H1N1 Influenza Alert!

What to do and Information....

A H1N1 virus infection has been identified with some cases reported internationally. Infectious diseases are transferable and can easily spread, many people are getting anxious. How real is the threat? What can we do to keep safe if an outbreak does occur?

When it comes to a health crisis such as the possible Swine influenza A H1N1 virus infection outbreak, we are told to stay informed but stay calm. This is easier said than done. What we must keep in mind is that these forecasts of fatalities are all ‘worst case scenarios’ contemplated in disaster planning. It is important not to confuse global pandemic disaster plan recommendations with real documented news about outbreaks.

If we follow simple steps we can break the cycle of illness and stop the spread of flus.

If you are ill and the symptoms are like influenza, such as:

· Sudden onset with fever > 100° F (37.7° C)

· Cough, sore throat and lethargy

· Aches and pains, weakness

· May have nausea or diarrhea

It is time to take the following steps:

· Isolate yourself and stay away from other family members

· 6 feet away provides a good barrier

· Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing

· Wash your hands or use alcohol swabs for cleaning

· Do not go to work or school

· Avoid crowds

· Wear a mask even a homemade (when you must be around others)

· 7 days post illness is required before we are reasonably sure infection period has passed.

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

Practice healthy habits to help stop the spread of influenza.

· Wash your hands often with soap and water. This removes germs from your skin and helps prevent diseases from spreading. Use waterless alcohol-based hand gels (containing at least 60% alcohol) when soap is not available and hands are not visibly dirty.

· Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and put your used tissue in a wastebasket.

· If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8574515984097771637&hl=en

· Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing, using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner (with at least 60% alcohol) when soap and water are not available.

· Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread that way.

· Try to avoid close contact with sick people. (Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.)

· It is important to follow the advice of local health and government authorities. You may be asked to restrict your movement and stay in your home to contain the spread of influenza. (http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/index.htm )

If you must travel to an area that has reported cases of H1N1 influenza:

· Check updates from the:

o Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

o Secretaria de Salud,

o World Health Organization

· Monitor announcements from Mexico’s Ministry of Health and local government including information about affected areas, as not all areas are equally affected.

· Follow local public health guidelines, including any movement restrictions and prevention recommendations.

· Many countries are now screening passengers with thermal scanning cameras.

Prepare for your trip before you leave

· Household close contacts who are at high risk for complications of influenza (for example, persons with certain chronic medical conditions and the elderly) of a confirmed or suspected case.

· School-aged children who are at high risk for complications of influenza (for example, persons with certain chronic medical conditions) who had close contact (face-to-face) with a confirmed or suspected case.

· Travelers to Mexico who are at high risk for complications of influenza (for example, persons with certain chronic medical conditions and the elderly).

· Health care workers or public health workers who had unprotected close contact with an ill confirmed case of influenza A H1N1 virus infection during the ill person’s infectious period.

For all travelers, CDC recommends the following steps to help you stay healthy:

· Be sure you are up-to-date with all your routine vaccinations, including a seasonal influenza vaccine. The seasonal vaccine is not expected to offer protection against swine flu viruses, but it can protect against seasonal influenza viruses which may still be circulating in Mexico and the Southern Hemisphere.

· Pack a travel health kit that contains basic first aid and medical supplies. See Pack Smart in Your Survival Guide to Safe and Healthy Travel for a list of what to include in your travel health kit.

· Identify the health-care resources in the area(s) you will be visiting.

· Check if your health insurance plan will cover you abroad. Consider purchasing additional insurance that covers medical evacuation in case you become sick.

During your visit to an area affected by H1N1 influenza.

Monitor the local situation

· Pay attention to announcements from the local government

· Follow local public health guidelines, including any movement restrictions and prevention recommendations

Seek medical care if you feel sick

· If you are ill with fever and other symptoms of swine flu such as cough and sore throat, see a doctor, especially if you think you may have had contact with someone with swine flu or severe respiratory illness in the past 7 days before becoming ill.

o If you need to find local medical care, a consular officer can help you locate medical services and will inform your family or friends of your illness

· Do not travel while you are sick, except to get local medical care.

· Try to limit contact with others as much as possible. By limiting your contact with other people, you can help prevent the spread of swine flu

After your return from an area that has reported cases of H1N1 influenza:

· Closely monitor your health for 7 days.

· If you become ill with fever and other symptoms of swine flu like cough and sore throat and possibly vomiting and diarrhea during this period, call your doctor or clinic for an appointment right away. Your doctor may test you for influenza and decide whether influenza antiviral treatment is indicated.

· When you make the appointment, tell the doctor the following:

o Your symptoms

o Where you traveled, and

o If you have had close contact with a person infected with H1N1 influenza.

· Avoid leaving your home while sick except to get local medical care, or as instructed by your doctor. Do not go to work or school while you are ill. If you must leave your home (for example, to seek medical care) wear a surgical mask to keep from spreading your illness to others.

· Always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw away used tissues in a trash can.

· Wash your hands with soap and water often and especially after you cough or sneeze. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand gel containing at least 60% alcohol.

· Avoid close contact with other people as much as possible

· Wear a surgical mask if you are in contact with other people

H1N1 Influenza links:

US

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/index.htm
http://www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/default.asp
http://www.pork.org/porkscience/documents/publichealth%20influenza.pdf
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/04/0131.xml

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/mr-yr09-nr-nr048.htm
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/swine_flu.asp
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/swineflu/
http://access.health.qld.gov.au/hid/InfectionsandParasites/ViralInfections/swineFlu2009_fs.asp

http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/mexican-swine-influenza-update-270409

Singapore

http://www.moh.gov.sg/mohcorp/default.aspx

China

http://www.gov.cn/gzdt/2009-04/26/content_1296700.htm

CDC info in Spanish

http://cdc.gov/swineflu/espanol/info_general.htm

India government news

http://india.gov.in/outerwin.php?id=http://pib.nic.in/indiaportal/rel_print_page1.asp?relid=48583

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/News/Recentstories/DH_098573

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