Swine flu information, symptoms and resources for Worcester County

category:Health and Fitness posted:October 27th, 2009

The reports of Swine Flu in Massachusetts (official name, H1N1) are alarming, but as the virus remains in the headlines, experts are urging common-sense in handling the outbreak.

This version of the flu is a combination of human, swine and bird flu viruses and continues to evolve. You need both a regular flu shot and a vaccine for the swine flu to be fully protected from it; doses of the H1N1 vaccine are currently being shipped to all points around Massachusetts and Worcester County but are being given to high risk patients first.

Like ordinary flu, those at greatest risk for Swine Flu are the very young, the elderly and pregnant women. The Centers for Disease Control note that 70 percent of those hospitalized for the disease had other medical conditions that made them a higher risk, such as diabetes, heart disease or asthma.

Symptoms for Swine Flu (H1N1) vary in severity from person to person but include fever, loss of appetite, lethargy and coughing. Some experience headaches, vomiting or diarrhea. It's important to see your doctor as soon as possible if you have any symptoms; antiviral drugs can greatly reduce the risks, but they need to be started early.

For more information about the swine flu and other health issues in the Worcester County, Massachusetts area, please contact one of the nearby health departments below:

Warren Town Board of Health
PO Box 478 48 High Street Warren, MA 1083
Phone: 413-436-5708
Website

Grafton Town Board of Health
30 Providence Rd Grafton, MA 1519
Phone: 508-839-5335
Website

Rutland Town Board of Health
Town Hall 250 Main St. Rutland, MA 1543
Phone: 508-886-4102
Website

Ashburnham Town Board of Health
Town Hall 32 Main St. Ashburnham, MA 1430
Phone: 978-827-4100
Website

Holden Town Board of Health
1196 Main St. Town Hall Holden, MA 1520
Phone: 508-829-0254
Website

Sterling Town Board of Health
1 Park St. Municipal Bld. Sterling, MA 1564
Phone: 978-422-8111
Website

Clinton Town Board of Health
Town Hall 242 Church St. Clinton, MA 1510
Phone: 978-365-4116
Website

Paxton Town Board of Health
697 Pleasant St. Paxton, MA 1612
Phone: 508-753-2803
Website

Lunenburg Town Board of Health
P.O. Box 135 Lunenburg, MA 1462
Phone: 978-582-4135
Website

Southborough Town Board of Health
9 Cordaville Rd,Basement Ste Southborough, MA 1772
Phone: 508-481-3013
Website

Uxbridge Town Board of Health
21 South Main St. Town Hall Uxbridge, MA 1569
Phone: 508-278-8600
Website

Northborough Town Board of Health
Town Hall 63 Main St. Northborough, MA 1532
Phone: 508-393-5009
Website

Lancaster Town Board of Health
P.O. Box 65 Lancaster, MA 1523
Phone: 978-368-4000
Website

Millville Town Board of Health
P.O. Box 703; 8 Central St Millville, MA 1529
Phone: 508-883-5041
Website

Milford Town Board of Health
52 Main St. Milford, MA 1757
Phone: 508-634-2315
Website

Leicester Town Board of Health
3 Washburn Square Leicester, MA 1524
Phone: 508-892-7008
Website

Royalston Town Board of Health
PO Box 102 Royalston, MA 1368
Phone: 978-249-3617
Website

Boylston Town Board of Health
221 Main Street Boylston, MA 1505
Phone: 508-869-6828
Website

Westminster Town Board of Health
11 South Street Westminster, MA 1473
Phone: 978-874-7409
Website

Auburn Town Board of Health
104 Central St. Auburn, MA 1501
Phone: 508-832-7703
Website

Mendon Town Board of Health
20 Main Street Town Hall Mendon, MA 1756
Phone: 508-634-2656
Website

Oakham Town Board of Health
2 Coldbrook Rd Oakham, MA 1068
Phone: 508-882-5549
Website

Templeton Town Board of Health
2 School Street Templeton, MA 1468
Phone: 978-939-2377
Website

Winchendon Town Board of Health
109 Front St. Winchendon, MA 1475
Phone: 978-297-3537
Website

Sutton Town Board of Health
4 Uxbridge Rd. Sutton, MA 1590
Phone: 508-865-8724
Website

Millbury Town Board of Health
127 Elm St. Millbury, MA 1527
Phone: 508-865-4721
Website

Bolton Town Board of Health
663 Main St. Houghton Bld. Bolton, MA 1740
Phone: 978-779-2297
Website

Westborough Town Board of Health
Rm 25 45 W. Main St. Westborough, MA 1581
Phone: 508-366-3045
Website

Charlton Town Board of Health
37 Main St. Charlton, MA 1507
Phone: 508-248-2210
Website

Spencer Town Board of Health
157 Main St Town Hall Spencer, MA 1562
Phone: 508-885-7500
Website

West Brookfield Town Board of Health
PO Box 653 2 East Main St. West Brookfield, MA 01585-0653
Phone: 508-867-1421
Website

Hardwick Town Board of Health
307 Main St. Hardwick, MA 1031
Phone: 413-477-6197
Website

Harvard Town Board of Health
13 Ayer Rd Harvard, MA 1451
Phone: 978-456-4100
Website

Webster Town Board of Health
350 Main Street Webster, MA 1570
Phone: 508-949-3800
Website

Barre Town Board of Health
40 West Street Box 431 Barre, MA 1005
Phone: 978-355-5002
Website

Brookfield Town Board of Health
Town Hall 6 Central St. Brookfield, MA 1506
Phone: 508-867-2930
Website

Petersham Town Board of Health
PO Box 486 Petersham, MA 1366
Phone: 978-724-0057
Website

Oxford Town Board of Health
325 Main St. Oxford, MA 1540
Phone: 508-987-6045
Website

Shrewsbury Town Board of Health
100 Maple St. Town Hall Shrewsbury, MA 1545
Phone: 508-841-8512
Website

East Brookfield Town Board of Health
122 Connie Mack Dr. East Brookfield, MA 1515
Phone: 508-867-6769
Website

Northbridge Town Board of Health
7 Main St. Northbridge, MA 1588
Phone: 508-234-3272
Website

Dudley Town Board of Health
Municipal Complex 71 W. Main Dudley, MA 1571
Phone: 508-949-8017
Website

Princeton Town Board of Health
6 Town Hall Dr. Princeton, MA 1541
Phone: 978-464-2104
Website

West Boylston Town Board of Health
120 Prescott St. West Boylston, MA 1583
Phone: 508-835-4710
Website

Upton Town Board of Health
1 Grove St. Upton, MA 1568
Phone: 508-529-6813
Website

North Brookfield Town Board of Health
14 Bell Road North Brookfield, MA 1535
Phone: 508-867-0201
Website

Southbridge Town Board of Health
Town Hall 41 Elm St. Southbridge, MA 1550
Phone: 508-764-5412
Website

Leominster Town Board of Health
25 West St. Suite 11 Leominster, MA 1453
Phone: 978-534-7533
Website

Fitchburg Town Board of Health
718 Main St. Fitchburg, MA 1420
Phone: 978-345-9582
Website

Blackstone Town Board of Health
Town Hall 15 St. Paul St. Blackstone, MA 1504
Phone: 508-883-1500
Website

Hopedale Town Board of Health
PO Box 7 78 Hopedale St Hopedale, MA 1747
Phone: 508-634-2203
Website

Athol Town Board of Health
584 Main St. Athol, MA 1331
Phone: 978-249-7934
Website

Berlin Town Board of Health
23 Linden St. P.O.Box 274 To Berlin, MA 1503
Phone: 978-838-0214
Website

Worcester Town Board of Health
25 Meade St. Worcester, MA 1610
Phone: 508-799-8531
Website

New Braintree Town Board of Health
20 Memorial Drive New Braintree, MA 1531
Phone: 508-867-2071
Website

Gardner Town Board of Health
City Hall 95 Pleasant St., Rm Gardner, MA 1440
Phone: 978-630-4013
Website

Hubbardston Town Board of Health
7 Main St P.O. Box 415 Hubbardston, MA 1452
Phone: 978-928-1404
Website

Sturbridge Town Board of Health
Town Hall 308 Main St. Sturbridge, MA 01566-1082
Phone: 508-347-2504
Website

Douglas Town Board of Health
29 Depot St. Douglas, MA 1516
Phone: 508-476-4000
Website

Massachusetts and Worcester County Flu Clinic Locations:
http://www.flu.gov/professional/states/massachusetts.html

In the meantime, here are the best ways to protect yourself against the flu - and stop the spread:

- Swine Flu is transmitted primarily through coughing or sneezing; you can't get it from eating pork products.

- Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your hands to your eyes or face. Use hand sanitizer after being out in public places. Be extra-careful if you're caring for someone who has the flu.

- If there's no tissue handy, cover your nose and mouth with the crook of your arm {versus your hand - see above} if you cough or sneeze. Dispose of any used tissues. By the way, experts say those garden-variety surgical masks are only slightly effective in protecting you (and others) from the virus.

- If you feel sick, do yourself -and your fellow citizens - a favor by staying home from work or school, and away from confined public places like a movie theater, airplane or subway.

Keep in mind that there is a Massachusetts seasonal flu outbreak each year; and while the number of reported cases of Swine Flu in Massachusetts and Worcester County may change daily, the number of actual fatalities is currently well below what regular flu outbreaks cause annually. So stay calm - and stay healthy!

Stay on top of what the officials are doing to curb the spread of the flu by checking these sites.
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
http://pandemicflu.gov/general/index.html