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Frequently Asked Questions For Schools and Child-Care Centers For Growers and Migrant Workers
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2009 Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Frequently Asked Questions General information
What are the signs and symptoms of H1N1
influenza?
How is H1N1 influenza spread? The main way that influenza viruses are thought to spread is from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. This can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person are propelled through the air and deposited on the mouth or nose of people nearby. Influenza viruses may also be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets on another person or an object and then touches their own mouth or nose (or someone else’s mouth or nose) before washing their hands. Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick.
How severe is illness associated
with 2009 H1N1 flu virus?
How long can an infected person spread this
virus to others?
How long can influenza virus remain viable
on objects (such as books and doorknobs)?
Can I get infected with 2009 H1N1 virus
from eating or preparing pork?
Can you get flu from drinking water or swimming pools? Chlorinated tap water and swimming pool water does not put you at risk for flu. To date, we don’t know of anyone who has acquired flu from drinking water or from a swimming pool.
H1N1 vaccine How many doses of the H1N1 vaccine will I need? Healthy adults and children 10 and older will need only one dose of vaccine. Those age 9 and under will need two doses 21-28 days apart. It’s also fine to get the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 shot at the same time. It is true that if you get the nasal spray form of the vaccine, you need to wait three to four weeks before getting another nasal spray vaccine.
Can I get the seasonal shot and the H1N1 shot at the same time? It is fine to get the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 shot at the same time. It is true that if you get the nasal spray form of the vaccine, you need to wait three to four weeks before getting another nasal spray vaccine.
Will the seasonal flu vaccine also protect me against H1N1? The seasonal flu vaccine is not expected to protect against the H1N1 flu.
Will I be able to get the H1N1 vaccine if I can’t afford it? The federal government has purchased the H1N1 vaccine and is providing it to the states free of charge. This is different in many places from the seasonal flu vaccine. Public vaccination clinics (sponsored by local health departments at schools or other places) will offer vaccine at no charge. Some private providers may charge a small fee to administer the vaccine, but cost should not be a barrier to getting immunized. Many, many people and businesses have stepped up to the public health challenge we all face and are working together for the overall public good to make this vaccine free – or at least affordable – for all those who want it.
Is the H1N1 vaccine safe? Clinical trials conducted by the National Institutes of Health and the vaccine manufacturers have shown that the new H1N1 vaccine is both safe and effective. The FDA has licensed it. There have been no safety shortcuts. It is produced exactly the same way the seasonal flu vaccine is produced every year. It is simply a new virus strain. In fact, had H1N1 struck this country earlier than this spring, the H1N1 strain probably would have been included as part of this year’s seasonal flu shot. Millions of Americans get the seasonal flu vaccine each year without any problems. Still, understanding that some Americans have concerns about “new” vaccines, the National Institutes of Health and the vaccine manufacturers have conducted more rigorous tests on the H1N1 vaccine than they do on other flu vaccines, and there have been no red flags from these clinical trials. Also, CDC has stepped up surveillance efforts to track the H1N1 vaccine and any possible adverse events. Since it is so closely related to the seasonal flu vaccine, we do not expect to see serious side effects. But we are taking all the necessary steps to promote and monitor safety. Our top doctors and scientists believe the risk of the flu, especially for pregnant women, children, and people with underlying health conditions, is higher than any risk that might come from the H1N1 vaccine.
Is it safe for children and pregnant women to get a vaccine that contains thimerosal? It is safe for children and pregnant women to receive a flu vaccine that contains thimerosal. Thimerosal is a very effective preservative that has been used since the 1930s to prevent contamination in some multi-dose vials of vaccines. There is no convincing evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site. The 2009-H1N1 influenza vaccines that FDA has licensed will be manufactured in several formulations, including pre-filled, single-dose syringes and nasal sprayers along with multi-dose vials. Only multi-dose vials of seasonal influenza vaccine will contain thimerosal to prevent potential contamination after the vial is opened. Single-dose units, however, will not require the use of thimerosal as a preservative. You may request this form of the vaccine if it is available. In addition, the nasal spray version of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine is produced in single-units and will not contain thimerosal.
Prevention What can I do to protect myself from getting sick? There are other everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
If I have a family member at home who is
sick with 2009 H1N1 flu, should I go to work or school?
Will a surgical mask protect me from getting H1N1? Wearing a surgical mask does not protect you from the H1N1 virus. The purpose of a surgical mask is to protect other people from your germs. If you have access to surgical masks, the best thing to do is to ask people with flu-like symptoms to wear a surgical mask when they need to be in close quarters with other people. The mask will absorb their droplets when they cough or sneeze.
Testing for the H1N1 virus
Are there medicines to treat H1N1 infection? Yes. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines 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. The antiviral drugs oseltamivir (trade name Tamiflu ®) and zanamivir (Relenza ®) can be given to those who are severely ill. These medications must be prescribed by a health care professional and are reserved for:
What should I do if I get sick? If you or a member of your family becomes ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people, including avoiding travel and not going to work or school, for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.) If you leave the house to seek medical care, wear a facemask, if available and tolerable, and cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue. If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact your health care provider or seek medical care.
In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Taking care of a sick person in your home The main way that influenza viruses are thought to spread is from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. This can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person are propelled through the air and deposited on the mouth or nose of people nearby. Influenza viruses may also be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets on another person or an object and then touches their own mouth or nose (or someone else’s mouth or nose) before washing their hands. People with novel H1N1 flu who are cared for at home should:
When providing care to a household member who is sick with influenza, the most important ways to protect yourself and others who are not sick are to:
If you are in a high risk group for complications from influenza, you should attempt to avoid close contact (within 6 feet) with household members who are sick with influenza. If close contact with a sick individual is unavoidable, consider wearing a facemask or respirator, if available and tolerable. Infants should not be cared for by sick family members.
Placement of the sick person
If you are the caregiver
Household Cleaning
What surfaces are most likely to be
sources of contamination?
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