Officials of United Memorial Medical Center met with local media this afternoon to confirm a report earlier in the day by The Batavian that a member of the hospital staff tested positive for the H1N1 strain of flu and to discuss precautions instituted by the hospital.
During the conference, both spokeswoman Colleen Flynn and Lorri Goergen, infection prevention manager, confirmed that other employees have reported flu-like symptoms, but the cases seem largely unrelated.
The fact is, as the County's interim health director Randy Garney, discussed with The Batavian this morning, H1N1 is now widespread in Genesee County.
"The first one who called in (sick) with symptoms had no contact with the first case we identified," Goergen said. "What seemed to happen almost simultaneously is that our ER had a sudden increase in patients coming in with the same symptoms, and the doctor's offices this Monday were calling quite rapidly."
The first infected employee is recovering at home, Flynn said.
Flynn said the hospital reacted quickly and transparently with employees about the first confirmed case, sending out a memo Tuesday telling employees to stay home if they had even subtle flu-like symptoms.
All of the employees and the doctors of patients who might have come into contact with the infected worker were given instructions and opportunities for preventative steps. Exposed employees were screened and offered anti-viral medications.
As Garney discussed this morning, because this is not currently flu season, any flu-like feelings should be considered H1N1. People who feel ill should stay home and have minimal contact with other people. If you feel sick, call your doctor. Health officials stress it is best to avoid going to the emergency room or doctor's office unless severely ill. H1N1, like any other flu, can be treated safely at home if directions are followed. Any public exposure by an infected person to others increases the risk of spreading the virus, and just because a case is mild in one person doesn't mean that person couldn't pass along the virus to another person who will have a much more severe reaction.
UMMC officials stressed the importance of washing your hands and avoiding hand to mouth contact.
And while your annual flu shot will not offer much protection against this new strain, they did stress the importance of annual flu shots.
As Goergen noted, some 36,000 people die from the flu every year. Any case of flu should be treated with care, not just H1N1.
Because H1N1 is now pervasive in the community, the hospital also instituted some visitation rule changes.
- No children under 14 are allowed to visit
- Visitors are limited to 2 per patient
- Visiting hours should be strictly enforced
- 4th floor (maternity ward) are restricted to fathers only
- Time spent in the hospital should be limited -- employees are encouraged to ask visitors to avoid public areas, including the snack shop, cafeteria and lobby
