H1N1 Flu Information

Des Peres Hospital takes the health and safety of our community, patients and employees very seriously. In the event that our hospital confirms a case of H1N1 flu, we have stringent processes in place to manage the situation.

Des Peres Hospital has a special H1N1 Information Line that will provide you with information about the flu including: general information, symptoms, when to seek medical treatment and at-risk groups and vaccinations.  The service offers pre-recorded messages along with an option to get a free, confidential physician referral.  To access the H1N1 Information Line, please call 1-800-711-3463.

Or you can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm/. The CDC’s site includes key facts, number and location of confirmed cases and symptoms. The CDC also lists recommended everyday actions to help people stay healthy:

• 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 hand sanitizers 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, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

The American Red Cross has suggestions on preparations you can take at home and how to care for a loved one with the flu at http://www.redcrossstl.org/Portals/0/HomeCareforPandemicFlu2009.pdf .

Flu Shot Clinics

If you are looking for information on where to get an H1N1 or seasonal flu vaccine near you, click here.