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Swine Flu: What You Need to Know

H1N1, also known as swine flu, is a virus spreading throughout the U.S. and around the world. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expects more cases, more hospitalizations, and more deaths in the coming flu season. A presidential advisory panel said that nearly 50 percent of the U.S. population could be infected with swine flu this fall and winter, and up to 90,000 people could die as a result.

Learn more about the virus and what you can do to protect yourself.

What is swine flu and where does it come from?

H1N1 is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. At first thought to have started in Mexico, scientists have not yet pinpointed the origins of the outbreak. It was first detected in people residing in the U.S. in April 2009. The virus has been referred to as swine flu because genes in the virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in North American pigs (swine). Further study, however, has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs, according to the CDC.

How does H1N1 spread?

The virus apparently spreads from human to human the same way seasonal flu does—through coughing and sneezing or by touching surfaces contaminated with the virus. The CDC tracks the activity of the virus by state and continually updates the number of deaths it has caused to date.

What are the symptoms of swine flu?

Symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of seasonal flu. They can include fever, chills, headache, coughing, nausea, diarrhea, and back and muscle pain. Some people infected with H1N1 do not develop a fever; their symptoms may be limited to a runny nose and a headache, according to doctors cited in a Wall Street Journal story. Most cases tracked so far have been fairly mild, but the virus carries a higher risk for people with fragile immune systems such as infants, the elderly, pregnant women, and people who have immune deficiency diseases such as HIV and AIDS.

What should I do if I think I have the H1N1?

The CDC recommends people who think they have the flu to stay home, get rest, drink plenty of water and avoid contact with others, except to seek medical care. It is expected that most people will recover without needing medical care, but those who fall into one of the high-risk categories mentioned above should see a doctor immediately. The virus can only be diagnosed by a respiratory lab test. If your symptoms include chest or abdominal pains, trouble breathing, dizziness, confusion, or continuous vomiting, you should contact your physician immediately.

Should I keep my child home if the flu is going around their school?

During the initial onset of swine flu in spring 2009, over 700 schools throughout the country closed, but this fall, health officials are urging schools to close only as a measure of last resort. School officials are working to prevent the spread of the virus by sending sick children home, and focusing attention on hygienic defenses, including frequent hand-washing and covering one's mouth with an arm, not a hand, when coughing.

If a child does develop flu-like symptoms, parents are advised to keep them out of school. However, according to the CDC it is safe for them to return to school 24 hours after their fever breaks.


What kinds of precautions should I take?

Washing your hands frequently to kill germs and bacteria is still the most effective way to prevent the spread of any type of contagious disease like the flu. Alcohol-based sanitizers are good germ killers, but regular soap and warm water works fine.

During the swine flu outbreak earlier this year, some wore face masks in an attempt to protect themselves from contracting the virus. The CDC does not think such measures are currently necessary in the U.S., except in certain situations, where a person's immunity is compromised or they are highly exposed to those infected by the virus.

Is there a cure?

So far, the latest strain of the H1N1 influenza virus has been resistant to existing antibiotics. But in the U.S., most people have recovered without any medication. Some doctors have prescribed Tamiflu to ease symptoms. These drugs are not immunizations, and are only used to treat people whose swine flu is complicated by underlying medical conditions. Experts say these drugs should be administered only in extreme cases, fearing that their overuse could cause the virus to develop resistance.

Is there a vaccine?

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the new swine flu vaccine and about 45 million doses should arrive around Oct. 15, followed by more shipments each week. The government has ordered 195 million doses but may order more. Clinical trials are showing that the new H1N1 vaccine protects with only one dose. So far, no serious side effects have been reported. The CDC expects that the seasonal flu vaccine will be available before the H1N1 vaccine.

Who should get the vaccine?

The CDC has published a list of groups for whom it recommends the vaccine:
  • Pregnant women
  • Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age
  • Health care and emergency medical services personnel
  • All people from 6 months through 24 years of age
  • Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.
What should pregnant women do?

How to explain swine flu in a way that's easy for kids to understand.
Pregnant women are at high risk for complications if they catch any type of flu virus; this has been particularly true of H1N1. One startling statistic: although 1 percent of the population in the U.S. is pregnant women, 6 percent of the deaths from H1N1 have been pregnant women. Health officials are urging pregnant women to be placed at the front of the line as the vaccine is rolled out in mid-October. While clinical trials for the safety of the vaccine are ongoing, many officials feel that the safety provided by the vaccine is worth the small risk of problems associated with it.

What if someone I care for gets H1N1?

Parents and caregivers should know some quick facts about preventing the spread of the virus, as well as how to care for those infected with the virus.
  • Avoid being face-to-face with the sick person.
  • When holding small children who are sick, place their chin on your shoulder so that they will not cough in your face.
  • Clean your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub after you touch the sick person or handle used tissues or laundry.
  • Talk to your health care provider about taking antiviral medication to prevent the caregiver from getting the flu.
  • If you are at high risk of influenza-associated complications, you should not be the designated caretaker, if possible.
  • If you are in a high risk group for complications from influenza, you should avoid close contact (within 6 feet) with household members who are sick with influenza. Designate a person who is not at high risk to be the primary caretaker of household members who are sick with influenza, if at all possible. If close contact with a sick individual is unavoidable, consider wearing a facemask or respirator, if available and tolerable. For more information, see the interim recommendations for facemask and respirator use.
  • Monitor yourself and household members for flu symptoms and contact a telephone hotline or health care provider if symptoms occur.
Although you should always check with your health care provider, the CDC published a list of medicines shown to lessen symptoms of the flu.

Is the current H1N1 strain considered a pandemic?

The WHO (World Health Organization) is referring to the swine flu as a pandemic—an epidemic of world-wide proportions. A virus is considered pandemic when it forms into a new strain that is resistant to current vaccines and can be easily passed from human to human. The current WHO phase of alert for swine flu is 6, the highest alert level on the organization's scale.

Is it safe to travel?

The WHO has not recommended travel restrictions related to the outbreak of swine flu. Since the virus has already spread to a number of countries, travel restrictions are considered ineffective at this point.

Related Links:

NOW: Swine Flu Pandemic

NOW: Teaching Kids About Swine Flu

Reuters: Swine Flu Fact Box

The U.S. CDC: Swine Flu

Flu.gov: Swine Flu Info

The World Health Organization: Influenza A (H1N1)

NewsHour Lesson Plan: How Are Vaccines Produced?

 
WEB FEATURES
Swine Flu Pandemic

Swine Flu: What You Need to Know

Teaching Kids About Swine Flu

Bio: Dr. Larry Brilliant


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