As concerns about H1N1 continue to escalate, officials are working to boost efforts to educate residents about the disease in West Virginia.
The extra work started Monday when Gov. Joe Manchin announced stepped-up education efforts in the state’s fight against swine flu.
He couldn’t have timed the announcement better. We’re just over a month into flu season, and West Virginia has already reported as many as seven deaths that could be a result of swine flu. Health officials estimate that thousands of people could die from swine flu-related causes this season, and when combined with the average number of lives claimed by seasonal influenza each year — 36,000 — it’s hoped that people will be at least a little more vigilant when dealing with their sore throats and runny noses.
So the stepped-up efforts such as those announced by Manchin — students will be taking home letters and fact sheets about the safety and effectiveness of the H1N1 vaccine; 114,900 vaccine doses have been distributed throughout the state’s 55 counties; and state health officials have launched a new Web site as an additional resource — should help curb residents’ fears about the spread of illness in the Mountain State.
Of course, as Manchin has reminded, we also must remember the basics: Wash hands frequently, stay home from school or work if sick, and seek treatment for flu symptoms. Signs of the H1N1 strain are fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, chills, headaches, fatigue, diarrhea and vomiting.
The state’s Chief Health Officer, Dr. Cathy Slemp, said she expects that West Virginia will have enough vaccine doses by January. That’s further good news as we continue to fight this latest strain of flu, especially for people who can be classified in one of five groups considered at risk for the illness and who are being given priority for the vaccine. Those include pregnant women, 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.
The Associated Press has reported that nurses, doctors and other providers in West Virginia received an initial batch of the vaccine. Subsequent shipments have gone to the state’s local health departments for them to distribute based on each county’s at-risk population. Doses also are being provided through public clinics, coordinating with private providers and also harnessing existing programs such as Head Start.
Unfortunately, health officials have attributed as many as seven West Virginia deaths to the swine flu: Four cases in Cabell County and a fifth in Wood County have been confirmed, and 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.
But the fact that state officials are closely monitoring the spread of swine flu — and stepping up efforts to educate us in the process — proves their dedication to making sure as few people as possible are exposed to the disease. We must heed their warnings and do our part to stop the spread of H1N1.
Opinion
State’s efforts to educate about H1N1 prove dedication
- Opinion
-
-
George Esper: Outstanding man as correspondent and WVU professor
Many West Virginians would no doubt be shocked to learn that the outstanding correspondent from the Vietnam War was a West Virginia University graduate from Uniontown, Pa.
His name was George Esper, one familiar for many years around the WVU School of Journalism for his tenacious coverage of the Vietnam War that established him as a highly revered print reporter of the 20th century. -
Hiding state records has no place in a democracy
In private business and personal life, people may hide some activities, exercising their right of privacy. But government is different.
-
Results about Twitter, free from censorship
So Twitter announces that it will allow country-specific censorship. What followed was #outrage, #disbelief, #protest, #RighteousIndignation, #TwitterBlackout and #rage.
-
West Virginia must develop plan to fulfill highway needs
There is no dispute that improving West Virginia’s roads is one of the state’s biggest needs.
We use them daily — out of necessity and for pleasure.
They’re also vital to West Virginia’s economic health. -
Best interests would be served if FGH and city both move on
In December, Marion County Circuit Court Judge David Janes ruled that the Fairmont General Hospital Board of Directors can appoint its own members and that the City of Fairmont’s charter no longer applies to the hospital.
-
Educational partnership a step in the right direction
Officials involved in a new educational partnership between Pierpont Community & Technical College and FirstEnergy Corp. call the endeavor a “great opportunity.”
We think it’s even more than that. -
Meth causes senseless waste, terrible damage in West Virginia
Terrible damage is inflicted on West Virginia — and upon abusers and their families — because dopeheads feel compelled to blank out their minds with drugs of many sorts. We can’t understand the sad need that impels them. It causes a senseless loss to society and individuals, filling prisons and wrecking jobs.
-
Limited funds for workforce training can’t be wasted through drug abuse
There’s only so much money to go around when it comes to workforce training. And with the national economy still in a bit of a slump, there’s even less money to go around and even more of a reason to make the money invested in these programs count.
-
A better way to choose presidential candidates?
Forty-seven more primaries to go.
If you feel like it’s been a wild Republican primary election season, with accusations of sexual misconduct, candidates coming and going, who makes how much and more, just remember one thing. There are 47 more primaries to go. -
Marion Countians should be proud as United Way has exceeded its goal
The United Way, we are most pleased to report, has reached its goal for the fifth consecutive year. In fact, it has actually surpassed its goal, and that is even better news.
Just to refresh your mind, the 2011-12 goal was set at $410,000, and it has passed that by $3,000. - More Opinion Headlines
-
George Esper: Outstanding man as correspondent and WVU professor
