Arlington Mayor Dr. Robert Cluck

September 22, 2009
Know What to do this Flu Season

As a doctor, I have always been intensively interested in the health of my patients. Now as the mayor of Arlington, I feel just as strongly about the health of our community. Over the years I have pushed for solutions for several health issues, and I’m happy to say that we are able to work on many of them.

However, each year has its own challenge and this year the challenge is H1N1 Influenza, more commonly know as Swine Flu. This is a serious strain of influenza. The illness has ranged from mild to severe. Most people who have been sick with H1N1 have recovered without needing medical treatment; however, hospitalization and death have occurred.

This new virus was first detected in the United States in April 2009. It is contagious and spreading from person-to-person probably in much the same way that regular seasonal flu viruses spread.

Evidence about H1N1 indicates that everyone is at risk for getting the disease. Although there does not seems to be as strong a correlation with age as regular seasonal flu, anyone who is already ill or has a medical condition are at higher risk for complications.

Recently, I called together our city’s educational and healthcare partners to discuss this important health issue as our schools prepared to re-open. The purpose of the news conference was to communicate prevention, not alarm anyone. Together, we’re working to make our city and schools safer and stronger. With thousands of children return to the classroom; preventing the spread of the seasonal flu and H1N1 influenza is an important assignment.

The best way to prevent the spread of influenza is to:

• Practice good hygiene daily.
• Wash hands often
• Cover mouth and nose to reduce the spread of germs
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
• Use sanitizing wipes
• Contact a doctor or urgent care clinic as soon as symptoms appear.
• Children should stay home from school when ill.
• Adult family members should stay home when they’re sick.
• Stay informed. Public education materials are available in many forms in various languages.

Print your own “Stop Flu” posters to display in your home, school or place of employment
Visit the city’s web site to learn more about H1N1 influenza symptoms and prevention
View the American Red Cross Pandemic Flu educational video
Visit the Centers for Disease Control for national updates.

Vaccines can help prevent both types of influenza. The CDC recommends getting vaccinated against H1N1 influenza as soon as vaccines become available, which will be later this fall. The vaccine against H1N1 is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine. It should be used along with the seasonal flu vaccine.

As a medical doctor and mayor of this great city, protecting the health of my patients and this community continues to be my number priority.

Robert N. Cluck, M.D.
Mayor of Arlington