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Influenza Update February 2018

Many of you are aware of the pediatric deaths from influenza in Oregon and across the country this year. As professionals who work to protect Oregon’s children, and for some of us as parents, we are saddened. Flu deaths are preventable. We continue to emphasize having children up to date on their childhood vaccines, including the influenza vaccine. We are concerned that caregivers may not know when to seek emergency care for their child. In addition to the usual prevention messaging, please help us share information on care seeking behaviors with this audience.

Children should receive immediate care if they have any of the following:

  • Fast or troubled breathing
  • Bluish skin color
  • Not drinking enough fluids
  • Not waking up or not interacting
  • Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
  • Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with a fever and worse cough
  • Fever with a rash.

Infants should receive immediate care if they have any of the above signs or if they:

  • Are unable to eat
  • Have trouble breathing
  • Have no tears when crying
  • Have significantly fewer wet diapers than normal

 Communication materials are available to support your communication with caregivers.

OHA Flu background:

English: https://apps.state.or.us/Forms/Served/le8004.pdf

Spanish: https://apps.state.or.us/Forms/Served/ls8004.pdf

Russian: https://apps.state.or.us/Forms/Served/lr8004.pdf

Simplified Chinese: https://apps.state.or.us/Forms/Served/ln8004.pdf

Vietnamese: https://apps.state.or.us/Forms/Served/lv8004.pdf

OHA Youtube video (CC): https://youtu.be/XbBZgvGt72Q

OHA influenza communication toolkit is available at www.healthoregon.org/cerc

OHA influenza website is www.flu.oregon.gov

CDC Are you a flu fighter? Coloring Book:

English: http://www.nfid.org/coloring-book

Spanish: http://www.nfid.org/coloring-book-spanish

CDC The Flu: A guide for Parents (trifold):

English: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/updated/fluguideforparents-trifold.pdf

Spanish: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/spanish/flu_guide_parents_brochure_reverse_sp.pdf

Other languages: http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/resources/index.html