Swine Flu (H1N1)
Swine Flu, also known as H1N1, came to the forefront in spring 2009.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, it is not known how severe swine flu/H1N1 will be.
In seasonal flu, there are certain people who are at higher risk of serious flu-related complications. This includes people 65 years and older, children younger than five years old, pregnant women, and people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions.
Learn more about swine flu/H1N1:
Symptoms
Similar to the symptoms of regular seasonal influenza and include:
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When to Get Help
For 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
- Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
For adults:
- Difficulty breathing
- 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
If you become ill
- Stay home from work and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. You should remain at home until you've had no symptoms for 24 hours.
- If you develop severe symptoms, including a fever of 103 degrees or higher, please contact your primary care physician.
Precautions:
- 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 hands sanitizers are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Wipe down your work surfaces often with antiseptic wipes.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- Health care workers should always use droplet and standard precautions (surgical mask and eye protection) for influenza-like illnesses with good hand washing before and after patient contact.
