Posted at: 10/26/2009 7:02 PM
By: Mary Taing

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County Takes Steps to Fight H1N1

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- There have already been more than a thousand confirmed cases of H1N1.
 
As we continue to hear about more victims, one local county is taking additional measures to help stop the spread.
 
Step into a Winona County building and germ fighters’ll greet you.
    
"Some small steps to address a much bigger problem," says County Administrator Duane Herbert.
 
The county is giving out free facemasks, tissues, and hand sanitizers to the public to help stop the spread of H1N1.
 
"Not only for the other people in the offices, but for the people working in the county," says Herbert.
 
The county does recommend everyone to stay home if they think they have the flu.
 
But even health officials say it's hard to tell whether or not a person has the flu or just the common cold.
 
"In the general public, my cold may not be flu-like, and I don't think it is. But to someone else it may appear flu-like and they feel that they should be protected from it," says Community Health Services Administrator Lynn Theurer.
 
Sometimes symptoms don't develop right when you wake up in the morning, so you won't know if you should stay home.
 
"Maybe they start, didn't feel well on the way here, all of a suddenly just kind of hit," says Herbert.
 
Which is why county officials are making this investment.
    
"It's about under $200 to put these supplies out at the various areas. That's not a lot of money in order to take care, prevent something that could be bigger," says Herbert.
 
 They’re also encouraging other businesses to do the same.