Below is the second edition of the HIN1 flu newsletter brought to you by Senator Roman Prezioso and Delegate Don Perdue, co-chairs of the Joint Select Committee on Health Emergency Preparedness.  The following are answers to a series of questions asked after the first newsletter.

Q: If I’ve got the symptoms and don’t want to spread them to my family or others in places where I have to go (such as a doctor’s office), which is the right type of mask to wear and where can I get that type?

A: The CDC interim recommendations for facemask use for persons ill with confirmed H1N1 is that if an individual is going to leave the confines of their home the use of a facemask preferably the N95 or higher filtering mask (that is the best one) but a face mask such as a disposable surgical or dental mask is ok. Face masks help stop droplets from being spread by the person wearing the mask and are not designed to protect against breathing in small particles that contain the virus.  The information on the effectiveness of facemasks for decreasing the risk of exposure to the virus is extremely limited.

Q: Mixed signals are being sent by the media. Don’t wait too long before you see a doctor if you’ve got symptoms, because it may be too late to treat them. Don’t go to the doctor just because you’ve got symptoms, you may get over it without treatment and don’t need to be exposing the other patients in the doctor’s office.  If I’ve got symptoms, how do I know when I should seek medical treatment?

A: If one gets sick with flu-like symptoms that person should stay home and avoid contact with other people. Most people that have contracted H1N1 have had mild illness and have not needed medical care or anti-viral drugs and the same goes for the seasonal flu.

The warning signs for additional treatment beyond the symptomatic treatment would be if someone is experiencing difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion, or severe or persistent vomiting. If you have doubts call the health care provider but don’t go to the office unless advised to by the office staff.  Anti-viral drugs will not make the flu go away or prevent you from contracting it , but it may make you better faster and prevent serious complications if you are at a higher risk of complications.

Q: Is it possible to get H1N1 and the seasonal flu simultaneously? If so, what can we expect. Are there special treatment steps we should take?

A: It is possible to get both the seasonal flu and H1N1 at the same time but highly unlikely. The H1N1 being a “new kid on the block” would take over.  Also, if a person has taken a seasonal flu shot on a regular basis they have built up a stronger resistance to the seasonal flu virus thus lessening the probability of the dual contraction.

Q: If one gets H1N1, I know we’re not supposed to come in for at least 24 hours after our cough goes away, but how long does H1N1 take to run its course, 3 days? 10 days? Longer?

A: If a person contracts H1N1 they should not come back to work until their fever has remained normal without fever reducing medications such as Tylenol or Advil for a period of 24 hours. The cough may linger for several weeks after the symptoms of the flu have subsided. It takes about 7 days for the H1N1 to run its full course.

The West Virginia Bureau for Public Health has established an informational website to help parents and students better understand the H1N1 (Swine) Flu. Please review www.wvflu.org to find out about the latest preventative measures and vaccine availability throughout the state.

As part of the YMCA’s Activate America Campaign and the Healthy Lifestyles initiatives passed in recent years by the West Virginia Legislature, Erick Santana visited the Capitol to lead a group of school children in a Zumba class. Zumba is an aerobic fitness program which mixes body sculpting movements with dance steps derived from various dance styles with a combination of fast and slow rhythms. It targets areas such as the glutes, legs, arms, abdominals, and the heart.

Activate America® is the YMCA’s approach to address the nation’s growing health crisis. The stated mission of this program is to compel people to transform the way they work, both internally and externally and to support all kids, adults, families and communities in their pursuit of well-being in spirit, mind and body.

The State Capitol Building hosted the 12th annual Capital City Pumpkin Drop, hosted by the Education Alliance. Since 1998, students from all over West Virginia have used their creativity and math, science and physics know-how to win this skillful competition. Nearly 900 elementary, middle school and high school students from 31 schools representing 14 counties tested their math and science skills to compete and see whose pumpkin would withstand the drop from the third floor roof of the main Capitol building in their homemade containers.

The pumpkins must be eight inches in diameter or larger and the inside of the pumpkin may not be altered. The contains must be designed so that the pumpkin may be removed for inspection by the ground crew quickly after hitting the ground, with public safety in mind and to prevent damage to Capitol Complex property. The Pumpkin Drop is judged by Alliance staff and the Bridgemont Community and Technical College in Montgomery, WV. Trophies and cash prizes were to be awarded to the winners whose pumpkins survived the fall and landed closest to the designated target.

This weekend the South side of the State Capitol building will play host to dozens of firefighters from West Virginia and several other nearby states as they compete in the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge. Competitors, including several from fire departments around West Virginia take part in several events over two days which simulate the real-life demands and rigors of the firefighting profession. The competition began today and runs through Saturday, September 12, 2009.

For more information visit the the Firefighter Combat Challenge website.

West Virginians gathered at the State Capitol today to remember the events of September 11, 2001 and to honor the memories of those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on the United States and the rescue efforts which followed.

Students from Overbrook Elementary’s Kindergarten class taught by teacher Stephanie Simunic as well as children from the West Virginia Public Employee Day Care led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Liberty Bell was rung eight times, signifying the number of years since the horrific attacks occurred, by Dr. Kenneth Ambrose and his wife Sharon, whose son, Dr. Paul Ambrose, was killed in the attacks. John Cox from the Kanawha Valley Fife and Drum Corps closed the ceremony with Amazing Grace played on the bagpipes.

While August interim meetings and the third special session of 2009 are well underway at the Capitol, lawmakers, staff and constituents alike are being treated to a bit of culture on the grounds today.

Theatre West Virginia is promoting its summer shows with abbreviated performances of Seussical the Musical and High School Musical on the Capitol steps. Seussical the Musical is a combination of many of the books of Dr.Seuss. It debuted on Broadway in 2000. Written by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahern, this play is one of the most frequently performed shows in America. High School Musical has been adapted from the Disney Channel’s hit musical.

The sweet sounds of the Appalachian dulcimer can also be heard rising from the well of the Capitol Rotunda today. The fretted, plucked instrument also known as the lap dulcimer, mountain dulcimer and hog fiddle is played by strumming the instrument as it sits on the musician’s lap. Theatre West Virginia’s own Emily Pritchard and Hunter Walker, both from Beckley, W.Va., have been playing the string instrument for all to hear this afternoon.

A pair of accomplished musicians, Walker and Pritchard took first and third respectively at June 21st Coshocton Dulcimer days in Coshocton, Ohio. The competition featured dulcimer musicians from throughout the Mid-East Region.