H1N1 (Swine) Flu
While the H1N1 flu seems to have many similarities to seasonal flu, extra precautions are being taken until more is known about it.
Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, congestion, sore throat, headache, body aches, and diarrhea.
Disease is spread person to person through droplets during close contact among people as they cough, sneeze or speak. Contact with contaminated surfaces may also lead to disease spread. If exposed, it would likely take 1-4 days, possibly even seven days before you would become ill. You can spread the disease from the day before symptoms begin until approximately 7 days after symptoms begin.
How to protect yourself and others:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Practice good personal health habits, manage stress, get adequate of rest, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious foods.
- Those with symptoms should stay home and avoid contact with other persons, except to seek medical care. Wear a mask when in public.
Who should seek medical care:
Not all patients with suspected novel influenza (H1N1) infection need to be seen by a health care provider. Patients with severe illness and those at high risk for complications from influenza should contact their medical provider or seek medical care.
- Children less than 5 years old
- Persons aged 65 years or older
- Children and adolescents (less than 18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection
- Pregnant women
- Adults and children who have chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders
- Adults and children who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by HIV)
- Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities
Additional information is available @ www.cdc.gov or http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/#stay_healthy or call 1-800-CDC-INFO or 2-1-1.