What is H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu)?

H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza that regularly cause outbreaks of influenza among pigs. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans, however, human infections with swine flu do occur, and cases of human-to-human spread of swine flu viruses has been documented. See General Information about Swine Flu.

What Are The Symptoms of H1N1 Influenza?

• Fever greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.8 degrees Celsius
• Body aches
• Coughing
• Sore throat
• Respiratory congestion
• In some cases, diarrhea and vomiting

What Local Communities Can Do

• Do NOT go to the Emergency Room unless you are experiencing an immediate medical emergency.
• CALL your doctor if you are having the symptoms listed above. The doctor will determine if you should come into the office.
• At the local level, no schools have been closed due to this outbreak. One home-based, daycare service was closed after three cases were identified.
• Community-level social distancing efforts to slow the spread of disease will be in an important tool at our disposal against this H1N1 influenza outbreak.
• Simply put ‘social distancing’ is a way of ‘keeping our distance’ from each other to lessen the spread of flu.
• Communities and businesses may want to consider measures that can promote reducing exposure like requiring students or employees with symptoms to remain at home for at least seven days, teleworking, offering masks for persons with a cough at medical facilities, and other measures to reduce possible exposure.

Public Awareness & Tips

There is no vaccine available right now to protect against this virus, but we have begun the process to get a vaccine developed.

We do have antiviral medications in our arsenal against flu.

Influenza antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that act against influenza viruses, including the H1N1 influenza virus.

In addition to being in our stockpile, it also should be noted that these drugs are available commercially, since they are routinely used in the treatment of seasonal influenza.

We will be using antiviral drugs mainly to treat infection with this virus.

People should not attempt to create a personal stockpile of these drugs by requesting prescriptions for persons who have not been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus or the “normal” flu virus.

There are two influenza antiviral medications that are recommended for use against H1N1 influenza. These are oseltamivir (trade name Tamiflu ®) and zanamivir (Relenza ®).

Influenza antiviral drugs work best when started soon after illness onset (within two 2 days), but treatment with antiviral drugs should still be considered after 48 hours of symptom onset, particularly for hospitalized patients or people at high risk for influenza-related complications.

You have a role in protecting yourself and your family.

Alerts

May 6, 2009 : Health Daily News
H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu): A Primer

Dr. Charles Ericsson, head of clinical infectious disease at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston, spoke to HealthDay about what scientists know right now about the swine flu outbreak.
read more

May 1, 2009
The CDC Web site provides latest info on H1N1 flu (swine flu)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in 11 states and several countries. Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of infection and whether additional people have been infected with the virus.

The CDC Web site includes up-to-date clinical guidelines, resources and news to help physicians and the public disseminate the most recent information about swine flu infections. These guidelines, developed by the CDC, include the use of masks, respirators and antiviral medications; infection control; and case identification. The AMA continues to work with the CDC to monitor swine flu developments closely and will post additional resources on these developments as they become available.

If you would like to receive free, automatic e-mail updates from the CDC as new information becomes available, visit the CDC Web site to subscribe.

May 1, 2009
Media Inquiries: Christopher Kelly, 301-796-4676
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

FDA, FTC Warn Public of Fraudulent 2009 H1N1 Influenza Products
Offending web sites and illegal activity targeted for action

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission are alerting the public to be wary of Internet sites and other promotions for products that claim to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat or cure the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. The agencies are also advising operators of offending web sites that they must take prompt action to correct and/or remove promotions of these fraudulent products or face enforcement action.

April 29, 2009
Swine Flu One Step Closer to Pandemic
Swine flu has pushed the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise its pandemic alert level to phase 5, which means that a pandemic is imminent. It's the second time in a week that the WHO has raised its pandemic alert level, which ranges from phase 1 (low risk of a pandemic) to phase 6 (a full-blown pandemic is under way). [read more] Medscape Medical News, April 29, 2009

Swine Flu Alert Center
For Physicians and Health Care Professionals
Stay up to date and be prepared with the latest news, clinical perspectives, and reference material for clinicians on the swine influenza outbreak from Medscape from WebMD and eMedicine.