Influenza A, H1N1 “Swine Flu”

The Facts and How to Protect Yourself

What is Influenza A, H1N1 Swine Flu?

Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by a virus. It regularly causes outbreaks of influenza among pigs

Influenza A, H1N1 swine flu is a new strain of the flu that moved from pigs to humans and can be transmitted from human to human.

Influenza A, H1N1 (swine flu)

Swine flu is different from seasonal flu because:

It is a new strain of the virus Humans do not have an immunity

from it Immunizations received last fall or this

winter do not offer protection against the H1N1 swine flu

How Does It Spread?

Thought to be spread in the same way that seasonal flu spreads

Mainly from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes and spreads tiny particles into the air

Sometimes by touching something with flu viruses on it, and then touching the mouth, nose or eyes

What Can You Do to Protect Yourself and Others? Frequently wash your hands with soap and

water for 15-20 seconds

Alcohol-based hand cleaners are OK

Cover your coughs and sneezes by coughing and sneezing into your arm, not your hands. Or, sneeze into a tissue and discard it

Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth

Try to avoid close contact with people who appear sick, and have a fever and cough

What Can You Do to Protect Yourself and Others? Cont.

If you are sick, stay home If your child is ill, keep them home from

school or childcare Practice good health habits: get enough

sleep, eat nutritious food, keep physically active

If you smoke, quit.

What are Signs and Symptoms of the Flu?

Similar to symptoms of regular human flu: Fever, cough, sore throat, body aches,

headache, chills and fatigue

May include diarrhea and vomiting

May cause more serious symptoms in

individuals with chronic medical conditions

Pneumonia, respiratory failure, and deaths

have been reported.

How Long Can an Infected Person Spread it to Others?

People are contagious as long as they have symptoms, and

up to 7 days after they become sick Children, especially infants, may be

contagious for longer periods Viruses can live 2 hours or longer on

surfaces like tables, desks, and doorknobs.

What To Do If You Get Sick

If you have symptoms: Fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat,

nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea

And you would typically see your health care provider, do so.

If you have these symptoms but would not normally see your health care provider, there is no need to do so

Stay home and avoid contact with others as much as possible

What To Do ifYour Child is Sick If your child has these symptoms, seek

immediate medical care: Fast breathing or trouble breathing Bluish skin color Not drinking enough fluids Not waking up or not interacting Being so irritable that the child does not want to be

held Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with

fever and worse cough Fever with a rash.

What Should Businesses Do?

Review your sick leave policy and urge employees not to come to work when ill

Review plans for continuing business operations, in the event the flu becomes more widespread or severe

Encourage everyone to wash their hands frequently, and to cover their coughs and sneezes.

What is Safe To Do?

If you feel well, you may work, go to school or send you your child to school, go to church, and shop

Eat pork

Travel by bus, train or plane

Travel to Mexico is recommended for essential business only

What More Can I Do To Prepare? Develop a family emergency plan as a

precaution, include:

Storing a supply of food

Medicines

Facemasks

Alcohol-based hand cleaners

Other essential supplies

For an emergency checklist, see

www.pandemicflu.gov

What are Local Public Health Officials doing?

Working with hospitals and health care providers to promptly identify potential cases of swine flu

Assuring that appropriate treatment and prevention measures are used

Developing fact sheets for pharmacies, schools, the general public, and health care providers.

Where Can I Get More Information?

Information Lines:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

http://www.cdc.gov/