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This
time of year always reminds me of a few different images: my family and
I singing carols in church, Christmas trees and presents, the first
snowfall, and varying members of my staff coughing, sneezing, and
otherwise looking rather ill. Like any workplace – especially one where
people sit in close quarters – our Washington office tends to be a case
study for how germs spread. No matter how hard we try with disinfecting
wipes and soap, traveling colds, coughs, and sometimes the flu seem to
make their way around our office every winter. As we prepare for the
holidays and the winter season, tips from the Center for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) will help you and your family prevent the flu this
season.
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza
virus, and its effects range from mild to severe. In some cases,
particularly in young children and the elderly or those with chronic
diseases such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease, the effects of the
flu can be even more dangerous – resulting in hospitalization or death.
Each year, up to 20 percent of Americans get the flu and more than
200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications. The best way to
prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination every year, which can be
administered either through a traditional shot or a nasal spray. Ask
your healthcare provider which option is best for you and to make sure
you do not have any health conditions that disqualify you from receiving
a flu vaccine.
In general, individuals at high risk for complications from the flu
should get vaccinated. This includes children from six months to age
five and adults age 50 and over, as well as pregnant woman, people with
chronic medical conditions, and people who live in any long-term care
facilities. Additionally, individuals who live with or care for those at
a high risk for complications from the flu or who care for infants and
young children should consider the flu vaccine.
The best time to get vaccinated is October or November, but if you
haven’t gotten vaccinated yet, it is not too late. Flu season often
lasts through May. To find a flu shot provider near you, visit:
www.flushotsvirginia.org
or call your primary care doctor.
Aside from getting vaccinated, the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention recommends the following tips to prevent getting sick this
season:
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Clean your hands often and regularly sanitize high-traffic areas
• Practice good health habits like getting enough sleep, exercising and
eating right
Another area of concern is the potential for a pandemic flu outbreak.
Different than the traditional flu virus, a pandemic flu occurs when a
new influenza virus emerges for which people have little or no immunity,
for which there is no vaccine, and which has the potential to spread
very quickly through large populations and around the global. Although
it is difficult to predict when or if a pandemic flu outbreak will occur
as well as how severe the effects would be, federal and state
governments around the United States are taking steps now to prepare for
any potential outbreak.
The United States has been working with the World Health Organization
and other countries to develop systems to better detect an outbreak of
the flu which might cause a pandemic, as well as work with the private
sector in the United States to develop ways employers can protect their
employees. To date, the planning includes things like modeling how a
disease could spread, preparing and training community health centers
and hospitals, and working with state and local governments, as well as
other activities. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has
also been providing funds to state governments to help each state
prepare. Virginia has received almost $9.5 million for pandemic panning
activities from the federal government and on March 3, 2006 Governor Tim
Kaine and HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt signed a resolution that details
Virginia’s planning responsibilities. To learn more about the pandemic
flu and what the federal government and states are doing to prepare,
visit: www.pandemicflu.gov. For
more on what Virginia is doing, visit:
http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/pandemicflu/.
Additionally, according to the CDC, families can prepare for a potential
pandemic flu outbreak by storing a two-week supply of water and food,
ensuring an adequate supply of prescription and nonprescription
medicine, and taking steps to prevent the spread of germs, much like you
would to prevent the traditional flu. You can also consider volunteering
with local groups to assist in emergency response planning and talking
with your employer to make sure your workplace has thought about a
pandemic flu plan.
I hope that this holiday season and winter will be a safe and healthy
one for you and your family. By learning about and preparing for a
potential pandemic flu, we can all help minimize the effects of a
widespread outbreak. By getting a flu vaccine and practicing the
prevention tips, you can decrease your chance of spending days in bed
fighting the traditional flu. And, as I tell my staff, if you are sick,
please get rest, drink fluids, and most importantly – keep your germs to
yourself!
Congressman Forbes Speaks Out Against Bill That Would Arbitrarily Release
Criminals Early
Last week, Congressman Forbes participated in a hearing on a bill
introduced by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas that would give criminals
who have been convicted of fraud, drug trafficking, white-collar crimes
including Enron executives and lobbyist Jack Abramoff,
child pornography possession, immigration violations, or sexual
solicitation of a minor early release from prison.
H.R. 261, the Federal
Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act of 2007, would mandate
early release for federal prisoners convicted of non violent crimes if
they are 45 or older, haven't participated in violent crime while in
prison, and have served half of their sentence time.
Congressman Forbes opposes this legislation.
Not only would this legislation allow thousands of prisoners to be
released having only served half of their sentence, but it would have an
adverse effect on our communities and threaten the safety of our
children. Watch Congressman Forbes speak out against this legislation in
a Judiciary Crime Subcommittee hearing that took place last week.
Click here to read an article on H.R. 261 by the Houston Chronicle.
Click here to see
what other steps Congressman Forbes is taking to combat crime in
America.
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