In charge of the flu plan Drs. Alvan Eller and Jordan Dutter are confident the Carroll County health officials will be able to manage a flu outbreak with proper planning and by advising residents to not panic. Comet photo by Debbie Lowe A new buzz-phrase has hit the public across the nation - social distancing - and it has become one strong recommendation by county health officials when instructing how to combat the threat of contracting the H1N1 virus, also now known as the North American Influenza. The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) reported a total of 15 confirmed cases of North America Influenza A (H1N1) in Indiana as of Tuesday afternoon. State officials noted the current flu virus is only spread from human-to-human and is highly contagious.

Carroll County health officials, Dr. Alvan Eller, Dr. Jordan Dutter and Carroll county health nurse Hope Kinzer, have a plan and are ready for a pandemic if it is declared by the World Health Organization, according to Carroll County Board of Health chairperson Eller.

"It's good for the public to remember this is not a panic situation," Dutter said.

He explained the county developed a pandemic (which refers to the number of confirmed cases of flu in the world and not the severity of the illness) plan three years ago. Dutter said the plan is still essentially in place with just two changes recommended by ISDH.

Primary care physicians are to be the point of contact between patients who are ill and the county health department. Additionally, the state will supply medications to local health departments to distribute to healthcare providers when supplies are exhausted in their offices and in pharmacies.

He said ISDH in conjunction with county health officials will determine if it is necessary to establish medication distribution "pods" which will only happen in a worst case scenario. Dutter said the county is not close to that situation.

"Anyone who believes they might have the flu and they want relief of symptoms should visit their regular doctor," Dutter said. "All of the area doctors receive information via E-mail and faxes from both the state and the Carroll County Health Department. Everyone knows what is going on and what to do next."

"The plan is to stick to the plan," he added.

Dutter said as the county health officer who is responsible for the health department, he has weekly meetings with the health department staff. He said a financial impact on the health department's budget is expected, however because this is a state, national and international issue, it is expected the state or federal government will bear the brunt of the financial impact.

Dr. Eller said the board of health meets quarterly on the first Wednesday of the quarter at 7 p.m. in the courthouse lounge. He said emergency meetings can be called when necessary.

"We feel like we have things under control in Carroll County," Eller said. "We are thankful that we live in a less populated area and have the good primary care physicians that we do."

"We're really going to treat this in the county like any viral illness until we run out of supplies," Dutter said. "Then the state will become more involved on the local level."

Both doctors recommended standard precaution measures which include: • Wash hands frequently for 20 seconds; • Practice 'social distancing' by avoiding contact with infected individuals or those suspected of being infected; • Cover the nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing; • Cough or sneeze into the sleeve rather than hands if a tissue is not available; • Throw tissues away after use; • Remain at home to avoid contaminating others if there are flu-like symptoms such as cough, fever, fatigue, headache, sore throat, stuffy or runny nose and muscle aches, lethargy, lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea present; • When using public restrooms, use paper towels to turn off water and open doors; and • Be vigilant using precaution measures.