Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) provides a full range of services to our community. If you don't know where to turn, we're here for you. This site provides information about who we are, health care, building a career within our Agency, finding assistance to take care of your family and ways to teach your children good habits to give them a healthier future.

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H1N1 Flu Update July 3, 2009 2:00 PM PST:

As the number of confirmed cases of the H1N1 Flu continues to rise in both Tulare County and across the state, the nation and the world, Tulare County Public Health Officials ask residents to remain vigilent in proper hygiene practices to prevent the spread of the flu.
 
The World Health Organization currently holds the level of influenza pandemic alert at a phase 6.  It is important to note that the WHO's decision to raise the pandemic alert level to Phase 6 is a reflection of the spread of the virus, not the severity of illness caused by the virus.
 
At this time, the WHO continues to recommend no restrictions on travel and no border closures, but rather asks citizens around the world to be vigilent in proper hygiene practices, and following safe health measures.
 
The worldwide picture is as follows:  As of 09:00 GMT, July 3, 2009, the WHO has officially reported 89,921 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection, including 382 deaths.  Nationally, the CDC reports that as of 11:00 AM ET, July 2, 2009, there have been 1,985 confirmed and probable cases in California. In total, there have been 33,902 probable and confirmed cases of H1N1 Flu nationally, and the majority of these cases have been mild. At this time, 170 deaths in the U.S. has been reported due to the illness.
 
In Tulare County, 29 cases of H1N1 have been confirmed, with no deaths from the H1N1 Flu.  Tulare County Health Officials would like to take this time to remind citizens that continued awareness, and vigilence following proper hygiene practices is the best action at this time.  If you exhibit signs or symptoms of H1N1, please see your primary care physician. 
 
For more information on H1N1, visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.  If you prefer to receive information by telephone, the California Department of Public Health has activated a
public hotline for callers with questions about the current outbreak of H1N1 Flu (swine flu).  Both English and Spanish speaking operators are available to the public at (888) 865-0564 from Monday through Friday, 7:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., and Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. A recorded message with updated information will be used for after hours calls.

The CDC and the Tulare County Health Department recommend that Tulare County residents take the following precautions to prevent the spread of H1N1 Flu:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people. Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.

If you get sick, the CDC and the Tulare County Health Department recommends that you stay home from work, or school, and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

If you become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact your health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed. If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

• In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

The Tulare County Health Department reminds you that if you, or anyone in your family is displaying the aforementioned symptoms, they should stay home from work, and school, and seek the advice of their primary care physician.

As part of the Tulare County Department of Health and the California Department of Health’s efforts to provide updated information to residents on what they can do to protect themselves and their families from the H1N1 flu outbreak, their have been two information lines activated.

Tulare County Information Line has been activated, and is 1-800-834-7121. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) hotline phone number is 1-888-865-0564.

The Tulare County Department of Health will continue to provide timely information releases on this outbreak, and all actions taken. For more information on H1N1 Flu, visit www.cdc.gov/swineflu. For more information on H1N1 Flu in Spanish, visit http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/espanol/.

Click Here for English H1N1 Flu Informaion - Click Here for Spanish H1N1 Flu Information - http://www.tularecountybt.com

Get Your H1N1 Info Card - Click Here - Spanish Version

Some Tulare County residents have expressed an interest in giving back to the community through volunteer services. We have several options for those who are interested: Community Health Center Board, Critter Crew, Reach Out & Read Program and RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program). Please contact us at the number listed below for more information on these programs.

Are you registered for AlertTC?

AlertTC, Tulare County's reverse-911 emergency notification system, sent their first test call on March 4, 2009.

Did you get the call?

There were a total of 92,995 AlertTC test calls made, but that is nowhere near the total resident numbers of Tulare County.

Currently, the AlertTC database currently holds all publicly available primary residential and business phone numbers for Tulare County businesses and residents. However, residents can opt-in to provide their complete information (up to three phone numbers and two e-mail addresses) and indicate if they have a TTY/TDD device.

How can make sure that you'll be notified by AlertTC in the case of an emergency? Visit www.alerttc.com and click on the city or area that you live in Tulare County. Following the information prompts is easy, and within a few minutes you will be a verified registrant in the secure database of the AlertTC system.

You might be asking yourself, "What if I'm a Tulare County employee, but I commute?" Being a staff member of HHSA and a member of the community, you will still want to receive notifications and alerts when the AlertTC system is activated. When you visit the registration page, click "Unincorporated Areas", and enter your information. The system will automatically enter you as a non-resident who wishes to receive notifications.

When time is of the essence, and public safety is paramount, television and radio notifications just aren't enough anymore. Visit www.alerttc.com to enter your contact information and be prepared. If you have any questions, please contact Allison M. Lambert, Media Specialist at 737-4660 x2607.