INFLUENZA: Facts and Myths

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INFLUENZA Facts and Myths
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What is Influenza?

• Illness caused by viruses
• Commonly called the flu
• Infection of the nose, throat and lungs
• Seasonal, Regular influenza the disease that
  occurs annually in Canada mainly from
  December-March
• Seasonal influenza tends to be a more serious
  illness in seniors, very young children and those
  with chronic illnesses

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H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu)

• New strain of pandemic influenza
• Pandemic means the virus spreads easily between
  humans and affects a wide geographic area
• Most people have no natural immunity to it
• Those born before 1957 do seem to have some
  immunity
• Affecting more young and healthy people than the
  regular seasonal flu

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Influenza is Not
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Influenza Seasonal and H1N1
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Is Influenza a Serious Illness?

• Each year in BC hundreds of people die from
  seasonal influenza or complications
• Seasonal influenza can be a more serious disease
  in those gt 65 yrs and those with chronic
  illnesses
• H1N1 influenza so far has been mainly a mild to
  moderate disease in BC
• H1N1 influenza can be more serious in pregnant
  women, young children and those with underlying
  chronic illnesses

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Deaths due to Influenza
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How is Influenza Spread?

• Infected person coughs or sneezes
• Virus enters nose, eyes or throat
• Virus can also rest on hard surfaces (can infect
  a person for up to 2-8 hrs.)
• Person touches surface and then face
• You cannot catch H1N1 by eating pork
• You cannot catch H1N1 through a blood transfusion

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How Long is Someone Infectious?

• Seasonal Flu
• One day before onset of symptoms to five days
  after symptoms start
• H1N1
• One day before onset of symptoms to seven days
  after symptoms start
• Time from contact with illness to experiencing
  symptoms (incubation period)
• Seasonal 1-4 days
• H1N1 2-7 days

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Prevention

• Stay home when sick with influenza like illness
  until symptom free and feeling well
• Cough and sneeze into disposable tissue or into
  your sleeve or elbow
• Wash your hands thoroughly and often with soap
  and water or if unavailable use alcohol based
  (60-90) hand sanitizer
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Do not share drinks, eating utensils, cigarettes

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Should I wear a surgical mask?

• Not recommended for the general public
• People often use masks incorrectly
• People may contaminate themselves when putting
  masks on or taking them off
• Exception people who are ill with H1N1 flu
  virus or people exhibiting flu-like symptoms who
  need to protect others they have to get close to

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What to do if you think you have the flu?

• Contact a physician if very ill
• Drink lots of fluids
• Get plenty of rest
• For fever, sore throat and muscle aches, you can
  use fever-reducing medicines as recommended by
  your doctor
• Keep clean tissues and trash bag close
• Wash your hands frequently
• Stay in your own room away from well family
  members as much as possible
• Most people recover completely in 1-2 wks

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Caring for an ill family member

• Stay 2 metres (6 feet) from ill person
• For closer contact have ill person wear surgical
  mask or if not tolerated then the caregiver
  should wear a surgical mask
• Clean phone and other surfaces touched by ill
  person with bleach-based cleaner
• Keep sick persons belongings separate should
  have own towel, face cloth etc.
• Wash dishes, dirty laundry etc. as soon as
  removed from room with hot water/soap
• Line garbage bin with plastic bag

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Be on Alert for Complications

• Take ill persons temperature daily
• When to contact health care provider
• If person starts to feel better but then fever
  returns
• Other new symptoms arise after person was feeling
  better
• Person has difficulty breathing

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Will Schools Close?

• The Public Health Agency of Canada does not
  recommend widespread closure of schools
• Benefits of keeping schools open currently
  outweighs risk of transmission of influenza
• Local decision makers might determine that
  closure of a particular school is necessary
  because widespread illness and absenteeism
  impacts safety of school operations

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Antivirals for H1N1

• Medications to treat viral infections can
  reduce symptoms, shorten length of illness and
  potentially reduce serious complications
• Recommended for moderate to severe illness
• Physician or nurse practitioner prescription
  obtain from local pharmacy
• Should take within 48 hours of getting sick
• Not recommended for mild illness or to prevent
  influenza
• Tamiflu (oseltamivur)
• Relenza (Zanamivir)

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Influenza Vaccine

• Definition a preparation which stimulates the
  body to produce antibodies against the flu
  virus(es)
• Not a live vaccine cannot cause influenza
• Takes about 2 weeks for immunity to build
• Seasonal 3 different strains of influenza
  included (changes from year to year) does not
  include H1N1 this year
• H1N1 1 strain of influenza

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Vaccine Schedule in Fraser Health

• October 15 - November 15, 2009
• Regular flu vaccine for adults 65 yrs. only
• November 15 - December 30, 2009
• H1N1 vaccine for anyone who wants it
• Free vaccine which will be offered at a variety
  of clinic locations and some doctors offices
• January and February, 2010
• Regular flu vaccine for those lt 65 yrs. who are
  eligible (meet certain criteria) and wish to have
  the vaccine

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I have never had influenza do I need to get the
vaccine?

• No one is immune from influenza viruses
• Most people get sick from influenza several times
  over their lifetime
• Most people (except those born before 1957) do
  not have any immunity to H1N1

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Should Pregnant Women Get the Flu Vaccine

• Yes, they are at higher risk for severe H1N1
  disease especially in the last 6 months of
  pregnancy and first 4 weeks after baby born
• These women should be promptly assessed by a
  physician if experiencing influenza symptoms
• Antivirals are safe for these women who develop
  influenza like symptoms
• Recommended that women continue to breastfeed if
  taking antivirals

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UFV Student Considerations

• If you suspect you have influenza stay home for 7
  days or until symptom free for at least one day
• Inform instructor(s) if you (or a family member)
  are ill with influenza symptoms and will miss
  class, an exam or a deadline
• Make arrangements with instructor(s) for
  procuring class materials while absent
• Watch for updates at www.ufv.ca/h1n1

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Resources

• Make sure you are using credible information to
  make decisions for yourself and your family
• www.fightflu.ca Public Health Agency of Canada
  frequently asked questions
• www.fraserhealth.ca schedule for H1N1 vaccine
  clinics in your community
• www.voyage.gc.ca - travel notices and advisories
  for those wishing to travel
• Call 811 to talk to a nurse

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This Presentation Based On Information From

• Public Health Agency of Canada
• BC Ministry of Health
• Fraser Health