HCHD Readies for Seasonal/H1N1 Flu Season 
The Harris County Hospital District has created this communication site to provide the public with vital information about the seasonal flu and the novel H1N1 virus. HCHD urges everyone to take steps to prevent and vaccinate against both types of flu. Because of the uncertainty of H1N1, experts predict a busier than usual flu season.
HCHD wants staff to follow simple but effective measures for prevention:
- Cover nose and mouth with tissue or use the upper part of a shirt sleeve at the elbow when coughing or sneezing.
- Wash hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based cleaner.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth to prevent the spread of germs.
- If sick with flu-like symptoms, stay home for 24 hours after fever is gone.
- While sick, stay away from others to avoid infecting them.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year in the United States, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 people die from seasonal flu complications.
To download a printer-friendly Cover Your Cough poster, please click here.
Current Operations Status: 
HCHD facilities are currently open and operating under normal conditions.
In the event of an emergency or an event that requires a district-wide alert or change in the status of facilities operations, this site will be updated.
Development and maintenence of this Web site is funded by a grant frrom the United States Department of Homeland Security, as administered by the State of Texas - Governor's Division of Emergency Management. The facts and opinions presented here are those of local program administrators, and not those of the federal or state governments, its employees or contractors. Local administrators are not responsible for the content of external (linked) sites.