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FACTS ABOUT NOVEL H1N1 FLU

FACTS ABOUT NOVEL H1N1 FLU. Chautauqua County Health Department. Information Provided by: NYSDOH and CDC. Novel H1N1 Flu. Novel H1N1 influenza is a new flu virus that is spreading from person-to-person. The virus has spread rapidly.

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FACTS ABOUT NOVEL H1N1 FLU

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  1. FACTS ABOUT NOVEL H1N1 FLU Chautauqua County Health Department Information Provided by: NYSDOH and CDC

  2. Novel H1N1 Flu • Novel H1N1 influenza is a new flu virus that is spreading from person-to-person. • The virus has spread rapidly. • The government has declared a public health emergency in the U.S. in response to the H1N1 outbreak. • The first cases of human infection were detected in April 2009 in San Diego and Imperial County, California and in Guadalupe County, Texas.

  3. Novel H1N1 Flu • At this time, H1N1 flu is widespread in the United States and has been detected internationally as well. • The CDC expects that more cases, more hospitalizations, and more deaths from this outbreak will occur over the and months. • Because this is a new virus, most people will not have immunity to it, and illness may be more severe and widespread as a result.

  4. Seasonal Flu Facts • “Routine” seasonal flu can be severe • Each year in the United States: • more than 200,000 people are hospitalized • 36,000 people die from seasonal flu-related causes • In comparison as of August 28, 2009 there have been 8,843 total H1N1 hospitalizations, and only 556 deaths reported to the CDC

  5. Chautauqua County Health Department role: • Lessen the spread of Novel H1N1 influenza • Monitor and reduce illness severity • Provide information to help the public address the challenges of this emergency

  6. Community Mitigation Measures Goals • Slow the spread of the disease in the community • Decrease exposure to both seasonal flu and H1N1 flu • Delay peak of disease to “buy” time for production and distribution of vaccine • Reduce the total number of people who get sick • Reduce the “surge” demand on healthcare systems resulting from those who are sick

  7. Novel H1N1 Flu Vaccination • With the new H1N1 virus continuing to spread in the United States, the CDC has taken important steps preparing for a voluntary novel H1N1 vaccination effort. • CDC is concerned that the new H1N1 flu virus could result in a particularly severe flu season this year. • Vaccines are the best tool to prevent influenza • Priority populations should get vaccinated as soon as vaccines become available at their doctor’s offices and in their communities.

  8. Priority Populations for H1N1 Vaccination • Pregnant women • Household contacts and caregivers for children less than 6 months of age • Health care and emergency services personnel • Persons 6 months through 24 years of age • Persons age 25 through 64 years who have medical conditions associated with a higher risk of influenza complications.

  9. Seasonal Influenza Vaccine • H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine. • Those 65 and older, health care workers, and those with underlying medical conditions should receive seasonal flu shot as soon as possible.

  10. How does Novel H1N1 flu spread? • This virus is thought to spread the same way that seasonal flu spreads: • Primarily through respiratory droplets • Coughing • Sneezing • Touching respiratory droplets on yourself, another person, or an object, then touching mucus membranes (e.g., mouth, nose, eyes) without washing hands

  11. Signs and Symptoms of Novel H1N1 Flu • Fever ≥ 100o F • Cough • Sore throat • Runny or stuffy nose • Body aches • Headache • Chills • Fatigue • In addition, vomiting (25%) and diarrhea (25%) have been reported SEEK MEDICAL CARE FROM YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU ARE AT RISK OF COMPLICATIONS OF THE FLU OR IS YOUR SYMPTOMS ARE SEVERE OR PERSIST!

  12. What are emergency warning signs to watch for? • In adults: • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath • Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen • Sudden dizziness • Confusion • Severe or persistent vomiting • Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough SEEK EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE!

  13. What are emergency warning signs to watch for? • In children: • Fast breathing or trouble breathing • Bluish or gray skin color • Not drinking enough fluids • Severe or persistent vomiting • Not waking up or not interacting • Irritable, the child does not want to be held • Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough SEEK EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE!

  14. What is MRSA? • Known as Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus • A potentially dangerous type of staph bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics and may cause skin and other infections

  15. How is MRSA transmitted? • MRSA is usually transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact or contact with shared items or surfaces that have come into contact with someone else's infection (e.g., towels, used bandages).

  16. What are the signs and symptoms of MRSA skin infections? • MRSA appears as a bump or infected area on the skin that may be: • Red • Swollen • Painful • Warm to the touch • Full of pus or other drainage • Accompanied by a fever

  17. NYSED/NYSDOH H1N1 School Guidance • Latest issued on August 31, 2009 • Focus on early identification and exclusion of ill students and staff. • Exclusion period: 24 hours after free of fever (100F) or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medication. • Decisions related to measures taken in response to H1N1 are at the discretion of local education and health officials.

  18. Schools are strongly urged to closely monitor ILI activity and work with their local health dept to report absenteeism and staffing shortages. • Reactive school dismissal is not recommended unless absenteeism of students or staff makes it impossible to maintain a normal functioning and safe environment. • This guidance is subject to change based on what the H1N1 virus does related to virulence, severity, and impact.

  19. How to protect yourself from MRSA • Practice good hygiene: • Keep your hands clean by washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. • Shower immediately after participating in exercise. • Cover skin trauma such as abrasions or cuts with a clean dry bandage until healed • Avoid sharing personal items (ie. towels/ razors) • Maintain a clean environment by establishing cleaning procedures for surfaces that come into direct contact with people's skin.

  20. What can your school do to fight H1N1 and MRSA? • Students and staff should stay home when sick. This includes extracurricular and social activities. • Separate ill students and staff. • Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette • Traditional hand washing: soap and warm water, lathering for a minimum of 20 seconds) • Provide hand sanitizer for all classrooms, especially in the cafeteria • Consider hand wash “breaks” for elementary students • Provide tissues for all classrooms • Cover coughs and sneezes with tissue or inside of elbow (shirt sleeve) • Discourage the sharing of personal items • water bottles, chap sticks, etc

  21. In general it is not necessary to close schools to "disinfect" • Cleaning and disinfection should be performed daily on surfaces that are likely touched by students, teachers, and staff. • Door handles, table tops, desk tops, faucets, handrails, entrances, school buses, bookshelves, filing cabinets, bathroon stall doors, keyboards, phones, etc… • Focus on surfaces touched frequently be hands. • Clean bathroom surfaces on a regular basis. Air sanitizers have not been shown to disinfect airborne influenza and are not recommended. • Utilize detergent-based cleaners or Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered disinfectants is effective at removing Influenza and MRSA from the environment. • The EPA provides a list of registered products effective against Influenza: http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/influenza-a-product-list.pdf • The EPA provides a list of registered products effective against MRSA: http://epa.gov/oppad001/chemregindex.htm • Selective school dismissals may be considered based on the population of an individual school, such as those serving medically fragile or pregnant students.

  22. Novel H1N1 Flu Educational Materials • NY State DOH: www.nyhealth.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/h1n1educational_materials.html • CDC Flu Materials: www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flugallery/index.htm • CDC Stop the Spread of germs: www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flugallery/index.htm • American Society for Microbiology:www.washup.org/page01.html

  23. Additional Resources • www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu (CDC) • www.flu.gov (CDC) • www.health.state.ny.us (NYSDOH) • www.who.int (WHO) • www.nih.gov (NIH) • www.cdc.gov/mrsa (CDC)

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