H1N1 Virus

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H1N1 Virus

• A Flu of Pandemic Proportions

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• Common Questions
• Reducing the Risk

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What Is The H1N1 Virus

• H1N1 is a respiratory illness related to the flu.
  It has also been referred to as the Swine Flu as
  it originates from a porcine virus.
• The virus can live on surfaces for up to 8 hours.

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Why Is There Such Alarm?

• Officials dont know yet how contagious the
  disease is or exactly how it may spread.
• The geographic distribution has officials
  expecting a high number of cases this flu
  season. Some officials believe that 50 of
  Americans will contract this flu this season.

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How Does The H1N1 Virus Differ From The Regular
Seasonal Flu?

• Because the H1N1 flu virus is a new virus, most
  people are not immune.
• The regular seasonal flu can most often be
  prevented with a flu vaccination, but a vaccine
  for H1N1 is not yet available.
• The regular seasonal flu sickens between 5 to 20
  percent of the population and kills about 36,000
  people each year.

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How Easy Is It To Catch The Virus?

• Influenza viruses, like the H1N1 flu, can be
  transmitted between people by coughing or
  sneezing, or by touching something with a flu
  virus on it.
• The World Health Organization says that if the
  virus establishes strong transmission between
  humans, the risk for a pandemic is high.

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How Dangerous Is It?

• Nobody knows yet. Genetically, it does not share
  the same traits that made the infamous 1918
  pandemic so deadly, nor does it seem as virulent
  as the bird flu that scientists have tracked for
  many years.
• While Mexico reported many deaths, the virus is
  causing less severe illness in the U.S.
• The Center for Disease Control and Prevention
  says most cases so far have not required medical
  attention.

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Is It Treatable?

• Yes, the standard anti-flu drugs-Tamiflu and
  Relenza- can lessen symptoms if taken within 48
  hours of the first symptoms.

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Is There A Vaccine?

• No, it is not available yet. The government is
  working to develop one. The earliest shots could
  roll out in the fall, if authorities decide the
  virus remains enough of a threat to offer those
  shots.
• Manufacturers are preparing regular flu shots for
  the fall, when routine influenza strains will
  start circulating.
• Vaccinations for H1N1 will be prioritized when
  available, so many may not have a vaccine shot
  until late in the flu season, if at all.

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Reducing Your Exposure In The Workplace

• Cover your nose and mouth with your sleeve when
  coughing or sneezing (not with the hand, as that
  contaminates the hand, spreading organisms
  further).
• Use a tissue for cleaning/blowing your nose, and
  dispose of the tissue after use.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water
  (preferable) or clean with alcohol-based hand
  sanitizer.

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Reducing Your Exposure In The Workplace

• When you wash your hands, wash for at least 20
  seconds, making sure that all surfaces of hands
  and fingers are cleaned.
• Clean your hands after coughing, sneezing, using
  a tissue, or touching any surface that may have
  become contaminated by a prior user.
• If you use a surgical mask, dispose of it
  properly after use.

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Reducing Your Exposure In The Workplace

• Avoid touching surfaces that are likely to have
  been touched recently by others (door handles,
  stair railings, etc).
• Avoid handshaking, social kissing, and other
  social rituals that involve touching others.
• Avoid coughing and sneezing around others.
• Avoid contact with individuals at risk (small
  children, travelers or those with underlying or
  chronic illnesses)

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Reducing Exposure Outside the Workplace

• If you travel, avoid persons with flu-type
  symptoms.
• Watch for symptoms to develop after you travel
  and before you return to work or other heavily
  populated places.
• If you develop flu-like symptoms after
  travelling, report it to your doctor, with
  information on where you travelled.

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Reducing Exposure to Others

• If you develop flu-like symptoms, stay home and
  avoid contact with others.
• Without vaccination, the flu will spread very
  quickly through your office, home, church and
  other venues.

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References

• Please visit your County Health Department
  website for more information on the virus and
  ways to help prevent the spread of disease.
• The following websites also have valuable
  information.
• www.cdc.gov
• www.slvhealth.org
• www.osha.gov