Symptoms – The symptoms of novel H1N1 influenza virus (commonly referred to as “Swine Flu”) include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Many people who have been infected with this virus also report vomiting and diarrhea. The illness associated with the virus has ranged from mild to severe. Compared with the typical “seasonal” strain of flu virus infections, “swine flu” has been more likely to cause illness among school-age children and less likely to affect persons older than 65 years. Most people who get the H1N1 (Swine) flu recover without medical treatment.

Contagiousness of the virus – This virus is very contagious and is thought to spread the same way that seasonal flu is spread. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people who have the virus. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with the flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. It is not spread through handling or eating pork.

What to do

• Protect yourself and your child from flu with vaccination
• Get your annual seasonal flu vaccine - Get the seasonal flu vaccine as soon as it is available. We currently have this vaccine in stock and are in the process of vaccinating. In addition to offering this vaccine for our patients, we offer the intranasal flu vaccine (FluMist) to parents / guardians. Please ask about getting your entire family vaccinated.
• Vaccinate with the H1N1 vaccine when available and following CDC and Health department guidelines - The most important thing you can do to protect you and your family from “swine flu” is to vaccinate! We anticipate that we will have the H1N1 vaccine by November. This will likely be a 2-dose series, with 3 weeks between each injection. There will not be a nasal form of this vaccine. We will be under guidance from the local health department regarding distribution of this vaccine. Priority groups for the pandemic H1N1 vaccine are:
• Pregnant women
• Household contacts / caregivers for children less than 6 months of age
• Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
• All persons 6 months to 24 years of age
• Person aged 25-64 years with health conditions that put them at higher risk of complications from the flu
• Avoid spreading the virus
• Avoid the spread of the virus by covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into your bent elbow (the crook of your elbow) instead of directly onto your hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, as germs are easily spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with any flu-like illness, the CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care. Make sure your fever is gone without the use of a fever reducer, such as Tylenol or Motrin. Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making them sick.
• Take everyday actions to stay healthy – Eat a healthy diet, get plenty of rest and enjoy moderate exercise.
• Home care if there is someone sick in the home
• Throw away tissues and other disposable items used by the sick person in the trash. Wash hands after touching used tissues and similar waste.
• Keep surfaces (especially bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, and toys for children) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.
• Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick do not need to be cleaned separately, but importantly these items should not be shared without washing thoroughly first.
• Wash linens (such as bed sheets and towels) by using household laundry soap and tumble dry on hot setting. Avoid “hugging” laundry prior to washing to prevent contaminating yourself. Clean your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer right after handling dirty laundry.
• Eating utensils should be washed either in a dishwasher of by hand with water and soap.

When is it an emergency?
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 that 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

For more information

• Ask us. We will assist you any way we can.
• The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hotline (1-800-CDC-INFO) is available in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Check the web site for Josephine County Health Department at www.co.josephine.or.us or call them at (541) 474-5325.

* This information has been compiled from information obtained through the CDC website on the H1N1 influenza virus and from the “CD Summary” published by the Oregon Public Health Division, DHS