It look's like you don't have Adobe Flash Player installed. Get it now.
Kids across the Ozarks are back in their classrooms, sharing with fellow students memories of summer vacations and, unfortunately, germs. KSMU’s Michele Skalicky tells you how you can help your kids keep from spreading and getting infectious diseases…
Being in tight quarters with other people increases your chance for catching any illnesses others may have. And that’s the situation students are in when they go to school each day.Someone forgets to wash their hands then sharpens their pencil, leaving germs behind. Another student uses the pencil sharpener puts their hand to their face, and the germs are spread.And there are plenty of infectious diseases out there. Kendra Williams, administrator of community health and epidemiology with the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, says some of those include pertussis or whooping cough, influenza and viral meningitis and e-coli, salmonella and shigella infections.According to Williams, the health department has seen an increase in certain infectious diseases…
"Certainly coming out of last year we saw an increase in influenza, and currently we're seeing an increase in whooping cough or pertussis and e-coli."
Williams believes Greene County will see an increase in the flu again this year although she’s not yet sure how much of a concern H1N1 will be.Fortunately, there are ways to prevent the spread of these diseases…
"The number one thing that you can do is wash your hands with soap and water. If soap and water's not in close proximity, use an alcohol hand sanitizer. Make sure immunizations are up-to-date for yourself and for your children. Try and keep your hands away from your mouth, nose and eyes. If you are ill, try and stay at home. If you're not running a fever and you have to go to school or work, sneeze into your elbow rather than contaminating your hands. If you use tissues, use them one time, throw them into the trash. You know, don't share food or drink items with others. By doing these simple steps, you're not only protecting yourself and your family but really you're protecting the community and the community's health."
If you’d like to learn more about preventing the spread of infectious diseases, visit the health department’s website: www.springfieldmo.gov/health.
