Board of Health has advice about upcoming flu season
By Melissa Muntz Community Reporter

Shrewsbury - The number of cases of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a type of staph infection that is resistant to some antibiotics, is on the rise in the United States, but Shrewsbury's Board of Health Director Nancy Allen said there's an easy way to prevent the infection: wash your hands, and wash them often.

"Staph infections are spread by bacteria on a surface, so you touch the bacteria and spread it to your own skin," she said. "Washing your hands is the most eff ective way to decrease your chances of getting a staph infection."

Allen said hand-washing is also a significant way to avoid getting the flu.

The Board of Health will host a free Flu and Pneumonia Immunization Clinic at the Shrewsbury Senior Center, located at 98 Maple Ave., Saturday Nov. 10.

The clinic will be open for all Shrewsbury residents 65 and older as well as people over 18 who have a chronic illness and a physician's order for an influenza immunization.

Allen said it's important for people to be proactive in the fight against the flu.

"Most people who get the flu are out of work for a week or more," she said. "But in people 65 and over, the most serious side eff ect of the flu is pneumonia."

The Board of Health is currently putting together an informational workshop to teach people the proper way of treating flu victims at home to prevent the spread of the virus through their families. A schedule for the workshops will be available by mid-November.

In other Board of Health news, a paint drop-off will be held Saturday Nov. 10 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the municipal garage at 211 South St.

Shrewsbury residents can drop off oil-based paint at a cost of $5 per car, as well as items containing mercury like thermometers, thermostats and fluorescent light bulbs. People dropping off just items containing mercury can do so at no cost.