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CO HELP 1
Influenza and Pneumonia FAQs
H1N1 Influenza V. 1.09
September 10, 2009
What is swine flu?
Swine influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses. Outbreaks of swine flu happen regularly in pigs. Humans do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Most commonly, human cases of swine flu happen in people who are around pigs often, such as meat processors, but it’s possible for swine flu viruses to spread from person to person. (See FAQ SNFLDS15 for information about how H1N1 is different from Swine flu).
Is the novel H1N1 flu virus contagious?
Yes. This virus is very contagious and appears to be spreading from human to human more easily than the typical seasonal flu.
What are the symptoms of novel H1N1 flu in people?
The symptoms of the new H1N1 flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular flu and include:
•Fever
•Cough
•Sore throat
•Body aches
•Headache
•Chills
•Fatigue
•Some people also have diarrhea.
In the past, severe illness, including pneumonia and respiratory failure, and deaths have been reported with H1N1 virus infections in people. Like seasonal flu, the H1N1 flu may make underlying chronic medical conditions worse.
How do you catch novel H1N1 flu?
The new H1N1 flu can spread in two ways:
•Through close contact with infected animals or environments contaminated with H1N1 flu viruses.
•Through contact with a person with H1N1 flu. Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
Are there medicines to treat novel H1N1 flu?
Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) to treatment H1N1 influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).
How long can an infected person spread novel H1N1 flu to others?
People with H1N1 influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they have symptoms and possibly for up to 7 days. Children, especially younger children, might be contagious for longer periods.
I got my seasonal flu shot. Am I protected from the novel H1N1 flu?
Probably not. Until the research is complete, we don’t know whether the 2009-2010 seasonal flu vaccine will provide protection. Because this is a different strain of flu, scientists think that the seasonal flu vaccination will not protect people from the novel H1N1 virus.
Is there a vaccine for the novel H1N1 virus?
The Centers for Disease Control and their federal partners are working on developing a vaccine for the new virus. The earliest that we will be able to get the H1N1 vaccination is late October.
Is it possible to have been tested and confirmed to have novel H1N1 influenza and then have it a second time?
We don’t know enough about novel H1N1 (and the immune response to it) to say for sure. For most viral infections, we are immune to re-infection. If someone has symptoms of the flu, he or she should be treated as others with influenza-like illness.
What is the incubation period for the novel H1N1 (H1N1 flu) virus?
The typical incubation period for seasonal influenza is 2 to 5 days. This means that you could begin showing symptoms of the flu within 2 days of being around someone who is sick. The incubation period for the H1N1 virus is not known at this time though CDC is recommending that people monitor their health for 7 days after exposure to the virus.
If I’ve already had the H1N1 flu this year, can I get it again?
•The short answer is “probably not,” but the H1N1 virus is new and research is being conducted to better understand its characteristics. Most of what we can advise is based on our knowledge of other flu viruses.
•It is important to understand that flu viruses undergo frequent changes during an outbreak.
•In general, exposure to a particular strain of flu virus will protect you against that specific strain in the future. However, it will not protect you from infection by other flu virus strains.
•It is possible for a person to be infected with the seasonal flu virus more than one time in a season, because several strains of flu virus circulate each year.
What is the novel influenza A H1N1?
The H1N1 that so many people are talking about this year is a new virus (“novel”) that began to spread among people in the spring of 2009. While it originally was called “swine flu,” this virus is actually a combination of viruses originating in humans, birds and pigs.
What are the effects of the H1N1 flu? How long will they last?
•It is expected that most people will recover without needing medical care.
•If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact your health care provider for advice. Your health care provider will determine whether flu testing or treatment is needed.
•The symptoms of novel H1N1 flu in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu. They include:
��fever,
��lethargy (lack of energy),
��lack of appetite, and
��coughing.
•Some people with novel H1N1 flu have also reported:
��runny nose,
��sore throat,
��nausea,
��vomiting, and
��diarrhea.
•Like seasonal flu, novel H1N1 flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe.
��Severe disease with pneumonia (a lung infection), respiratory failure and even death is possible with novel H1N1 flu infection.
��Certain groups might be more likely to develop a severe illness from novel H1N1 flu infection, such as persons with chronic medical conditions.
��Sometimes bacterial infections may occur at the same time as flu or after infection with flu and lead to pneumonia, ear infection or sinus infection.
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