|
Published: April 28, 2009 11:08 pm
NIAGARA COUNTY: Farms put on frontline of swine flu fight
By Jason Torreano
Niagara Gazette
The Niagara County Health Department is taking a proactive approach when it comes to swine flu. The department put in phone calls Tuesday morning to area farms that employ migrant workers — providing farmers with information about the flu and possible symptoms.
Daniel Stapleton, the Niagara County health director, said the most important questions deal with where people may have lived or visited.
“Do you have any migrant workers yet?” Stapleton said the department asks local farmers. “Where are they from? What is their recent travel history?”
At this time of year, typically a slow season — few Niagara County farms have more than five migrant workers.
“The most important thing is the travel history,” Stapleton said. “If a person has either traveled to Mexico or has been in contact with someone who is sick.”
Russell Farms in Appleton employs about 80 migrant workers during the peak harvest season. Most of those workers are Mexican, though many remain in the United Sates during the offseason, Peter Russell said.
“Most of the workers in the area, they’re here year-round,” he said. “They live here year round. They’ve lived here for years.”
County health officials say their aim isn’t to cause a panic — it’s to provide information to people like Russell, Stapleton said.
“We need to remember that the flu season is still upon us,” he said. “So we need to make sure we clarify the difference between seasonal flu and swine flu.”
Russell says despite the fact a lot of his work force lives in Florida and Texas during the offseason, some may venture farther south to Mexico.
It’s the travel that county health officials want to stay on top of — and help with — if symptoms of swine flu present themselves.
“They said if there’s any issues, anything they can help with, they want to be involved, they want to help anyway possible,” Russell said.
It’s staying involved and staying on top of any new developments that county officials say will help keep swine flu at bay.
“This is what we plan for and this is what we do,” Stapleton said. “We’re here to protect the citizens of Niagara County.”
Jason Torreano is a videojournalist with YNN Buffalo (Channel 9 on Time Warner Cable). He can reached at jason.torreano@twcable.com.
|
|
|
Photos
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Retail Manager
RETAIL Manager needed, exp needed, full time. Fax resumes to Hyde Park Laundry 285-8677....>MORE
Maintenance Technician
MAINTENANCE Technician, FT, exp. needed in electrical, plumbing, heating & cooling, Apply in person bet. 9 & 5 at 6751 ...>MORE
PHONE SALES
PHONE sales, great pay, exp. a plus, nice NT office, FT/PT, hrly. +, Pete or Mike, 694-1251...>MORE
Cook
COOK full time.
Apply in person only,
Augie’s Diner,
2470 Military Rd.
...>MORE
Private Investigator
Private Investigator
Proven ability and equipment to conduct surveillance, background inquires and searches. 1-5 ye...>MORE
Information Technology
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - Niagara County Community College is seeking a Director of User and Administrative Technology Se...>MORE
BILINGUAL PHONE INTERVIEWER
Bilingual Telephone interviewer. Surveys for insurance policy review. Spanish/English a Must. ft/pt & Sat. No sales/coll...>MORE
Coach, Women's Lacrosse
COACH, WOMEN’S LACROSSE - Niagara County Community College is seeking a head coach and an assistant head coach for the w...>MORE
Health Care
Health Care. ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES/LAUNDRY SUPERVISORS. Excellent full-time day and evening opportunities. Experienced,...>MORE
auto detailer
Auto Detailer full time, exp. pref. Apply at David Chevy Buick Pontiac, 10225 Nia Falls Blvd. or 298-9700 ask for Frank....>MORE
See all ads |
1996 Ford Escort
FORD 1996 Escort 4 cyl, 2 dr, exc cond in & out, no rust, 1 owner, only 61k orig mi, $2195. 523-7102...>MORE
Chevy 1995 Pickup
CHEVY 1995 Pickup truck, 4WD, 5 speed, must see, never had plow on it, $2800 bo, 804-5579...>MORE
1984 Cadillac Eldorado
CADILLAC Eldorado 1984, runs, inspected, $500. 283-3552....>MORE
Chevy 1994 High Topper Van
CHEVY 1994 High topper van, high road miles, mechanically sound, $900 or bo, 716-510-8105...>MORE
VW 2001 Beetle
VW 2001 Beetle, loaded, GLX turbo, exc. cond, all service records, fun to drive, blue bk $5600, take best offer, 990-06...>MORE
1999 Dodge Caravan
DODGE 1999 Caravan, 33, V6, auto, A/C, 99k miles, good cond., runs great. $1950. 525-7796...>MORE
Buick 2005 LeSabre
BUICK 2005 Lesabre Custom, excellent condition, fully loaded, $6700 or best offer, 754-4540...>MORE
Monte Carlo Z24 1998
MONTE CARLO Z24, 1998, runs good, average miles, excellent shape, $1800 , 990-2303...>MORE
Ford 2001 Taurus
Ford 2001 Taurus Station wagon, well maintained, 112,000 miles Siver ext. 4 dr, auto, asking $2800/BO. 716-772-2454....>MORE
Nissan 1993 4x4
NISSAN 1993 4x4, extended cab, bedliner cap, $1200 or best offer, 715-2450...>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|
Print this story
E-mail this story
