The H1N1 Influenza has arrived in the Green Bay area before the distribution of the vaccine.

"We do have confirmed cases in the community," said a spokesperson for Central Health. "We don't have cases in the facilities, either the Valley Vista or the Green Bay Health Centre."

The number of confirmed cases in the Green Bay area is not known added the spokesperson.

To minimize spreading of the swine flu, Central Health implemented limited visitation restrictions at Green Bay Health Centre on October 23, and on October 27, further visitation restrictions were put into place through out Central Health's public health facilities and homes, including Valley Vista Senior Citizens' Home and Baie Verte Health Centre.

According to the press release, no children under 14 years of age should visit the facilities; one visitor per resident at a time and the visitor must be a member of the resident's immediate family.

"This is a precautionary measure we put in place because we know we have H1N1 in the community," said the spokesperson.

The beginning of the massive roll out of vaccines will be available to the general pubic in the region on November 2.

In total, Central Health will be providing vaccines in 16 locations. Springdale, Baie Verte and La Scie will be the locations in this region.

While certain areas of the region have been identified as to where vaccines will be offered, there's no indication where in those communities mass immunization clinics will be set up.

"In all communities we have not firmed up the locations within the community, simply because we've been working through alternatives for all, to try and get the best location," said Dr. Ann Roberts, medical officer of health for Central Health.

And all 16 locations won't be up and running at the same time.

"We don't have enough people to simultaneously work 16 (clinics). There will be a staggered start," she said.

Ms. Roberts said Central Health has 75,000 H1N1 influenza vaccines ready to administer, however, roughly 100,000 people fall under the care of the health authority.

"We are confident that we will have more than enough vaccines for the people who want it," she said. "If we need more we'll get it."

To provide maximum efficiency, Ms. Roberts said there will be a lot of hard working public health nurses and suspension of some of Central Health's programs.

Blood pressure and lifestyle clinics will be some of the programs temporarily suspended.

Ms. Roberts said once the mass immunization clinics are established, people should expect an efficient and safe system. She also highlighted the significance of getting the vaccine.

"We know from the studies that have gone on so far that the vaccine is safe," she said. "Not only does it protect you from the flu - you being immunized protects everyone around you from getting the flu. If we're all immunized, we could slide through this whole episode without overstressing our health providers."

"This illness is not severe to most people, however, if enough of us are sick, our communities won't function quite the same for weeks at a time."

The H1N1 vaccine is targeted towards people aged 25 to 64, people under 64 years old who have chronic health conditions, children six months up to five years old and pregnant women. However, expecting mothers will receive a different type of the H1N1 vaccination. Also, healthcare providers and caregivers are recommended to get the shot. People who are allergic to eggs are not recommended to get the vaccine.

A new strain of the H1N1 Influenza A virus (swine flu) was detected in Mexico in April 2009. Since early August, health authorities in the province have confirmed 114 cases of swine flu.

The provincial government purchased 780,000 doses of the vaccine, covering 75 per cent of the population.

As the nor'wester is provided with information regarding the locations of the mass immunization clinics, the editorial staff will post the locations on our website at www.thenorwester.ca

Central Health released a home isolation fact sheet for the H1N1 virus. Listed are the health authorities recommendations.

The most important ways to prevent the spread of germs:

Clean your hands often with soap and warm water

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your arm when you sneeze or cough.

Contain your illness by staying home when you are sick.

Home isolation means keeping people who have an illness away from healthy people to stop the spread of the illness. Home isolation is needed to prevent or limit the spread of H1N1 flu virus to other people.

When you are on home isolation remember to:

Avoid direct contact with other in your home. Remain at home in a separate room away from others for seven days from when you start to feel sick.

If possible, limit your contact to only one person.

If someone is within two metres (six feet) of you, wear a mask or cover the mouth and nose with a tissue.

Everyone living in the house should clean their hands often for at least 15 seconds in warm soapy water or use an alcohol based hand rub.

Keep the door to your room closed and the window open, if possible.

If you are sick, don not leave your house during isolation, unless you are seeking medical care. If you must go to the doctor or hospital, call before you ago to let them know you are coming. You should wear a mask or cover your mouth and nose with a tissue going outside.

Discourage visits from people who do not live in the house.

Promptly throw away any tissues or any articles that come in contact with fluid from your nose, mouth or eyes.

Clean the phone or other surfaces with a bleach based cleaner after use by the ill person, as the virus can survive on a hard surface for up to two days.

Do you not share personal items such as towels, drinking cups, cutlery, toothbrush, etc.

Patients and those providing home based care need to be alert to danger signs that can signal progression to a more severe disease.

Shortness of breath, either during physical activity or while resting.

Difficulty in breathing.

Turning blue

Bloody or coloured sputum.

Chest pain.

Altered mental status.

High fever that persists beyond three days.

Low blood pressure.

In children, danger signs include fast or difficult breathing, lack of alertness, difficulty in waking up and little interest in play.

Pregnant women should avoid contact with sick persons. If a pregnant woman becomes ill, she should contact her healthcare provider or the Healthline at 1-888-709-2929.