by Suzanne Bertrand

Created on: February 12, 2010   Last Updated: February 13, 2010

There are many challenges in estimating the homeless population in the United States. While some homeless people move in and out of crowded shelters, others stay on the streets, in their cars and abandoned buildings. According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 40% of homeless people lack shelter.

The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty estimates 3.5 million people and 1.35 million children are likely to experience homelessness in a given year. Our homeless people are at significant risk for contracting and spreading infection.

Symptoms are often untreated due to difficulty accessing medical care. This leads to further spread in the infection rates and possibly an increase in costs later when treatment is provided.

*Influenza virus

Influenza like illness is accompanied by a fever, cough and sore throat. Additional symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, body aches, congestion, headache, and tiredness.

These symptoms may be quite severe or relatively mild. Sneezing, coughing or touching your month or nose after touching something with the virus on it is the primary source of contamination.

*Influenza A

Those suffering from influenza A should be identified quickly. The severe symptoms include dizziness, confusion, severe vomiting, difficulty breathing and pain in abdomen or chest. Homeless people presenting to shelters with these symptoms should seek emergency health care.

*Prevention

The homeless population is at great risk due to lack of prevention, education and health care. The homeless people that seek shelter should be screened for influenza upon arrival. They should ideally be encouraged to use good hand washing skills with water and soap.

Availability of sanitizers at shelters can also prevent the spread of influenza. Education should be provided by staff related to covering up when coughing and sneezing. This prevents the spread of infection. Clients at shelters would benefit from access to clinic screening if they have influenza symptoms.

If a closed room is available at the shelter away from others, this is ideal for discouraging the spread of infection. Free vaccination through community clinics will potentially protect this vulnerable population.

The long term homeless populations are least likely to seek vaccination. They are at stronger risk for influenza due to the transient nature of their circumstances.

*Hepatitis A, B and C

Hepatitis is a contagious liver disease. Hepatitis A can last for a few weeks accompanied

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