NEWS RELEASE
NEBRASKA HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2008

CONTACTS
Marla Augustine, Communications and Legislative Services, (402) 471-4047 or marla.augustine@hhss.ne.gov Leah Bucco-White, Communications and Legislative Services, (402) 471-9356 or leah.buccowhite@hhss.ne.gov

Sound bites from Dr. Tom Safranek, State Epidemiologist, are available at www.hhss.ne.gov

Lincoln-Flu is now widespread across the state, according to the state's Chief Medical Officer, so she is issuing a reminder that antibiotics are not the answer.

"Antibiotics do not treat flu, colds or other viral illnesses, and they don't make patients with viral infections feel better, recover faster, or protect others from getting sick," said Dr. Joann Schaefer, Chief Medical Officer of the Nebraska Health and Human Services System.

In recent years, nearly all disease-causing bacteria have become more resistant to antibiotics, according to Dr. Mark E. Rupp, epidemiologist at the Nebraska Medical Center and professor of infectious diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.  Infections that were once easily curable with antibiotics are becoming more difficult, or impossible, to treat.  The reason is that antibiotics are used extensively in medicine, veterinary practice and agriculture, and bacteria have developed immunity to them.

"The proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is an urgent public health problem," Dr. Rupp said.  "These bacterial infections can occur in anyone - the young and the old, the healthy or the frail-and can spread to family members, classmates, co-workers, and within facilities."

An example of antibiotic resistance is MRSA, or methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (staph), a bacterium that is immune to all forms of penicillin.  Staph can be found everywhere in the environment, and a break in the skin can make someone susceptible to an infection.

It's important to use antibiotics sparingly so that bacteria don't develop immunity and negate treatment of illnesses like those caused by MRSA, Dr. Schaefer said.

To avoid catching viral illnesses, wash your hands frequently, use good respiratory etiquette (cover your cough/sneeze, dispose of used tissues properly), and stay home from school or work when you are sick.

Flu is one of the leading causes of hospitalizations in winter months. The symptoms of flu are fever, headache, tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches.

HHSS recommends that people with colds and flu:

      - Increase fluid intake;

      - Use a cool mist vaporizer or saline nasal spray to relieve
         congestion; and

      - Sooth throat with ice chips, sore throat spray or lozenges.

         - Take an over-the-counter medication to relieve symptoms. Ask
      your pharmacist for a recommendation.  Do not give your children
      aspirin because of the possibility of Reye's Syndrome, a sometimes
      deadly disease.

HHSS has coordinated an educational campaign in partnership with the Nebraska Infection Control Network and the Nebraska Antibiotic Resistance Awareness & Action Coalition.

For more information on the flu and antibiotic resistance visit: http://www.hhss.ne.gov/flu/.

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All news releases are on the web at http://www.hhss.ne.gov/newsroom/newsreleases/.