News Concerning the H1N1 Flu from Marine Parents

Navy News:
IMMUNIZATION REMAINS THE PRIMARY METHOD OF REDUCING INFLUENZA ILLNESS AND ITS COMPLICATIONS. INFLUENZA VACCINES NOT ONLY HELP PROTECT VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS, BUT ALSO HELP PROTECT ENTIRE COMMUNITIES BY REDUCING THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE. CURRENT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) POLICY REQUIRES ANNUAL INFLUENZA VACCINATIONS FOR ALL ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL, SELECTED RESERVE, AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS. ALL BENEFICIARIES, WHO PHYSICALLY QUALIFY, ARE ALSO HIGHLY ENCOURAGE TO GET VACCINATED.

Letter from the Commanding Officer,
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Note: This text in this letter was copied directly from the Official Marine Corps Website for Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Click here to view original source...

With the recent news concerning the H1N1 Flu Outbreak, I want to assure service members, their families and civilian personnel that live and work aboard Camp Pendleton that the Base continues to monitor and prepare for any potential health risks associated with this virus. Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton has ample medications available and the Base is well prepared should a health risk arise.

The Base staff has been meeting regularly with Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, as well as the operational and training commands aboard the Base to stay apprised of developments and to ensure our support systems are in place in the event of a health crisis. Further, Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton continues to work closely with Navy Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control to obtain the most current health information available.

For now, the best actions for residents to take are the preventative measures listed below.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze (proper cough etiquette).
If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
Put your used tissue in the waste basket.
Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing.
Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

If you develop a high fever and other moderate respiratory symptoms (cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing, significant muscle aches) please contact your health care provider. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.

If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

The below resources are available for more detailed information:

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/index.htm

https://cpen.med.navy.mil/

The Base and Naval Hospital Web sites will continue to be updated as relevant information becomes available.

J. B. Seaton III
Colonel, USMC
Commanding Officer
MCB Camp Pendleton

The information provided here is a reference only and is not intended as a complete overview of the virus or vaccine.