Category: H1N1 (Swine Flu)
H1N1: The Information You Need
With all of the recent media attention surrounding the H1N1 flu virus and scary words like ‘pandemic’ and ‘swine flu’ being tossed around, many of us are left in the dark as to what exactly this virus is all about. With H1N1 continuing to cause illness, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States during the summer months and some uncertainty about what the upcoming flu season might bring, it is important to keep yourself informed about H1N1 and what steps can be taken to help avoid becoming ill.
What is H1N1 and how does it spread?
The novel H1N1 flu virus, formerly referred to as “swine flu,” was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009 and began spreading from person-to-person across the world, in a similar manner to which regular seasonal influenza viruses spread: mainly through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may also become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a pandemic of novel H1N1 flu was underway. Pandemic simply means a world-wide (”pan”) epidemic. It is now estimated that over 1 million US citizens have been infected with H1N1.
H1N1 has been known to cause a wide range of symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. People with this virus have also reported experiencing nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
Who is at risk?
Similar in nature to the seasonal flu, the illness associated with the H1N1 virus in humans can vary from mild to severe. With the seasonal flu, certain groups of people are considered to be at a high risk for serious complications. You may have questions as to whether or not people considered to be high risk for complications from the seasonal flu are also considered to be high risk for complications from the H1N1 flu strain.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 70 percent of people who have been hospitalized with the H1N1 virus have had one or more of the medical conditions that have placed them at high risk for seasonal flu complications, including:
- Pregnancy
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Asthma
- Kidney disease
In contrast to seasonal flu, H1N1 has caused greater problems and complications in people under the age of 25. The CDC states that while people 65 years and older are much less likely to become ill with novel H1N1 flu, the increase in the hospitalization rate for people in this age group indicates that if they do become sick, their risk of hospitalization is increased.[1]
How can you protect yourself?
Vaccines are the best tool we have to help prevent influenza. The CDC is encouraging people to start to get vaccinated against seasonal influenza as soon as vaccines become available (find a flu clinic near you). While the seasonal flu vaccine is unlikely to provide protection against H1N1, as of August 2009, the vaccine to protect against the H1N1 virus was in production and may be ready for the public in the fall. The H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine, but is intended to be administered in addition to the seasonal flu vaccine.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a panel made up of medical and public health experts, made recommendations based on current disease patterns, high risk populations, as well as anticipated quantity and timing of vaccine availability on who should receive the new H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available.
The priority groups currently recommended to receive the novel H1N1 influenza vaccine include:
- Pregnant women
- Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age
- Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
- All people from 6 months through 24 years of age
- Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.
H1N1 vaccine will be made available to additional populations as soon as the priority groups have been immunized.
Whether you are considered to be part of a priority group or not, there are also some simple everyday steps that you can take in order to protect your health and help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like seasonal and H1N1 influenza.
- 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 this way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- Stay home if you are sick for seven days after your symptoms begin or until you have been fever-free for 24 hours without using a fever reducing medication, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.
- Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds, and other social distancing measures.
- Be prepared in case you get sick and need to stay home for a week or so; a supply of over-the-counter medicines, alcohol based hand rubs, tissues, and other related items could be useful and help avoid the need to make trips out in public while you are sick and contagious.
For the most up to date information about H1N1, visit h1n1.findaflushot.com or www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.
To find a seasonal flu clinic near you, visit info.findaflushot.com.
[1] http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/surveillanceqa.htm