According to the CDC, Swine Influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs first isolated
in swine in 1930. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can
and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person,
but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained.
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human
flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.
Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. Like
seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions,
and is occasionally fatal.
First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get
plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids,
and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the
flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. In a patient care setting
proper remember to properly use personal protective equipment (PPE).
In 1976, a U.S. soldier stationed in Fort Dix, New Jersey died from the swine flu
and four of his fellow soldiers were hospitalized. The government quickly developed
a vaccine that was associated with neurologic complications in some who received
it. Many soldiers who were exposed to the virus did not have any symptoms. This
strain of swine influenza appears more contagious.
According to Dr. Mark Rupp, Medical Director, Department of Healthcare Epidemiology,
if you had a lab confirmed case of H1N1 you do not need to be vaccinated. Your body
should have built up a natural immunity and you will probably not get it again.
Seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended for the following groups:
Annual vaccination against influenza is recommended for any adult who wants to reduce
the risk of becoming ill with influenza or of transmitting it to others. Vaccination
is recommended for all adults without contraindications in the following groups,
because these persons either are at higher risk for influenza complications, or
are close contacts of persons at higher risk:
- Persons aged 50 years and older
- Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season
- Persons who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension),
renal, hepatic, cognitive, neurologic/neuromuscular, hematological or metabolic
disorders (including diabetes mellitus)
- Persons who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications
or by human immunodeficiency virus)
- Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
- Health-care personnel
- Household contacts and caregivers of children aged less than five years and adults
aged 50 years and older, with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children
aged less than six months
- Household contacts and caregivers of persons with medical conditions that put them
at higher risk for severe complications from influenza
All children aged six months to 18 years should be vaccinated annually.
Children and adolescents at higher risk for influenza complications should continue
to be a focus of vaccination efforts as providers and programs transition to routinely
vaccinating all children and adolescents, including those who:
- Are aged six months to four years (59 months)
- Have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension),
renal, hepatic, cognitive, neurologic/neuromuscular, hematological or metabolic
disorders (including diabetes mellitus)
- Are immunosuppressed (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human
immunodeficiency virus)
- Are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and therefore might be at risk for experiencing
Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection
- Are residents of long-term care facilities
- Will be pregnant during the influenza season
Note: Children aged less than six months cannot receive influenza vaccination. Household
and other close contacts (e.g., daycare providers) of children aged less than six
months, including older children and adolescents, should be vaccinated.
It is anticipated that initially the pandemic H1N1 monovalent vaccine will be in
short supply. The initial target groups will be as follows:
- Pregnant women
- Persons who live with or provide care for infants aged less than six months (e.g.,
parents, siblings, and daycare providers)
- Health-care and emergency medical services personnel who have direct contact with
patients or infectious material
- Children aged six months to four years
- Children and adolescents aged five to 18 years who have medical conditions that
put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications*
As the supply of vaccine increases, the list will be expanded as follows:
- Pregnant women,
- Persons who live with or provide care for infants aged less than six months (e.g.,
parents, siblings, and daycare providers)
- Health-care and emergency medical services personnel
- Persons aged six months to 24 years
- Persons aged two to 64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher
risk for influenza-related complications*
*Chronic medical conditions that confer a higher risk for influenza-related complications
include chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension),
renal, hepatic, cognitive, neurologic/neuromuscular, hematologic, or metabolic disorders
(including diabetes mellitus) or immunosuppression (including immunosuppression
caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus)
The vaccine released towards the end of October will have undergone strenuous testing
for side effects and will only be released if experts feel it is safe for public
use. If you are nervous about the H1N1 vaccine, it may be a good topic to discuss
with your personal doctor.
Most people are sick for five to seven days. You will likely feel your worst during
the first 48 hours. Persons should stay home until they have been without a fever
for 24 hours without use of fever reducing medications.
Yes. If you have asthma you are considered at high risk for H1N1 as persons with
asthma are more likely to develop severe disease or complications such as pneumonia.
If you are not showing any flu-like symptoms it is okay for you to report for work.
If your condition changes during the day and you start to feel ill you should put
on a mask, let your manager know and go home immediately.
Studies have shown that influenza virus can survive on environmental surfaces and
can infect a person for two to eight hours after being deposited on the surface.
Any surface, really. Surfaces become contaminated by direct contact with infected
persons secretions or droplets from coughs or sneezes. When a person touches these
contaminated surfaces and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth without washing
their hands they may acquire the virus. Surfaces that are more worrisome are those
that are touched by many potentially ill persons like door knobs, hand rails, etc.