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2009 Public Health News
and Information
County of
Passaic
Board of
Chosen Freeholders
Administration Building
Annex
311-317
Pennsylvania Avenue •
Paterson, New Jersey
07503-1718
IRENE JESSIE HUNTE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Director/Health
Officer
TEL: 973-881-4396
FAX: 973-225-0222
Swine
Influenza and You
What is swine flu?
Swine Influenza (swine
flu) is a respiratory
disease of pigs caused
by type A influenza
viruses that causes
regular outbreaks in
pigs. People do not
normally get swine flu,
but human infections can
and do happen. Swine flu
viruses have been
reported to spread from
person-to-person, but in
the past, this
transmission was limited
and not sustained beyond
three people.
Are there human
infections with swine
flu in the U.S.?
In late March and early
April 2009, cases of
human infection with
swine influenza A (H1N1)
viruses were first
reported in Southern
California and near San
Antonio, Texas. Other
U.S. states have
reported cases of swine
flu infection in humans
and cases have been
reported internationally
as well. An updated case
count of confirmed swine
flu infections in the
United States is kept at
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm
CDC and local and
state health agencies
are working together to
investigate this
situation.
Is
this swine flu virus
contagious?
CDC has determined that
this swine influenza A
(H1N1) virus is
contagious and is
spreading from human to
human. However, at this
time, it not known how
easily the virus spreads
between people.
What are the signs and
symptoms of swine flu in
people?
The symptoms of swine
flu in people are
similar to the symptoms
of regular human flu and
include fever, cough,
sore throat, body aches,
headache, chills and
fatigue. Some people
have reported diarrhea
and vomiting associated
with swine flu. In the
past, severe illness
(pneumonia and
respiratory failure) and
deaths have been
reported with swine flu
infection in people.
Like seasonal flu, swine
flu may cause a
worsening of underlying
chronic medical
conditions.
How
does swine flu spread?
Spread of this swine
influenza A (H1N1) virus
is thought to be
happening in the same
way that seasonal flu
spreads. Flu viruses are
spread mainly from
person to person through
coughing or sneezing of
people with influenza.
Sometimes people may
become infected by
touching something with
flu viruses on it and
then touching their
mouth or nose.
How
can someone with the flu
infect someone else?
Infected people may be
able to infect others
beginning 1 day before
symptoms develop and up
to 7 or more days after
becoming sick. That
means that you may be
able to pass on the flu
to someone else before
you know you are sick,
as well as while you are
sick.
What should I do to keep
from getting the flu?
First and most
important: wash your
hands. Try to stay in
good general health. Get
plenty of sleep, be
physically active,
manage your stress,
drink plenty of fluids,
and eat nutritious food.
Try not touch surfaces
that may be contaminated
with the flu virus.
Avoid close contact with
people who are sick.
Are
there medicines to treat
swine flu?
Yes. CDC recommends the
use of oseltamivir or
zanamivir for the
treatment and/or
prevention of infection
with these swine
influenza viruses.
Antiviral drugs are
prescription medicines
(pills, liquid or an
inhaler) that fight
against the flu by
keeping flu viruses from
reproducing in your
body. If you get sick,
antiviral drugs can make
your illness milder and
make you feel better
faster. They may also
prevent serious flu
complications. For
treatment, antiviral
drugs work best if
started soon after
getting sick (within 2
days of symptoms).
How long can an
infected person spread
swine flu to others?
People with swine
influenza virus
infection should be
considered potentially
contagious as long as
they are symptomatic and
possible for up to 7
days following illness
onset. Children,
especially younger
children, might
potentially be
contagious for longer
periods.
What surfaces are
most likely to be
sources of
contamination? Germs
can be spread when a
person touches something
that is contaminated
with germs and then
touches his or her eyes,
nose, or mouth. Droplets
from a cough or sneeze
of an infected person
move through the air.
Germs can be spread when
a person touches
respiratory droplets
from another person on a
surface like a desk and
then touches their own
eyes, mouth or nose
before washing their
hands.
How long can viruses
live outside the body?
We know that some
viruses and bacteria can
live 2 hours or longer
on surfaces like
cafeteria tables,
doorknobs, and desks.
Frequent hand washing
will help you reduce the
chance of getting
contamination from these
common surfaces.
What can I do to
protect myself from
getting sick?
There is no vaccine
available right now to
protect against swine
flu. There are everyday
actions that can help
prevent the spread of
germs that cause
respiratory illnesses
like influenza. Take
these everyday steps to
protect your health:
•
Cover your nose and
mouth with a tissue when
you cough or sneeze.
Throw the tissue in the
trash after you use it.
•
Wash your hands often
with soap and water,
especially after you
cough or sneeze.
Alcohol-based hand
cleaners are also
effective.
•
Avoid touching your
eyes, nose or mouth.
Germs spread this way.
•
Try to avoid close
contact with sick
people.
•
If you get sick with
influenza, CDC
recommends that you stay
home from work or school
and limit contact with
others to keep from
infecting them.
What is the best way
to keep from spreading
the virus through
coughing or sneezing?
If you are sick,
limit your contact with
other people as much as
possible. Do not go to
work or school if ill.
Cover your mouth and
nose with a tissue when
coughing or sneezing. It
may prevent those around
you from getting sick.
Put your used tissue in
the waste basket. Cover
your cough or sneeze if
you do not have a
tissue. Then, clean your
hands, and do so every
time you cough or
sneeze.
What is the best way
to keep from spreading
the virus through
coughing or sneezing?
If you are sick, limit
your contact with other
people as much as
possible. Do not go to
work or school if ill.
Cover your mouth and
nose with a tissue when
coughing or sneezing. It
may prevent those around
you from getting sick.
Put your used tissue in
the waste basket. Cover
your cough or sneeze if
you do not have a
tissue. Then, clean your
hands, and do so every
time you cough or
sneeze.
What is the best
technique for washing my
hands to avoid getting
the flu?
Washing your hands often
will help protect you
from germs. Wash with
soap and water. or clean
with alcohol-based hand
cleaner. we recommend
that when you wash your
hands -- with soap and
warm water -- that you
wash for 15 to 20
seconds. When soap and
water are not available,
alcohol-based disposable
hand wipes or gel
sanitizers may be used.
You can find them in
most supermarkets and
drugstores. If using
gel, rub your hands
until the gel is dry.
The gel doesn't need
water to work; the
alcohol in it kills the
germs on your hands.
What should I do if I
get sick?
If you live in areas
where swine influenza
cases have been
identified and become
ill with influenza-like
symptoms, including
fever, body aches, runny
nose, sore throat,
nausea, or vomiting or
diarrhea, you may want
to contact their health
care provider,
particularly if you are
worried about your
symptoms. Your health
care provider will
determine whether
influenza testing or
treatment is needed.
If you are sick, you
should stay home and
avoid contact with other
people as much as
possible to keep from
spreading your illness
to others.
If you become ill and
experience any of the
following warning signs,
seek emergency medical
care.
In children emergency
warning signs that need
urgent medical attention
include:
•
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 then return
with fever and worse
cough
•
Fever with a rash
In adults, emergency
warning signs that need
urgent medical attention
include:
•
Difficulty breathing or
shortness of breath
•
Pain or pressure in the
chest or abdomen
•
Sudden dizziness
•
Confusion
•
Severe or persistent
vomiting
How serious is swine
flu infection?
Like seasonal flu, swine
flu in humans can vary
in severity from mild to
severe. Between 2005
until January 2009, 12
human cases of swine flu
were detected in the
U.S. with no deaths
occurring. However,
swine flu infection can
be serious. In September
1988, a previously
healthy 32-year-old
pregnant woman in
Wisconsin was
hospitalized for
pneumonia after being
infected with swine flu
and died 8 days later. A
swine flu outbreak in
Fort Dix, New Jersey
occurred in 1976 that
caused more than 200
cases with serious
illness in several
people and one death.
Can I get swine
influenza from eating or
preparing pork?
No. Swine influenza
viruses are not spread
by food. You cannot get
swine influenza from
eating pork or pork
products. Eating
properly handled and
cooked pork products is
safe.
Preventing the Flu:
Good Health Habits Can
Help Stop Germs
Fact Sheet
The
single best way to
prevent seasonal flu is
to get
vaccinated
each year, but good
health habits like
covering your cough and
washing your hands often
can help stop the spread
of germs and prevent
respiratory illnesses
like the flu. There also
are
flu antiviral
drugs
that can be used to
treat and prevent the
flu.
Avoid close contact.
Avoid close contact
with people who are
sick. When you are sick,
keep your distance from
others to protect them
from getting sick too.
Stay home when you
are sick.
If possible, stay
home from work, school,
and errands when you are
sick. You will help
prevent others from
catching your illness.
Cover your mouth and
nose.
Cover your mouth and
nose with a tissue when
coughing or sneezing. It
may prevent those around
you from getting sick.
Clean your hands.
Washing your hands
often will help protect
you from germs.
Avoid touching your
eyes, nose or mouth.
Germs are often
spread when a person
touches something that
is contaminated with
germs and then touches
his or her eyes, nose,
or mouth.
Practice other good
health habits.
Get plenty of sleep,
be physically active,
manage your stress,
drink plenty of fluids,
and eat nutritious food.
Information source:
The Centers for Disease
Control:
For more information
go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
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