Get the Facts about H1N1 Influenza

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Get the Facts about H1N1 Influenza
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H1N1 Influenza

• H1N1 (referred to as swine flu early on) is a new
  influenza that is spreading from person to person
• The first cases of human infection with H1N1
  influenza virus were detected in April 2009 in
  California and Texas
• The virus is widespread in the US at this time
  and has been detected internationally as well

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H1N1 Influenza

• Flu has an incubation period of 2-3 days
• Flu spreads very rapidly
• They are predicting that as much as 40 - 50 of
  the workforce in the US could be away from the
  job for 6 to 8 weeks
• Children are expected to be ill for 8 days and
  adults for 14
• People will have to stay home because daycare
  centers and schools may be closed

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H1N1 Influenza

• Influenza is always serious each year in the US
  seasonal influenza results, on average, in an
  estimated 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000
  hospitalizations from flu-related causes
• This outbreak poses the potential to be at least
  as serious as the seasonal flu
• Because this is a new virus, most people will not
  have immunity to it, and illness may be more
  severe and widespread as a result

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H1N1 Influenza

• Signs and Symptoms
• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or Stuffy nose
• Body aches
• Headache
• Chills
• Fatigue
• In addition, vomiting and diarrhea have been
  reported.

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How does H1N1 Influenza Spread?

• This virus is thought to spread the same way
  seasonal flu spreads
• Primarily through respiratory droplets
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Touching respiratory droplets on yourself,
  another person, or an object, then touching mucus
  membranes (e.g., mouth, nose, eyes) without
  washing hands

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What can you do to protect yourself from getting
sick?

• There is currently no vaccine to protect against
  this new virus
• However, everyday actions can help prevent the
  spread of germs that cause illnesses like
  influenza

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Follow these steps to protect your health

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water,
  especially after you cough or sneeze. Wash for
  15-20 seconds
• Use Alcohol-based hand wipes or gel sanitizers
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you
  cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash
  after use.

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Follow these steps to protect your health

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs
  spread this way.
• Avoid contact with sick people

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If you get sick

• Stay home if you are sick. The CDC recommends
  that people with influenza like illness remain at
  home until at least 24 hours after they are free
  of fever, without the use of fever-reducing
  medications.
• If you are sick, limit your contact with other
  people as much as possible.

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What is VISIT FLORIDA doing?

• Monitoring situation
• Will have information available about virus on
  HRB
• Will develop list of supplies needed for office
  and order sufficient supplies
• VF will reimburse staff up to 25 to get the flu
  vaccine. (both seasonal and H1N1)
• Everyone who gets flu vaccine will receive two
  (2) C-Notes

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Summary

• CDC anticipates that there will be more cases,
  more hospitalizations and more deaths associated
  with this new virus in the coming weeks and
  months because the population has little to no
  immunity against it.
• We must work together to limit and control the
  transmission of the H1N1 influenza

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Resources

• www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
• www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
• 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)

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