For Immediate Release:
May 8, 2007

Contact:                                                                                
Nanci Gonder
Office of Public Information
(573) 751-6062

Residents and Volunteers Working in Flooded Areas urged to Check on
Tetanus Shots and Take Health Precautions

As additional flooding continues along the Missouri River and its tributaries, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) today urged Missourians who will be working in or near the flooded waters to make sure their immunizations are up-to-date, especially for tetanus. Anyone planning to help with the flood response should ask their health care provider to review their medical records and to request a tetanus booster shot if it has been more than 10 years since the last booster.

“We want residents or volunteers who will be working around flood waters to make sure they are protected from tetanus infection when they get there”, said Jane Drummond, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS).

Flood relief volunteers and residents in flooded areas should contact their own physicians first to review medical records to determine whether a tetanus shot is indicated. Tetanus shots may also be obtained from local public health agencies, clinics, and hospitals, but people should call first to confirm availability. A new tetanus vaccine is also now available that includes a pertussis booster, which may provide an added benefit for some people.

“In addition to checking on their tetanus boosters, people should take extra health and safety precautions when working in or around flood waters,” Drummond said. These include:

• Wear rubber gloves for extra protection against contamination.
• Wear a mask if you have any allergies or chronic lung conditions.
• Always wash your hands and exposed skin frequently.
• Disinfect or discard any clothing or supplies used in flood waters immediately after use.
• Wash contaminated clothes separately from other garments.
• Disinfect everything flood waters or sewage has touched.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is working closely with the Governor’s Office and the State Emergency Management Agency to monitor the situation and ensure the safety of Missourians..