H1N1: What you need to know

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H1N1What you need to know
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What is H1N1?
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What is H1N1?

• A new flu virus
• Also known as Swine flu
• Symptoms are very similar to the regular seasonal
  flu

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How serious is H1N1?

• Like seasonal flu, H1N1 can vary from mild to
  severe.
• Most people recover without needing medical care.
• Thousands of people in the U.S. die each year
  from seasonal flu.

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Who is at risk?

• Some people are at higher risk for complications
  from the flu.
• The groups are slightly different for seasonal
  flu and H1N1.

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Who is at risk Seasonal flu

• Higher risk for complications
• children younger than five
• pregnant women
• people with chronic medical conditions (asthma,
  COPD, diabetes, chronic heart disease) or
  compromised immune systems.
• people 65 years and older

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Who is at risk H1N1

• Many cases of H1N1 in children and adults under
  25.
• Higher risk for complications
• pregnant women
• infants less than six months old
• people with chronic medical conditions (cancer,
  blood disorders, asthma, COPD, diabetes, chronic
  heart disease, kidney or liver disorders,
  neurological disorders, neuromuscular disorders)
  or compromised immune systems.

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What are the symptoms?

• Fever (Temperature gt100 F (37.8 C))
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Body aches
• Headache
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting.

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What should I do if I get sick?
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What should I do if I get sick?

• If you have the symptoms just mentioned, you
  should
• Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever
  is gone.
• Keep away from others as much as possible to keep
  from making them sick.
• If you have severe illness or you are at high
  risk for flu complications, contact your health
  care provider or seek medical care.

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Seek emergency medical care if

• A sick child shows these emergency warning signs
  
• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• 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
• Fever with a rash

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Seek emergency medical care if

• A sick adult shows these emergency warning signs
  
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

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How long can a sick person spread the virus?

• People with the flu may be able to infect others
  from 1 day before getting sick to 5-7 days after.
  
• This can be longer in some people.

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How can I protect myself?
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How can I protect myself?

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your
  sleeve when you cough or sneeze. If you use a
  tissue, throw it in the trash after you use it.

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How can I protect myself?

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your
  sleeve when you cough or sneeze. If you use a
  tissue, throw it 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.

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How can I protect myself?

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your
  sleeve when you cough or sneeze. If you use a
  tissue, throw it 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.

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How can I protect myself?

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your
  sleeve when you cough or sneeze. If you use a
  tissue, throw it 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.

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How can I protect myself?

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your
  sleeve when you cough or sneeze. If you use a
  tissue, throw it 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.
• Consider vaccination.

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What about vaccination?
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What about vaccination?

• Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent
  the flu and its complications.
• The seasonal flu vaccine is not expected to
  protect against H1N1, so you should consider
  getting both.
• People are encouraged to get their seasonal flu
  shot as soon as it is available.

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H1N1 Vaccine

• Recently approved by FDA.
• New vaccine, so there may not be large supplies
  in the fall.
• We expect to be able to offer free vaccine to
  everyone.
• First groups for vaccine
• pregnant women
• people who live with or care for infants under 6
  months old
• healthcare and emergency medical services workers
• children and young adults ages 6 months to 24
  years old
• adults ages 25 through 64 who have chronic health
  conditions or compromised immune systems.

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Stay Updated on Flu

• www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu or www.flu.gov
• Check the Wednesday updates on H1N1 in Maine on
  our website  www.maineflu.gov
• Follow our updates and other information on
• Facebook (search for Maine CDC)
• Twitter (http//twitter.com/MEPublicHealth)
• MySpace (www.myspace.com/mainepublichealth)
• Our blog (http//mainepublichealth.blogspot.com/) 
  
• Maine CDCs General Public Call-in Number for
  Questions 1-888-257-0990NextTalk (deaf/hard
  of hearing) - [phone]Monday - Friday 9
  a.m. 5 p.m.