New flu emergency website launched

Oct 3 2009

United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania has launched a new regional website geared towards helping families, individuals and organizations find up-to-date information on where to go for H1N1 and seasonal influenza shots and other critical news regarding the seasonal flu epidemics expected to hit the region.

The new website, found at www.LIVEUNITEDsepa.org/GETHELP includes features such as:

• An interactive 5-county map of reported H1N1 cases
• Flu shot zip-code locator
• Up-to-date information on H1N1 and seasonal flu
• Complete information on how influenza viruses are contracted
• Prevention information presented in a series of video shorts

The World Health Organization expects that within two years, nearly one-third of the world's population will have caught the swine flu (H1N1). Concern about the severity of this influenza strain continues to be the subject of public discussions, government officials and school administrators. In May of 2009 the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organization confirmed approximately 5,000 cases of the virus and 61 deaths worldwide. In less than two months, those numbers jumped to nearly 95,000 cases and 429 deaths. Today, the numbers of flu cases are over one million.

Recent reports have indicated that H1N1 flu shots will become available in the coming weeks. As the shots become available, United Way will continue to update the site with information on where to go for inoculations.

SOURCE United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania