1. What is swine flu (HINI influenza)?
2. What is a pandemic?
3. How is H1N1 flu different from seasonal flu?
4. What are the symptoms of H1N1 flu?
5. How does H1N1 flu spread?
6. During what time period can an infected person spread H1N1 flu to others?
7. What can you do to protect yourself from getting the H1N1 flu?
8. What should you do if you get sick?
9. Should you get medical attention if you get sick?
10. What should you do if a member of your household becomes ill with the flu?

1. What is swine flu (HINI influenza)?

HIN1 influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People have not normally gotten 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.

This spring there is an outbreak of human infection with the HINI virus. The virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. It appears to have begun in Mexico, and there are now people infected in many states in the U.S. and in other countries around the world. An updated case count of confirmed H1N1 flu infections in the United States is available on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website, http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/index.htm. CDC and local and state health agencies are working together to investigate this situation.

2. What is a pandemic?

The H1N1 flu is becoming a pandemic. A pandemic is when a new type of flu virus spreads quickly and easily around the world. We have no way to fight off this new type of virus, because we have not built up any resistance (immunity) to it.
Because no one has any immunity to this new flu virus, everyone is at risk of becoming infected and suffering serious illness or death. It is too soon to tell how much this virus will spread, how fast it will spread, or how mild or severe cases of the flu will be. There may also be waves of the H1N1 flu, with differing degrees of severity. A pandemic can take months or years to run its course.

3. How is H1N1 flu different from seasonal flu?

Seasonal flu spreads from person to person and is a common sickness every winter. Seasonal flu causes fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pain and coughing. The people most at risk are young children, older people, and people with any health condition that weakens the immune system.

Seasonal flu can usually be prevented by a vaccine (flu shot) that you can get each year. Many people can fight off the common flu because over time, you can build up some immunity to help protect you. There are some medicines that can help treat people with seasonal flu.

The HINI flu is a new type of flu virus, so no one has any immunity. Even if you got a flu shot this year, it will provide no protection against the H1N1 flu. And healthy individuals appear to be as much at risk of contracting the flu as anyone else (in comparison to the seasonal flu). There is no vaccine at the present time and development of a vaccine will take at least 6 months.

We do not yet know how serious the H1N1 infection will be. Some cases have been mild; some have been more severe. It is possible that the virus will change (mutate) over time and it is possible that there will be deaths caused by it.

4. What are the symptoms of H1N1 flu?

The symptoms of H1N1 flu are similar to the symptoms of regular flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Symptoms can also include nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. Nearly all persons with flu will have at least two of these symptoms. Like seasonal flu, H1N1 flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

5. How does H1N1 flu spread?

There are several ways the flu virus can spread:

Someone can catch the virus when an infected person near them coughs or sneezes (droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air). It is also possible that when an infected person coughs or sneezes, the virus can remain suspended in the air and someone can inhale the virus.

Someone can catch the virus when they touch an infected person or an object or surface that is contaminated and then touch their own mouth, eyes, or nose. There are various estimates about how long flu viruses can live on nonporous surfaces like tables, doorknobs and desks – some sources say 2 hours or longer, other sources say 24 to 48 hours.

6. During what time period can an infected person spread H1N1 flu to others?

People with H1N1 influenza virus infection are potentially contagious from the day before the start of symptoms until they are no longer symptomatic, and possibly for up to 7 days following the start of symptoms. Children, especially younger children, might be contagious for longer periods.

7. What can you do to protect yourself from getting the H1N1 flu?
There is no vaccine available now to protect against H1N1 flu and there may not be one available for at least 6 months, if at all.
There are some everyday actions you can take 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. If you do not have a tissue, cover your cough or sneeze with your hand. Then, clean your hands as noted below.

Wash your hands often (especially after sneezing, coughing or wiping your nose; before handling or eating food; after using the toilet; and whenever your hands are dirty). Wash with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel does not need water to work.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

Wearing a surgical mask does not protect the wearer from breathing in the virus. The only personal protective equipment that may protect you from breathing in the virus is a particulate filtering respirator rated N95 or higher. Some respirators and surgical masks may look similar, but they are not the same. Any respirator should state its rating (like N95) and that it is certified by NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health). There are disposable respirators that can be used once and then must be thrown away (they cannot be cleaned and reused). These can be purchased in some stores (like drugstores) or on the internet. However, in order for a respirator to be an effective protection, it must be “fit-tested” on you to make sure the respirator fits and seals tightly around the face. OSHA requires that anytime employees have to use a respirator, their employer must first do fit-testing. OSHA also requires that respirators can only be used as part of a full respiratory protection program under OSHA’s respiratory standard.

8. What should you do if you get sick?

If you are sick and it is possible that it is influenza, you should stay home from work or school for 7 days after the onset of illness or at least 24 hours after symptoms have ended.

You should avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.
9. Should you get medical attention if you get sick?

If you become ill with flu-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose,
sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you should contact your health care provider. You should contact you healthcare provider by telephone or other remote means before seeking care at a clinic, physician's office, or hospital. Persons who have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath or are severely ill should seek immediate medical attention.

Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing and treatment is needed. Health care providers have a test available that tells whether you have the H1N1 flu. Some prescription antiviral medications (such as oseltemivir [Tamiflu] or zanamivir [Relenza]) have been shown to be effective in treating this flu. These drugs work best if given within 2 days of becoming ill, but may be given later if illness is severe or for those at a high risk for complications. As the H1N1 flu spreads, these antiviral drugs may become in short supply. Therefore, the drugs will be given first to those people who have been hospitalized or are at high risk of complications.

Don’t forget – if you leave the house to seek medical care, cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue.

10. What should you do if a member of your household becomes ill with the flu?
First, call your health care provider for advice and possible testing and treatment.
Anyone who develops fever with either cough or sore throat should stay home for 7 days after the onset of illness or at least 24 hours after symptoms have ended, whichever is longer.
It is important that you keep sick children home from child care, school, or public places like libraries or malls.
The ill person should be kept away from others in the home as much as possible (for example, in a separate bedroom with a separate bathroom). In addition, if possible, only one adult in the home should take care of the ill person (pregnant
women should not care for ill persons). Do not have any visitors to your home.
Caregivers who must have close contact with a person who is infected should spend the least amount of time possible in close contact. It is advisable for a caregiver to wear a N-95 disposable respirator during close contact (but remember that these are not completely protective, especially if the person wearing it has not been fit-tested).
If possible, maintain good ventilation in shared household areas.
Everyone in the household should know the symptoms of H1N1 flu (see #4 above). Everyone in the household should know and follow the information in #7 above about good personal hygiene (like frequent hand washing and covering nose and mouth with tissue when sneeze or cough).

Most of the information in this fact sheet is from:
Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, Academic Health Center, University of Minnesota
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
AFL-CIO Safety and Health