• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Health / Medicine / Health experts prepare for potential H-1-N-1 outbreak

Health experts prepare for potential H-1-N-1 outbreak

September 2, 2009 By Matt Kelley

Health experts from around the state met in Des Moines today to discuss preparations for a possible outbreak of the H-1-N-1 flu virus this fall. Iowa Department of Public Health Director Tom Newton says the disease was not as devastating as initially feared last spring, but states need to be ready if the virus turns more deadly over the coming months.

“We feel very confident at this point that we’re as prepared as we can be, recognizing there are a lot of unknowns as we move into the fall,” Newton said at the conclusion of the meeting. The University of Iowa is one of eight sites in the country conducting federally financed research on the vaccine to protect against H-1-N-1 flu.

Newton says the first doses of the vaccine probably won’t be made available to the public until October and Iowa’s share will come in relatively small batches. “I think they said we might get an initial amount of 200,000 (doses),” Newton said. “So, it’s going to be in small increments and it will continue on throughout the fall.”

Governor Chet Culver attended today’s meeting and said the general public can help mitigate the severity of any H-1-N-1 outbreak. “They can practice healthy habits, they can wash their hands, they can carry a handkerchief in their back pocket like this,” Culver said as he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. “This could make all the difference, but that requires – in some cases – changing behaviors. That’s why we’re here.”

Culver says state officials must walk a fine line between preparing the public for H-1-N-1, while avoiding undue alarm. Newton says health professionals should “prepare for the worst, but hope for the best.”

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Health / Medicine

Featured Stories

Governor hails passage of ‘transformational’ state government reorganization

Economic impact of Iowa casinos tops one billion dollars

State board approves millions in settlement with former Hawkeye football players

Monroe County man dies while serving prison term for killing brother

Bill would make changes in Iowa’s workplace drug testing law

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Ogundele and Ulis are leaving the Iowa basketball program

Iowa plays Auburn in NCAA Tournament

Volunteers help pull off NAIA Women’s basketball championship in Sioux City

Iowa State plays Kansas in Big 12 semis

Hawkeyes must wait after early exit

More Sports

Archives

Copyright © 2023 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC