Below:
• What is the H1N1 Virus?
• What are the symptoms?
• What are the warning signs for immediate medical attention?
• How serious a disease is it?
• How is the disease spread?
• How do I avoid getting the infection or giving it to others?
• Are there drugs used to combat the epidemic?
• What about travel to Mexico?
The outbreak of disease in people caused by a new influenza virus of swine origin continues to grow in the United States and internationally. As of early November, 2009, influenza was present in 48 states, and President Obama had declared swine flu a national emergency. The World Health Organization has raised the worldwide pandemic alert level [for the swine flu or H1N1 virus] to Phase 6. A Phase 6 designation indicates that a global pandemic is under way. -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention What is the H1N1 Virus? The H1N1 virus (also known as Swine Flu) is a respiratory disease usually found only in pigs, but humans can get infected as well. This particular strain of the virus has never before been detected in swine or humans in the United States or elsewhere. It’s believed to have spread from Mexico in March and April 2009, and it’s being transmitted from human to human. It is still unclear how easily the virus spreads between people. What are the symptoms? The symptoms of Swine Flu are similar to those of normal flu: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. There are some reported cases of vomiting and diarrhea as well. What are the warning signs for immediate medical attention? If you are worried about your symptoms, contact your health care provider. The CDC recommends that if you experience any of the following warning signs, you should seek emergency medical care. In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include: • 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 |
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include: | •Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath |
| •Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen |
| •Sudden dizziness |
| •Confusion |
| •Severe or persistent vomiting |
How serious a disease is it? Like seasonal flu, Swine Flu can vary in severity from mild to severe. These infections can worsen underlying chronic medical conditions. In previous cases, severe bouts have led to pneumonia and respiratory failure. Also like seasonal flu, deaths have resulted in a small number of cases. How is the disease spread? The flu is spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing. Someone can also become infected by touching a surface with flu virus on it, such as a doorknob, and then touching their mouth or nose. How do I avoid getting the infection or giving it to others? See if the H1N1 vaccine is available in your area. Supplies are still limited so check with your provider about getting the vaccination. Although the seasonal flu is a different strain of influenza from H1N1, it's still a good idea to get a vaccine to protect yourself against regular flu. And you should take the same precautions you would to keep from getting sick in general. Here are some tips to help keep you from getting the flu: | •Cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw it out immediately afterward. If you don't have a tissue handy, cough or sneeze into your elbow or sleeve. (Teach kids these techniques, too!). |
| •Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you cough, sneeze, or touch your eyes. Alcohol-based sanitizers are great for killing germs when you're on the go. When someone in your house is sick antibacterial wipes are good to use on surfaces in high-traffic areas, such as kitchens or bathrooms. |
| •Don't touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. (You can spread germs from the mucus in your eyes and mouth this way.) |
| •Avoid close contact with sick people. |
| •If you feel sick or have a fever, stay home until the fever is gone for 24 hours (without having to take medicine to reduce it). If you're sick, limit contact with others unless you need a friend or relative to bring you medicine or other supplies. |
Are there drugs used to combat the epidemic? Yes. In certain cases in which people are at high risk of developing serious illness -- the elderly as well as those with chronic conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, and heart disease -- the CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu®) and zanamivir (brand name Relenza®). Both are drugs that fend off the flu by keeping the virus from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs may shorten your illness or make it milder. It's best to start these drugs within two days of the symptoms first appearing. Check with your doctor to see if taking either of these medicines is right for you. What about travel to Mexico? The CDC no longer recommends that travelers from the United States avoid all non-essential travel to Mexico. It does caution that travelers at higher-than-normal risk of complications (including pregnant women, people over 65, and children under five) may want to consider postponing their trip. In addition, the CDC recommends checking its Web sites for travelers' updates at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel. The additional Web sites for updates to help you reduce your risk of infection: Secretaria de Salud World Health Organization For daily updates and the latest on the CDC’s emergency response and interim guidelines for clinicians, check out http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
First published April 27, 2009
Last updated November 2, 2009
Copyright © 2009 CVS Caremark
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