H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu) Information
Prevention & Treatment
| NOTE: Elizabethtown College has registered to provide the H1N1 vaccine on campus. The college community will be notified if we receive a shipment. (Click here for information on off-campus availability for targeted groups.) |
Click any of the following questions,
or scroll down the page:
What is it?
How can you catch it?
What are the symptoms?
Treatment is for symptomatic relief
When to seek medical help
How to prevent it
Keep up your resistance
Vaccination
**TEST YOUR FLU I.Q.**
What is it?
This year we will be faced with both the seasonal influenza as well as the novel H1N1 (Swine) influenza A. Both are similar in symptoms and treatment. The greatest risk is to pregnant women and those with underlying medical problems such as diabetes or asthma.
Both are a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus. Once it starts to spread, up to HALF the people in the community can become infected. Flu epidemics usually last from 4 to 6 weeks. The novel H1N1 is expected to arrive in waves. [To Top]
How can you catch it?
The virus is easily spread from person to person by direct and indirect contact.
Direct - When an infected person coughs or sneezes, droplets are released into the air.
Indirect - When an infected person uses towels, glasses, telephones, etc. and you use these items that are infected with the virus.
An infected person can spread the flu for about a week following the beginning of the first symptoms. Symptoms can appear 1 to 4 days after exposure. The severity depends on the virus and the individual. [To Top]
What are the symptoms?
Onset is sudden: it is sometimes described as having "been hit by a truck", symptoms include:
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High Fever
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Chills
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Painful, dry cough
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Muscle and joint pain
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Headache
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Extreme tiredness and weakness
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Occasionally stuffy nose and sore throat
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Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can also occur but are more common in children than adults
Bed rest and fluids are important for recovery and containment. Symptoms can last for a few days or up to 2 weeks.
The influenza virus is easily spread so hand washing and covering a cough are the two most effective ways to limit the spread of the virus.
For more information visit the Center for Disease Control [To Top]
Treatment is for symptomatic relief
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Rest
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Drink fluids
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Try a cough suppressant especially at night
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Use a humidifier, which decreases the discomfort of the dry cough
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Keep warm
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Eat nutritious meals
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Take Tylenol for fever and body aches.
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Avoid smoking [To Top]
When to seek medical help
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If you have a chronic medical condition it is important that you see doctor at the earliest signs of symptoms.
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If you have a very high fever >101 degrees
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If your cough produces sputum (phlegm) and/or is keeping you up at night despite taking medication
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Shortness of Breath or chest tightness/pain
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Anti-viral medications are recommended for hospitalized patients with confirmed, probable or suspected novel influenza (H1N1) and persons who have underlying medica andl conditions or are at risk for seasonal influenza complications [To Top]
How to prevent it
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Cover your cough or cough in your sleeve
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Frequent hand washing
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Place infected tissues in a paper bag and change bag frequently
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Avoid rubbing your eyes or touching your nose or mouth
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Avoid contact with persons who are sick and wash your hands after suspected contact
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If you get sick stay home from work or school and limit contact with others [To Top]
Keep up your resistance
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Eat a well-balanced diet
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Get plenty of sleep
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Avoid stress, it lower your resistance
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Exercise regularly
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Don't smoke, it damages air passages making them more vulnerable to the virus
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Keep indoor humidity up, low humidity dries out nasal passages [To Top]
Vaccination
Get the seasonal flu shot as well as the novel H1N1 vaccine when they become available.
To learn more about H1N1 flu and the CDC investigation, please visit the CDC Swine Flu Web site .
The CDC provides transcripts of teleconference briefings on the public health investigation of swine influenza. Please visit: www.cdc.gov/swineflu/press to read recent posting of teleconference transcripts.
The World Health Organization has also posted information on the J1N1 virus.
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