Are You Ready for Flu Season?

Each year, 5%-20% of the United States population contracts the flu.  More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from complications arising from the flu, and approximately 36,000 flu-related deaths occur EACH year in this country. 

Seasonal influenza, or "the flu", is a respiratory illness caused by

a virus that is spread mainly person to person through sneezing and coughing.  It is also possible for people to pick up viruses

from touching surfaces that have viruses on them, and then touching the nose or mouth.  Healthy individuals infected with the virus can spread the virus to others one day before actually showing symptoms of being ill, and up to 5 days after symptoms of illness disappear.

Symptoms of the flu include fever, headache, body aches, chills, extreme exhaustion, weakness, dry cough, runny nose, and sore throat.  While most people recover from the flu in one to two weeks, some people develop serious complications such as pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.  Those most at risk for developing these complications are the elderly, children, and people with chronic medical conditions. 

Prevention

1. Getting a flu vaccine is an important step in preventing against seasonal influenza.  Flu vaccines consist of three strains of inactivated, or killed, influenza viruses.  Unlike most vaccines, influenza vaccines are modified each year to protect you from the three strains most likely to be circulating and causing the flu that year. You can not get the flu from flu vaccinations, as they consist of dead or weakened viruses. 

2.  Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw the tissue away after you use it.  If you do not have a tissue available, cover your mouth with your arm and cough or sneeze into your  upper sleeve. 

3.  Wash your hands often and thoroughly! This is the best way to remove any viruses you may have picked up from other people or objects.  Hand sanitizers are also effective, but best reserved for times when handwashing is not available.  Sanitizer should not be used as a substitute for handwashing!  Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, as you can be transfering bacteria and viruses to yourself this way.

Childhood Immunizations

The Wells County Health Department offers all childhood immunizations at no charge to uninsured children, children on Medicaid, or children whose insurance does not pay for immunizations. Walk-ins are accepted, but it is suggested that you call for an appointment for both childhood and adult vaccinations to assure availability of the nurses and vaccines. Appointments can be scheduled for the hours of 8am-11:30am & 1pm-4:00 pm, Monday-Friday.

Why are infant and childhood immunizations so important?

These shots protect children from diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella (German Measles), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), hepatitis B, pneumococcal infections, influenza, and chickenpox.  By getting your child immunized, you will be fighting disease in two ways. First, you will be protecting your own child. Secondly, since healthy children don’t spread disease, you will be protecting other children as well.

What if my child did not get her shots when she was supposed to, or has gotten behind schedule?

The recommended childhood and adolescent immunization schedule is available in PDF format under the Health  Safety Information section below.  If you have children who did not begin their immunizations at two months of age, or who have had only some of their shots, they can still be fully immunized. It is never too late to start getting immunizations. If your child has only had some of his/her shots, he/she does not have to start over. The   shots already given will count. Just continue the schedule where they left off. Children 11 years of age or older need age appropriate immunizations and boosters.  If you have children who were not immunized when they were infants, contact your doctor or the Wells County Health Department. The public health nurses will be able to tell you when to bring the children in for their shots and what shots they need.

Services Provided

Tuberculosis (TB) Skin Test - Those recieving a TB test must return to the Health Department or a health care provider within 48-72 hours to re-check the area of the skin that was tested

Adult Vaccinations                                     Pregnancy Testing                                           Head Lice Check

Childhood Immunizations                          Blood Lead Testing - 1-5 year olds only           Travel Immunizations

Blood Pressure Screenings            

Immunization Fees

                                                      Childhood Immunizations                         FREE (donations accepted)

                                                      Adult Tetanus/Diphtheria                          FREE (donations accepted)

                                                      Hepatitis A - Adult                                   $24.00

                                                      Hepatitis B - Adult                                   $30.00

                                                      TB Skin Test                                           $3.00

For immunization information, please contact either our Department, the American Academy of Pediatrics or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  For specific information about travel immunizations you might need, please visit www.cdc.gov/travel.  To schedule travel immunizations, it is best to contact the Health Department at least six (6) weeks prior to traveling, as some immunizations require a series of shots over a period of time.

If you would like a copy of your or your child's vaccination record, please contact the Health Department any time Monday-Friday, 8am-12pm & 1pm-4:30pm.

Health Safety Information

Click the forms below to download the PDF version.  Requires Adobe Acrobat.

Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule

How Vaccines Work                                                                          Vaccinations for Adults 

Hepatitis A Vaccine - What You Need to Know                                 Hepatitis B Vaccine - What You Need to Know

HPV Vaccine - What You Need to Know                                            Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Fact Sheet

HPV and Cervical Cancer

Tetanus

What is Tetanus?

Tetanus, commonly called "lockjaw", is a serious disease that is caused by bacteria found in dust, soil, and manure.  These bacteria are ubiquitous in nature, and are found all over the world.  Tetanus bacteria enter the body through many kinds of wounds—from a pinprick to a deep wound.  Once they enter a wound, they can produce a poison which spreads throughout the body.  In the United States, three of every 10 persons who get tetanus die from it.

What are they symptoms of Tetanus?

Symptoms may include:
  – Headache
  – Stiffness of the jaw (lockjaw)
  – Severe muscle spasms
  – Sweating
  – Fever
  – Stiffness of abdominal muscles
  – Difficulty swallowing
Lockjaw is one of the most dangerous symptoms because it can lead to death by suffocation
Symptoms usually begin about 8 days after infection, but may range in onset from 3 days to 3 weeks.

How is Tetanus treated?

Treatment for tetanus may include medications, surgery, and bed rest.  However, even if a person recovers from tetanus, a tetanus shot is needed to ensure he or she doesn’t get it again in the future.

Can Tetanus be prevented?

Yes.  In adults, a tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster vaccination every 10 years helps protect against both tetanus and    diphtheria.  If you have not had a booster shot in 10 years or more, you should receive a tetanus shot. If you never had the initial childhood tetanus vaccines, you should receive a series of three tetanus shots.

Tuberculosis

What is TB?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by germs that are spread from person to person through the air. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. A person with TB can die if they do not get treatment.

What Are the Symptoms of TB?

The general symptoms of TB disease include feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. The symptoms of TB disease of the lungs also include coughing, chest pain, and the coughing up of blood. Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected.

How is TB Spread?

TB germs are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. These germs can stay in the air for several hours, depending on the environment. Persons who breathe in the air containing these TB germs can become infected; this is called latent TB infection.

What is the Difference Between Latent TB Infection and TB Disease?

People with latent TB infection have TB germs in their bodies, but they are not sick because the germs are not active. These people do not have symptoms of TB disease, and they cannot spread the germs to others. However, they may develop TB disease in the future. They are often prescribed treatment to prevent them from developing TB disease.

People with TB disease are sick from TB germs that are active, meaning that they are multiplying and destroying tissue in their body. They usually have symptoms of TB disease. People with TB disease of the lungs or throat are capable of spreading germs to others. They are prescribed drugs that can treat TB disease.

How Do You Get Tested for TB?

There are two tests that can be used to help detect TB infection. The Mantoux tuberculin skin test is performed by injecting a small amount of fluid (called tuberculin) into the skin in the lower part of the arm. A person given the tuberculin skin test must return within 48 to 72 hours to have a trained health care worker look for a reaction on the arm. A second test is the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold test. The QuantiFERON®-TB Gold test is a blood test that measures how the patient’s immune system reacts to the germs that cause TB.

How is TB Disease Treated?

TB disease can be treated by taking several drugs for 6 to 12 months. It is very important that people who have TB disease finish the medicine, and take the drugs exactly as prescribed. If they stop taking the drugs too soon, they can become sick again; if they do not take the drugs correctly, the germs that are still alive may become resistant to those drugs. TB that is resistant to drugs is harder and more expensive to treat. In some situations, staff of the local health department meet regularly with patients who have TB to watch them take their medications. This is called directly observed therapy (DOT). DOT helps the patient complete treatment in the least amount of time.