Influenza A, H1N1

Swine Flu
The Facts and How
to Protect Yourself

What is Influenza A, H1N1

Swine Flu?
Swine influenza is a respiratory disease

of pigs caused by a virus. It regularly

causes outbreaks of influenza among
pigs
Influenza A, H1N1 swine flu is a new

strain of the flu that moved from pigs to

humans and can be transmitted from
human to human.

Influenza A, H1N1 (swine flu)

Swine flu is different from seasonal flu

because:
It

is a new strain of the virus

Humans do not have an immunity
from it
Immunizations received last fall or this
winter do not offer protection against
the H1N1 swine flu

How Does It Spread?

Thought to be spread in the same way that

seasonal flu spreads

Mainly from person to person when an infected

person coughs or sneezes and spreads tiny

particles into the air

Sometimes by touching something with flu

viruses on it, and then touching the mouth,

nose or eyes

What Can You Do to Protect

Yourself and Others?
Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for

15-20 seconds

Alcohol-based hand cleaners are OK

Cover your coughs and sneezes by coughing and

sneezing into your arm, not your hands. Or, sneeze

into a tissue and discard it

Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth

Try to avoid close contact with people who appear

sick, and have a fever and cough

What Can You Do to Protect

Yourself and Others? Cont.
If you are sick, stay home
If your child is ill, keep them home from

school or childcare
Practice good health habits: get enough

sleep, eat nutritious food, keep

physically active
If you smoke, quit.

What are Signs and

Symptoms of the Flu?
Similar to symptoms of regular human flu:

Fever, cough, sore throat, body aches,

headache, chills and fatigue

May include diarrhea and vomiting

May cause more serious symptoms in

individuals with chronic medical conditions

Pneumonia, respiratory failure, and deaths

have been reported.

How Long Can an Infected

Person Spread it to Others?
People are contagious as long as they

have symptoms, and

up to 7 days after they become sick
Children, especially infants, may be
contagious for longer periods
Viruses can live 2 hours or longer on
surfaces like tables, desks, and
doorknobs.

What To Do If You Get Sick

If you have symptoms:

Fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat,

nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea

And you would typically see your health care

provider, do so.
If you have these symptoms but would not
normally see your health care provider, there is
no need to do so
Stay home and avoid contact with others as
much as possible

What To Do if
Your Child is Sick
If your child has these symptoms, seek

immediate medical care:

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.

What Should Businesses

Do?
Review your sick leave policy and urge

employees not to come to work when ill

Review plans for continuing business
operations, in the event the flu becomes
more widespread or severe
Encourage everyone to wash their hands
frequently, and to cover their coughs and
sneezes.

What is Safe To Do?

If you feel well, you may work, go to

school or send you your child to school,

go to church, and shop
Eat pork
Travel by bus, train or plane
Travel to Mexico is recommended for

essential business only

What More Can I Do To

Prepare?
Develop a family emergency plan as a

precaution, include:

Storing a supply of food

Medicines

Facemasks

Alcohol-based hand cleaners

Other essential supplies

For an emergency checklist, see

www.pandemicflu.gov

What are Local Public Health

Officials doing?
Working with hospitals and health

care providers to promptly identify

potential cases of swine flu
Assuring that appropriate treatment

and prevention measures are used

Developing fact sheets for

pharmacies, schools, the general

public, and health care providers.

Where Can I Get More

Information?
Information Lines:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

http://www.cdc.gov/