Matthew Deslauriers's List: H1N1

• For flu treatment: When taken within two days of experiencing symptoms, TAMIFLU works by helping to stop the flu virus from spreading inside the body
• For flu prevention: When you have been exposed to someone with the flu, taking TAMIFLU can help keep the virus from making you sick
• TAMIFLU is not a substitute for the flu shot; vaccination is the first line of defense for flu protection.

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• It is likely that swine influenza A (H1N1) virus has been evolving in Mexico for 10 years or so, picking up genes from “human”, “avian”, and “pig” viruses. It probably first infected humans along the USA/Mexican border in December 2008.  It is likely that the Mexican epidemic began in January 2009 but remained undetected until April when scientists recognized that a new virus, different from the circulating H3N2 seasonal strain, was active in the community. At the same time, cases had also been detected in the US, and the potential for a pandemic was appreciated.

• You need two vaccines to be fully protected this year. The seasonal flu vaccine is different from the H1N1 flu vaccine. The CDC is encouraging people to get both vaccinations. More…
• The seasonal vaccine is not expected to protect against the H1N1 flu and the H1N1 flu vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine. Each protects against a different virus and is intended to be used along-side the other.
• It is anticipated that seasonal flu and H1N1 flu vaccines may be administered on the same day.
• Individuals are encouraged to get both vaccines as soon as possible.
• Young adults 19 through 24 years of age because there have been many cases of H1N1 flu in these healthy young adults and they often live, work, and study in close proximity, and they are a frequently mobile population.

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• H1N1 flu is NOT caused by eating pork or pork products. H1N1 flu is not a foodborne disease, it is a respiratory disease. The USDA continues to remind consumers that all meat and poultry products are safe to eat when properly prepared and cooke

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Stay home if you are sick until at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100°F or 37.8°C) or signs of a fever (without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®). Read detailed information about how long to stay away from others.
• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.

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• What's the single most efficient way to catch H1N1 swine  flu?

   

  OK, that's a no-brainer. Having a sick person cough directly into your face cannot be a good thing.
• Touching something contaminated with flu virus and then touching your nose, mouth, or eyes with your unwashed hand gives you a 31% chance at getting sick, Nicas and Jones calculate.
• Touching a surface contaminated with virus and then touching your face.
• Breathing in tiny droplets containing flu virus dispersed in the air.
• Breathing in medium-size droplets containing flu virus, which do not travel as far or hang in the air as long as tiny droplets.
• Having large droplets deposited directly onto your facial membranes.

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• Two strains of flu, seasonal flu and the H1N1 (Swine) flu, are currently circulating in the United States.
• Flu symptoms may include fever, coughing, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches, body aches, chills and fatigue.
• In a typical year, approximately 5 to 20 percent of the population gets the seasonal flu and approximately 36,000 flu-related deaths are reported.

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