Influenza A, Influenza A, H1N1 “Swine H1N1 “Swine

Flu”Flu”The Facts and How The Facts and How to Protect Yourselfto Protect Yourself

What is Influenza A, H1N1 What is Influenza A, H1N1 Swine Flu?Swine Flu?

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

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

Influenza A, H1N1 (swine Influenza A, H1N1 (swine flu)flu)

Swine flu is Swine flu is different fromdifferent from seasonal seasonal flu because:flu because:

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

from itfrom it

How Does It Spread?How Does It Spread?

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

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

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

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

Frequently wash your hands with soap Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for 15-20 secondsand water for 15-20 seconds

Alcohol-based hand cleaners are OKAlcohol-based hand cleaners are OK

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

Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouthAvoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth

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

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

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

from school or childcarefrom school or childcare Practice good health habits: get Practice good health habits: get

enough sleep, eat nutritious food, enough sleep, eat nutritious food, keep physically activekeep physically active

What are Signs and What are Signs and Symptoms of the Flu?Symptoms of the Flu?

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

headache, chills and fatigueheadache, chills and fatigue

May include diarrhea and vomitingMay include diarrhea and vomiting

May cause more serious symptoms May cause more serious symptoms

in individuals with chronic medical in individuals with chronic medical

conditionsconditions

Pneumonia, respiratory failure, and Pneumonia, respiratory failure, and

deaths have been reported.deaths have been reported.

How Long Can an Infected How Long Can an Infected Person Spread it to Others?Person Spread it to Others?

People are contagious as long as People are contagious as long as they have symptoms 7 are sick.they have symptoms 7 are sick.

Children, especially infants, may be Children, especially infants, may be more contagiousmore contagious

Viruses can live 2 hours or longer on Viruses can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like tables, desks, and door surfaces like tables, desks, and door knobs.knobs.

What To Do If You Get SickWhat To Do If You Get Sick

If you have symptoms:If you have symptoms: Fever, body aches, running nose, Fever, body aches, running nose,

sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrheadiarrhea

Visit the government hospital in your Visit the government hospital in your area where designated for Swine flu area where designated for Swine flu treatment.treatment.

Stay home and avoid contact with Stay home and avoid contact with others as much as possibleothers as much as possible

What To Do ifWhat To Do ifYour Child is SickYour Child is Sick

If your child has these symptoms, seek If your child has these symptoms, seek immediate medical care:immediate medical care: Fast breathing or trouble breathingFast breathing or trouble breathing Bluish skin colorBluish skin color Not drinking enough fluidsNot drinking enough fluids Not waking up or not interactingNot waking up or not interacting Being so irritable that the child does not want Being so irritable that the child does not want

to be heldto be held Flu-like symptoms improve but then return Flu-like symptoms improve but then return

with fever and worse coughwith fever and worse cough Fever with a rash.Fever with a rash.

What More Can I Do To What More Can I Do To Prepare?Prepare?

Develop a family emergency planDevelop a family emergency plan as a as a precaution, include:precaution, include: Storing a supply of foodStoring a supply of food

MedicinesMedicines

FacemasksFacemasks

Alcohol-based hand cleanersAlcohol-based hand cleaners

Other essential suppliesOther essential supplies

For an emergency checklist, see For an emergency checklist, see

www.pandemicflu.govwww.pandemicflu.gov

What are Local Public What are Local Public Health Officials doing?Health Officials doing? Working with hospitals and Working with hospitals and

health care providers to health care providers to promptly identify potential promptly identify potential cases of swine flucases of swine flu

Assuring that appropriate Assuring that appropriate treatment and prevention treatment and prevention measures are usedmeasures are used

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