H1N1 Pandemic Response

Hutt City Council is encouraging Hutt residents to take a few simple steps to prepare for the H1N1 pandemic, and the Hutt Valley Emergency Management Office has activated.

Getting prepared

Be prepared to stay at home for seven days. Make sure you’ve considered:

• Food and basic supplies: you should have at least seven days food and basic supplies at home, or that there is a friend, family or neighbour that can get them for you. This includes food, baby supplies, pet supplies, cleaning products, medical items - paracetamol, tissues etc.
• Care of dependants: you may feel so unwell that you will be unable to care for people or animals you are responsible for, so make alternate arrangements now. Ask friends, family or neighbours to help you.
• Essential services: make sure you have your power, gas and phone bills paid up to date. If a bill is to be paid while you are sick, arrange for someone to pay it for you.
• Social support: you may need help from other people when you are ill. Ask friends, family or neighbours, work colleagues, churches or other community groups now for their help and assistance.

Recognising and managing H1N1

Symptoms of the H1N1 virus can include:

• fever
• cough 
• sore throat 
• runny or stuffy nose 
• body aches 
• headache 
• chills 
• fatigue

Some people also experience diarrhoea and vomiting

If you have flu symptoms stay at home for seven days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom free for 24 hrs, whichever is longer.  If your condition worsens, seek medical advice by phone by calling Healthline on 0800 611 116 or your healthcare provider.

Stop the spread of flu germs by:

• Covering sneezes
• Regularly washing your hands and drying them thoroughly
• Avoiding contact with sick people and reduce time spent in crowded settings

 

For more information

Visit the Ministry of Health’s website at
www.moh.govt.nz/influenza-a-h1n1 

Information on swine flu is available in a range of languages from
http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/pandemicinfluenza-resources-brochures  

Emergency management response

The Hutt Valley Emergency Management Office has deactivated and is ready to respond to any requests from regional public health to provide welfare assistance to people who are in quarantine.