By WARREN DILLAWAY - Staff Writer
JEFFERSON — A second child in the Pymatuning Area Local Schools has been diagnosed with the H1N1 flu, bringing the Ashtabula County cases confirmed to four, according to information released Friday by the Ashtabula County Health Department.
“The Ashtabula County Health Department has been in contact with the school superintendent of the Pymatuning Valley School District, and the school continues to implement preventive steps designed to control the spread of H1N1 influenza. These steps include placing emphasis on hand washing, use of hand sanitizers, isolating sick students with influenza-like illness from
well students, sanitizing surfaces such as desks and doorknobs, and the sponsoring of H1N1 vaccination clinics in the school setting,” a health department press release states.
The County Health Department also stated that the Ashtabula City Health District has confirmed two H1N1 cases involving adults, bringing the total in the county to four people.
“The Ashtabula County Health Department has on hand a very limited amount of injectable H1N1 vaccine reserved for pregnant women and for children that are under 3 years of age.”
The department announced that the vaccine for other at-risk population groups has run out and some of the school-based H1N1 clinics will be postponed, the release states.
“The Ashtabula County Health Department expects to receive additional shipment of H1N1 injectable and H1N1 nasal spray vaccine next week. The amount of H1N1 vaccine that the Ashtabula County Health Department receives will determine how many school-based clinics will be held during the … week of Nov. 9 to Nov. 13,” the release states.
The H1N1 nasal mist spray is available in limited quantities.
“The H1N1 nasal mist spray vaccine is suitable for healthy people ages 2 to 49,” the release states. The spray is not to be used for people with chronic medical conditions like heart disease, lung disease, asthma, kidney or liver disease, diabetes and certain blood disorders, according to the health department.
“The Ashtabula County Health Department will continue to hold H1N1 community vaccination clinics for at-risk population groups 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays and Fridays at the Ashtabula County Health Department, and at Ashtabula Township Hall 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays except Nov. 11, which is Veterans Day,” the release states.
During the week of Nov. 9 to 13, the nasal spray will be the only form of the H1N1 vaccine available, the release states.
