National Minority AIDS Council Building Healthier Communities
Building Leadership in Communities of Color to Address HIV/AIDS
USCA Participant Advisory: Protecting Yourself & Others from H1n1 and Seasonal Flu
USCA Participant Advisory: Protecting Yourself & Others from H1n1 and Seasonal Flu
October 28, 2009
USCA Participant Advisory:
Protecting Yourself and Others from H1n1 And Seasonal Flu
October
26, 2009 ~ Washington, DC ~ The United States Conference on
AIDS (USCA) encourages participants to take every precaution to protect their
health and the health of others throughout the upcoming meeting, this October
28th-October 31st, in San Francisco, CA.
Meeting
organizers are particularly concerned about the H1N1 pandemic, which President
Obama recently declared a national emergency, and the high incidence of
seasonal flu cases. Nationwide, H1N1 and season flu-related doctor visits, hospitalizations
and deaths are on the rise. Young children and people who are
immuno-suppressed, including those living with HIV/AIDS, are particularly
susceptible to infection.
The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the following practices to
protect yourself against H1N1 and seasonal flu:
Vaccination. Flu vaccinations are readily available, while H1N1 vaccinations are more difficult to obtain. Call your local health department for more information.
Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing with a tissue when sneezing. Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. Viruses can stay viable on surfaces for 2-8 hours.
If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. USCA's Hilton San Francisco Union Square has alcohol-based rubs stationed throughout the facility.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread that way.
Stay home or in your hotel room if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
Find healthy ways to deal with stress and anxiety.
Stay informed. Visit http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/ regularly to read the latest updates on H1N1 and the seasonal flue as it becomes available. Otherwise, call the CDC hotline 1-800-CDC-INFO for more information.