H1N1 Flu influenza

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H1N1 Flu (influenza)

• Its time to prepare and prevent

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What is Influenza (flu)?

• Respiratory infection caused by a virus
• Highly contagious
• Primarily spread by coughing and sneezing
• Many types of flu virus that can change (mutate)
  quickly

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What are symptoms of the flu?

• Sudden onset of fever, chills, muscle aches,
  headache and fatigue
• Cough, sore throat and sometimes runny nose
• Vomiting and diarrhea sometimes accompany H1N1
• Some with H1N1 have no fever

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How does flu spread?

• Person-to-person
• Mostly by coughing and sneezing
• Sometimes by touching contaminated surfaces or
  hands and then touching your own eyes, nose or
  mouth

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Seasonal Influenza in the U.S.

• 5-20 of population infected
• 200,000 hospitalized (50 65)
• 36,000 deaths (90 65)
• Greatest risk of severe disease
• Children under 5 (especially under 2)
• Adults 65
• Pregnant women
• Adults and children with chronic health
  conditions
• Residents of nursing homes

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Novel H1N1 Influenza

• New and unique type of flu virus
• Almost all people have no pre-existing immunity

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H1N1 in Minnesota

• Activity peaked the 3rd week of June
• 67 of hospitalized cases under 18 (median age
  12)
• 42 of hospitalized cases had one or more
  underlying health conditions
• (29 had asthma)

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• Wash your hands
• Cough in your sleeve
• Get your flu shot
• Stay home if you are sick

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If you are sick, stay home

• Dont go to work, school or to run errands
• Make plans to stay home with comfort food and
  medication on hand
• Call your health care provider to determine if
  you need to be evaluated
• Stay home for 24 hours after fever is gone
  without fever-reducing medication

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Get your flu shot

• Get your H1N1 flu shot when it becomes available
• Priority groups are
• pregnant women,
• children 6 months to 24 years of age,
• caregivers of children under 6 months,
• healthcare workers, and
• those between 24 and 65 with underlying health
  conditions

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Stay Healthy

• Get plenty of sleep
• Eat nutritious food
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Be physically active
• Manage your stress

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H1N1 Flu Planning Checklist for Families

• Know your employers sick leave policies
• Make plans to care for sick children
• Talk to family members about how they would be
  cared for if they got sick

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H1N1 Flu Planning Checklist for Families

• Non-perishable comfort food such as, soups,
  juices, crackers, and soda (Dont forget pet
  food)
• Thermometers, tissues, toilet paper and cleaning
  products
• Supply of any prescription drugs
• Nonprescription medications including pain and
  fever reducers, stomach remedies, cough and cold
  medicines, and vitamins

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Stay Informed

• Carver County www.ReadyCarver.org
• Minnesota http//www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/states/
  minnesota.html
• U.S. www.flu.gov

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H1N1 Update

• Vaccine Availability
• Priority Groups
• www.flu.gov for updates