an
antibiotic treatment were started soon after the exposure, you could survive the
attack.
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to top
Where can I
get the anthrax vaccine?
The anthrax vaccine is not available commercially and is
only provided to members of the military. This is because military personnel are
at a higher risk of exposure. At this time national plans do not include routine
vaccination of civilians for anthrax.
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Should
my doctor prescribe preventive antibiotics against anthrax, plague, or other
diseases?
You should know -- no unusual illnesses, deaths, or
credible threats have been reported in California. At this time, public health
officials do not recommend prescribing preventive antibiotics.
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Where can I
find more information?
The Santa Clara County Public Health Department has set up an Information Line
to answer your questions at 408.885.3980.
Please contact the Centers for Disease Control at www.bt.cdc.gov. You can also
call the CDC at 800.311.3435 or email questions to them @inquiry@cdc.gov.
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