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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
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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 planas 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: • Inside Clark County: (360) 397-8021 • Outside Clark County: (877) 510-2772 • Clark County Public Health: www.clark.wa.gov/public-health/diseases/swinefaq.html • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): http://www.cdc.gov/