How to Combat Swine Flu

1. How to Combat Swine Flu

2. What is Swine Flu? • Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses • People don’t normally get swine flu, but human infections can happen • Transmission is limited and not sustained beyond three people

3. How Does Swine Flu Spread? • Person to person • Coughing • Sneezing • Touching an object with the virus on it then touching your mouth and nose • From pigs to people and vice versa • Pig barns • Livestock exhibits

4. What are the symptoms? • Fever • Cough • Sore throat • Runny nose • Body aches • Headaches • Chills and fatigue • Nausea • Diarrhea and vomiting

5. Emergency Warning Signs in Children • 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 return with fever and worse cough • Fever with a rash

6. Emergency Warning Signs in Adults • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath • Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen • Sudden dizziness • Confusion • Severe or persistent vomiting

7. What Should I Do to Keep from Getting the Flu? • Stay in good general health • Get plenty of sleep • Be physically active • Manage your stress • Drink plenty of fluids • Eat nutritious food • Avoid close contact with people who are sick • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth

8. What should I do to keep from getting the flu? Con’t • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue in the trash • If you get sick, stay home from work or school to avoid infecting others • MOST IMPORTANT: WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY

9. Washing Your Hands

10. When to Wash Your Hands Before • Touching your hand to your mouth including • Eating • Drinking • Brushing your teeth • Helping a sick person

11. Wash Your Hands After • Going to the bathroom • Changing diapers • Touching high-hand contact surfaces, such as: • Doorknobs • Railings • Tables (cafeteria) • School desks • Commonly used or shared school supplies • Helping a sick person • Blowing your nose

12. How to Wash Your Hands • Wet your hands with warm water • Apply a generous amount of soap • Rub your hands together for 20 seconds • Rinse your hands • Dry your hands with a paper towel • Use the paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door

13. FAQ’s • Can I use alcohol-based hand sanitizers? • When soap is not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them at any supermarket or drug store. • If using the gel sanitizer, rub your hands until the gel is dry. You don’t need to use any water and the alcohol kills the germs on your hands.

14. FAQ’s • How long can an infected person spread the swine flu to others? • Contagious as long as they are symptomatic • 7 days following the illness onset • Children might be contagious for longer periods of time

15. FAQ’s • What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination? • Doorknobs • Railings • Tables (cafeteria) • School desks • Commonly used or shared school supplies • Office supplies • Work stations • Remote control • Phone

16. FAQ’s • Can I get the swine flu from eating or preparing pork? • No, the virus is not spread by food. You cannot get the virus from eating pork or pork products. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.

17. FAQ’s • What about traveling to Mexico or other contaminated areas? • The CDC has not recommended that people avoid travel to Mexico or other affected areas at this time. If or when you travel, you can reduce your personal risk of infection by following these CDC recommendations to help you stay healthy:

18. FAQ about Travel con’t • Monitor the situation where you intend to travel by reviewing informational web sites, such as the CDC’s (www.cdc.gov/travel). • Make specific preparations for your trip: • Pack a travel health/first aid kit • Identify health care resources in the area you intend to travel • Check your health insurance plan to determine your coverage while traveling • See your doctor or a travel medicine specialist to update your vaccination status, get specific recommendations for possible antiviral medication should you need them, or to answer specific questions regarding where you plan to travel

19. FAQ about Travel con’t • And while traveling: • Pay attention to announcements from the local government or public health officials • Practice healthy habits to help stop the spread of germs • Seek medical care if you are sick and avoid further travel until you are free of symptoms

20. FAQ about Travel con’t • Also be sure to monitor your health for 7-10 days after your return and seek medical care if you become sick. Make sure to tell your doctor about your symptoms as well as your recent travel history.

21. Sources DSHS Pandemic Flu Resource Page http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/comprep/pandemic/default.shtm CDC Website www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/index.htm Swine Flu Hotline 1-888-777-5320 Tarrant County Public Health http://www.tarrantcounty.com/eHealth/site/default.asp

22. Contact Information Barney Fudge Consultant for School Health & SDFSC P: (817) 740-7637 F: (817) 740-3622 bfudge@esc11.net ESC Region XI 3001 North Freeway Fort Worth, TX 76106