Swine flu widespread in Vt. Written By Michelle Monroe Wednesday, October 21, 2009 First of 3 area forums held in Town ST. ALBANS TOWN — At the first of three local flu forums, representatives from the Vermont Department of Health (DOH) told the audience that swine flu (H1N1) is now considered widespread in Vermont.     Ninety percent of flu cases in Vermont are now H1N1, which is a new virus in humans, said Health Services District Director Judy Ashley-McLaughlin at the forum held here at the La Quinta Inn & Suites.     H1N1 has a high infection rate, particularly among the young, but it is generally mild in healthy people. This flu has hit earlier than is typical for the flu. “We’re seeing now, in October, what we usually see in February,” Ashley-McLaughlin said.     The flu is spread through droplets containing the virus that are land on surfaces when an infected person sneezes or coughs. The virus can live on surfaces for up to eight hours. It has an incubation period of 1 to 7 days and a person can be contagious for up to a day before symptoms appear.     Infected individuals are most contagious while they are running a fever.     Anyone with symptoms, typically a cough or sore throat and a fever, is being urged to stay home.     “We encourage lots of hand washing,” Destiny Cadieux of DOH said. The flu can be contracted by touching a surface on which the virus rests and then raising your hand to your face.     In addition to washing their hands people are being urged to cough into their elbow and to sneeze into tissues. To throw the tissues away promptly and then wash their hands.     Those with a fever are being asked to stay at home until they have been fever free – without taking fever-suppressing medications – for at least 24 hours.     Families, especially those with children, are being asked to purchase food and supplies ahead of time in case they contract the flu, so that trips to the store while infected are not necessary.     Most people are able to recover with rest and plenty of fluids, but anyone who is not seeing an improvement should contact their physician, according to Cadieux.     In the next few weeks the DOH will begin vaccinating children in schools with more than 300 students. The vaccine is free and voluntary. Children under 10 years of age will need 2 doses. Those over 10 just one. The vaccine is being targeted to children and young adults, pregnant women, healthcare providers and childcare providers.     Parents and caregivers of infants under six months of age are also urged to get the vaccination, because infants under six months cannot receive the vaccination themselves.     Information about the flu is available online at flu.gov, healthvermont.gov and by calling 211.     Local forums also will be held Oct. 27 in Enosburgh at the public safety building and Nov. 3 in Grand Isle at the elementary school. Both forums run from 6 to 8 p.m.

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