Bedford County discusses H1N1 response

BEDFORD — Two days after President Barack Obama declared the H1N1 flu virus a national emergency, the Bedford County Board of Supervisors took a look Monday at the local response.

Jack Jones, chief of fire and rescue, reported to supervisors that this season’s flu is striking different age groups than usual. He stressed the importance of washing hands, not coughing or sneezing on hands and making sure employees with flu-like symptoms stay home.
“We can’t have people returning to school or work until they have been free of fever for 24 hours,” Jones said.

The highest impact is for pregnant women, health care and emergency medical service workers and people ages six months to 24 years old, he said.

The department last month passed out educational handouts to the county sheriff’s office, E-911 center staff and county employees about basic precautions. Surgical masks and filter masks are also available, which Jones said would be used if the virus becomes widespread.

“We’d like to know how many people are going into local emergency rooms with flu-like symptoms,” he said of the department’s communications.

The county registrar has implemented procedures to prevent the spread of H1N1 in polling precincts, according to Jones’ report. Housekeeping has increased its diligence in cleaning areas likely to support various germs, he said.

There would be no charge for a vaccine distributed by the local health department, Jones said in response to a supervisor’s question. “Once we get through the at-risk groups, the state plan is that everyone who wants it, it will be available for.”

Regionally, he said emergency management coordinators are meeting with health department officials and immunization strategies are being prepared.

“Local government should continue to work and be prepared to meet citizens’ needs,” Jones said.

In other business:
The board, which also serves as the county’s recently formed broadband authority, voted Monday to advertise a request for proposals to solicit bids from qualified firms for the purpose of implementing a countywide broadband network.