How to Combat Swine Flu

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How to Combat Swine Flu
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What is Swine Flu?

• Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory
  disease of pigs caused by type A influenza
  viruses
  
• People dont normally get swine flu, but human
  infections can happen
  
• Transmission is limited and not sustained beyond
  three people

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How Does Swine Flu Spread?

• Person to person
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Touching an object with the virus on it then
  touching your mouth and nose
  
• From pigs to people and vice versa
• Pig barns
• Livestock exhibits

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What are the symptoms?

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Body aches
• Headaches
• Chills and fatigue
• Nausea
• Diarrhea and vomiting

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Emergency Warning Signs in Children

• 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 return with fever
  and worse cough
  
• Fever with a rash

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Emergency Warning Signs in Adults

• 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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What Should I Do to Keep from Getting the Flu?

• Stay in good general health
• Get plenty of sleep
• Be physically active
• Manage your stress
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Eat nutritious food
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth

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What should I do to keep from getting the flu?
Cont

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you
  cough or sneeze and throw the tissue in the
  trash
  
• If you get sick, stay home from work or school to
  avoid infecting others
  
• MOST IMPORTANT WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY

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Washing Your Hands
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When to Wash Your Hands Before

• Touching your hand to your mouth including
• Eating
• Drinking
• Brushing your teeth
• Helping a sick person

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Wash Your Hands After

• Going to the bathroom
• Changing diapers
• Touching high-hand contact surfaces, such as
• Doorknobs
• Railings
• Tables (cafeteria)
• School desks
• Commonly used or shared school supplies
• Helping a sick person
• Blowing your nose

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How to Wash Your Hands

• Wet your hands with warm water
• Apply a generous amount of soap
• Rub your hands together for 20 seconds
• Rinse your hands
• Dry your hands with a paper towel
• Use the paper towel to turn off the faucet and
  open the door

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FAQs

• Can I use alcohol-based hand sanitizers?
• When soap is not available, alcohol-based
  disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be
  used. You can find them at any supermarket or
  drug store.
• If using the gel sanitizer, rub your hands until
  the gel is dry. You dont need to use any water
  and the alcohol kills the germs on your hands.
  

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FAQs

• How long can an infected person spread the swine
  flu to others?
  
• Contagious as long as they are symptomatic
• 7 days following the illness onset
• Children might be contagious for longer periods
  of time

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FAQs

• What surfaces are most likely to be sources of
  contamination?
  
• Doorknobs
• Railings
• Tables (cafeteria)
• School desks
• Commonly used or shared school supplies
• Office supplies
• Work stations
• Remote control
• Phone

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FAQs

• Can I get the swine flu from eating or preparing
  pork?
  
• No, the virus is not spread by food. You cannot
  get the virus from eating pork or pork products.
  Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160F
  kills the virus as it does other bacteria and
  viruses.

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FAQs

• What about traveling to Mexico or other
  contaminated areas?
  
• The CDC has not recommended that people avoid
  travel to Mexico or other affected areas at this
  time. If or when you travel, you can reduce your
  personal risk of infection by following these CDC
  recommendations to help you stay healthy

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FAQ about Travel cont

• Monitor the situation where you intend to travel
  by reviewing informational web sites, such as the
  CDCs (www.cdc.gov/travel).
  
• Make specific preparations for your trip
• Pack a travel health/first aid kit
• Identify health care resources in the area you
  intend to travel
  
• Check your health insurance plan to determine
  your coverage while traveling
  
• See your doctor or a travel medicine specialist
  to update your vaccination status, get specific
  recommendations for possible antiviral medication
  should you need them, or to answer specific
  questions regarding where you plan to travel

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FAQ about Travel cont

• And while traveling
• Pay attention to announcements from the local
  government or public health officials
  
• Practice healthy habits to help stop the spread
  of germs
  
• Seek medical care if you are sick and avoid
  further travel until you are free of symptoms

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FAQ about Travel cont

• Also be sure to monitor your health for 7-10 days
  after your return and seek medical care if you
  become sick. Make sure to tell your doctor about
  your symptoms as well as your recent travel
  history.

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Sources

• DSHS Pandemic Flu Resource Page
  http//www.dshs.state.tx.us/comprep/pandemic/defau
  lt.shtm
  
• CDC Website www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/index.htm
• Swine Flu Hotline [phone]
• Tarrant County Public Health
• http//www.tarrantcounty.com/eHealth/site/default.
  asp

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Contact Information

• Barney Fudge
• Consultant for School Health SDFSC
• P [phone]
• F [phone]
• bfudge_at_esc11.net
• ESC Region XI
• 3001 North Freeway
• Fort Worth, TX 76106