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News for Constituents – May 13, 2009 H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Symptoms, Prevention, Treatment, & Updates As health officials assess the spread of Swine Flu around the world, the Pennsylvania Department of Health is joining the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in preparing advisories, alerts, and updates to keep you and your family on top of the latest and most trusted sources for related information. Targeted information is available for children and pregnant women, schools, child care settings, emergency medical services, medical providers and other clinicians. The general public can access Key Facts about H1N1 Flu including how the viral infection is spread, as well as its symptoms, treatment, and prevention. According to the CDC, symptoms are similar to those for regular human flu including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some report diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. While most swine influenza viruses have been susceptible to four drugs, the most recent swine influenza viruses isolated from humans appear resistant to amantadine and rimantadine. At this time, the CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with H1N1 (swine) influenza viruses. Flu prevention calls for:
---------- Update Your Enrollment for the Do Not Call List Are you receiving unsolicited telemarketing calls? Perhaps you previously signed up for the Pennsylvania’s Do Not Call program initiated in 2002, but the calls have started again. To check if your registration is still valid, or if you have moved and have a new phone number to register, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General provides a one-stop shop in which to enroll phone numbers, verify enrollment, review details, or file a complaint if calls are being received in violation of the Do Not Call law. Current state law provides for a five-year registration period requiring telemarketers to remove every name on the Do Not Call list from their calling directory within 30 days of receiving the numbers. The Pennsylvania Senate recent passed Senate Bill 304 of 2009 to require a phone number on a do-not-call list to remain off-limits to telemarketers until that number is no longer valid for the residential or wireless telephone subscriber or until the subscriber requests to have his or her telephone number removed from the list. The bill has been sent to the House of Representatives for its consideration. Pennsylvania residents can also sign up for the National Do Not Call list, which is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). See the FTC’s Q&A for more on the National Do Not Call Registry. ---------- A Note of Caution on Modifying Mortgages Mortgage modification offers may sound tempting, until the consumer is hit by unexpected fees. Homeowners are being misled into believing there are companies associated with the federal government or the federal stimulus package that are prepared to help those in financial distress. The Pennsylvania Department of Banking (DOB) points out consumers are being charged for services otherwise free through professional housing counseling agencies certified by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA). The Department recommends consumers seek professional housing counseling agencies certified by the PHFA to provide free assistance with mortgage modification questions. Access housing counselor information through the PHFA at 800-822-1174 or by visiting PHFA online. Homeowners will find additional foreclosure prevention information through PHFA. Consumers with complaints or other questions can call the Department of Banking's toll-free hotline at 1-800-PA-BANKS. ---------- May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month New motorcyclists seeking valuable training, or experienced riders who may not have ridden for some time, have the opportunity to polish their skills through free motorcycle safety courses in Pennsylvania. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), motorcyclists possessing a PA Class M (motorcycle) permit or license can participate in courses from spring through fall at 70 sites across the state. Sign up for the Basic Rider Course (BRC) or Experienced Rider Course (ERC) to hone motorcycle skills. The statewide program is funded by PennDOT and administered by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. The Motorcycle Safety Program website provides related facts, laws, regulations, and more. Additional information is available through PennDOT’s Motorcycle Information Center. ---------- Let Pennsylvania Pursuits Prepare You for Popular and Off-Beat Travel Whether you are planning your vacation, gathering ideas for your next family reunion, or looking to discover a spectacular new place for a romantic getaway, “Pennsylvania Pursuits” is the “Insider’s Guide” to the Commonwealth’s famous (and not so famous) attractions. Locate festival info, fun-filled events, regional tourism information, recommendations, and much more through the “Insider’s Guide”. View the Guide online or request a hard copy of the 140-page publication filled with ideas to satisfy your Pennsylvania wanderlust. The Guides “20 Must See” outlines special attractions in each of the State’s 7 regions. To the west are the Great Lakes Region and Pittsburgh and Its Countryside; central Pennsylvania is comprised of the Pennsylvania Wilds to the North and Dutch Country to the South connected by the Alleghenies and her Valleys originating to the west and cutting a swath through the center of the state. The Northeast Pennsylvania Mountains cap off the border region with Philadelphia and its countryside to the south. From basket weaving to beer brewing to Native American beading and beyond, the beautiful State of Independence offers a bounty of good times with something to satisfy all. ---------- Safe Handling of Pool Waste Water Increasing temperatures in Pennsylvania find many preparing to open their pool for the season. Before cleaning and disposing of your pool’s old water, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reminds pool owners and professional pool cleaners to legally treat and dispose of pool water. Chlorinated water dumped into a storm sewer quickly finds a stream or other body of water where aquatic life is overcome by the chemicals. The resultant damaged aquatic life and fish kills can be prevented by observing Pennsylvanian’s Clean Streams Law. Contact the local municipality for permission to discharge all wastewater—including pool backwash water, neutralized pool cleaning wastewater, and standing water. Violating the Pennsylvanian’s Clean Streams Act can result in misdemeanor charges, fines, and imprisonment. Where sanitary sewers cannot be accessed and wastewater cannot be hauled away, DEP offers detailed guidance for the on-site treatment and disposal of water containing chlorine or chemicals used to clean pools. Questions regarding the handling of pool wastewater may be directed to the Water Management Program in DEP’s:
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