About Randall Lewis
Randall Lewis is well known for his innovative approaches to planning, designing, and marketing residential communities as Executive Vice President of the Upland-based Lewis Group of Companies.
He has been Secretary of the Los Angeles County Citizens Planning Council, Director of the Home Builder's Council, National Director of the National Association of Home Builders, and President of the Inland Empire Arts Foundation.
He was inducted into the California Building Industry Association Hall of Fame and was the recipient of the Sales and Marketing Council's MAME Awards Marketing Person of the Year.
He is a long time ULI member as well as a Governor of the ULI Foundation. He serves on several executive boards, including the USC School of Policy, Planning and Development and the UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research. He received his B.A. from Claremont McKenna College.
Preparing for the Challenging Flu Season
The 2009-2010 influenza season is expected to be a challenge across the nation, in California and in the Inland region. In addition to the usual seasonal influenza, the first full season of H1N1 pandemic influenza – better known as the Swine Flu – is here.
Marie Weller, Public Health Nurse V with the Riverside County Community Health Agency, Department of Public Health, discussed the seasonal and H1N1 influenzas and how to help prevent them at the Oct. 15 Randall Lewis Seminar Series.
Weller, who has worked in the area of Pandemic Influenza planning and response for the past four years, said the seasonal flu and swine flu are respiratory illnesses similar in symptoms, including fever, sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue, diarrhea and vomiting.
But the general population most vulnerable to H1N1 or the swine flu differs from seasonal flu, she said. In seasonal flu, much of the health concern is with those 65 and older and infants.
But for H1N1, those most susceptible are individuals from 6 months to 24 years old. Other high risk groups for the H1N1 virus are pregnant women and those under 64 with chronic diseases such as asthma or heart problems.
With seasonal flu, most individuals have some immunity, Weller said. And those who seldom get sick may feel they aren’t likely to get either form of influenza. But the swine flu is a form of influenza virus where there is little or no natural immunity. Because of that, the swine flu spreads easily from person to person and has been reported in more than 70 countries.
While vaccines for both the seasonal and swine influenzas are becoming available (see web links below for more information), it is important for individuals to take extra precautions to avoid getting or spreading the viruses.
Frequent hand washing, properly disposing of tissues and covering coughs and sneezes are basic ways of combating the flu, Weller said. Individuals should sneeze into their elbow instead of their hands, particularly if they aren’t able to wash their hands shortly after sneezing, she said. And individuals who are sick should stay home and not go to school or work.
Vaccines for seasonal flu are already available in many locations. Vaccines for the H1N1 flu virus are just becoming available or will be available shortly (check with your health care provider or your county’s Department of Public Health for vaccine information).
In Riverside County, the nasal spray vaccine is being given to healthy children aged 2 to 12. As more of the vaccine is available, priority groups will be expanded to include all those who should receive the vaccine.
The nasal spray is not recommended for individuals with underlying chronic diseases, pregnant women and those 50 and older.
Shipments of the injectable H1N1 flu shot and nasal spray vaccinations are expected by the end of October in Riverside County. Priority groups for the injectable flu vaccine are pregnant women, individuals aged 6 months to 24 years, health care workers, emergency responders and those who work with infants.
Marie Weller's Slide Presentation (pdf)
Other sources for influenza information:
California Department of Public Health information on H1N1
Riverside County Department of Health information on H1N1
San Bernardino County Department of Public Health information on H1N1
