AUBURN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) What You Should Know

• AUBURN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
• October 20, 2009
• Materials provided by the Massachusetts
  Department of Public Health - September 24, 2009

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This presentation includes

• What is influenza (flu)?
• How is flu spread?
• What is a flu pandemic?
• What is H1N1 flu?
• How to care for someone with flu
• How to prevent the spread of flu

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What is flu?

• A disease of the bodys breathing system,
  including the nose, mouth, windpipe and
  lungs.
• Caused by a virus.

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What are the symptoms of flu?

• Sudden onset of fever (usually high)
• Dry cough
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Extreme tiredness
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle aches
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can also occur but
  are more common in children than adults.

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How does flu spread?

• Flu virus is in the wet spray
  that comes out of the mouth and nose when we
  cough or sneeze.
• Mostly spread person to person through coughing,
  sneezing, talking, blowing nose, etc. (wet spray,
  saliva, and mucus).
• Sometimes spread by touching (doorknobs, tables,
  countertops, toys, shaking hands, etc.) and then
  touching our eyes, nose or mouth.

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Colds vs. the Flu
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Seasonal Flu

• In New England, flu season usually begins in late
  fall and peaks in January or February.
• New cases continue into the spring.

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Is seasonal flu a problem in the U.S.?

• 5-20 of U.S. population is infected
• 36,000 deaths in U.S.
• Est. gt 800 deaths in Massachusetts
• 200,000 or more hospitalizations in U.S.
• Est. gt 2,600 hospitalizations in Massachusetts

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Higher Risk for Health Complications

• Children less than 5 yrs of age
• Pregnant women
• Adults 65 yrs of age or older
• People living in nursing homes and long term care
  facilities

• People with asthma, heart disease, diabetes,
  kidney disease, weak immune systems, and children
  and adolescents receiving long-term aspirin
  therapy

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Treatment for Flu

• Prescription medicines
• Tamiflu (oseltamivir)
• Relenza (zanamivir)
• Over the counter medicines
• Taken by people who are sick with flu to help
  bring their fever down and relieve their pain.

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Flu Prevention

• Vaccine
• Handwashing
• Cough Hygiene
• Social Distancing

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Caring for Someone Who Has the Flu
English Spanish Portuguese Chinese Vietnamese Hait
ian Creole Russian Arabic Khmer
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Discussion Questions

• Someone sneezes right into Johns face! If the
  person sneezing has influenza and John catches
  it, how long does it take for John to develop
  symptoms?
• Is it possible to spread flu before you even know
  you have a respiratory illness?
• How long are most sick people able to spread the
  flu to other people?

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Flu virus is always changing

• Minor changes happen all the time
• Reason why seasonal flu vaccine is updated each
  year
• Major changes happen less often
• May cause a pandemic!

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What is a pandemic?

• The spread of a disease worldwide, or over a very
  large area
• Usually affects many people
• Caused by a new strain of the flu virus
• Because the virus is new, almost no one is
  protected - all who catch it may get sick!

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1918 Influenza Pandemic
Most deadly outbreak of infectious disease ever

• 20 - 40 million or more died worldwide, 500,000
  in U.S.
• 20 - 40 of population sick
• Quick to kill, especially healthy young adults

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1957 and 1968 Influenza Pandemics

• 1957 Asian Flu
• 70,000 Americans died
• 1968 Hong Kong Flu
• 34,000 Americans died

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2009 Influenza Pandemic

• Over 1,000,000 infected in U.S. (thru 7/09)
• 5000 hospitalized
• Over 300 deaths

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H1N1 Flu Timeline
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2009 H1N1 (Swine Flu) Pandemic
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Is this the Swine Flu culprit?
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H1N1 Flu

• Disease of bodys breathing system much like
  seasonal flu.
• Caused by a new virus
• Symptoms and spread very similar to
  seasonal flu.

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Symptoms of H1N1 Flu

• Similar to seasonal flu
• sudden fever
• cough
• sore throat
• headache, body aches
• chills
• fatigue
• Diarrhea, vomiting and shortness of breath
  reported more often than with seasonal flu

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Spread of H1N1 Flu

• Mostly spread person to person through coughing,
  sneezing, talking, blowing nose, etc. (wet
  sprays, saliva and mucus)
• Sometimes spread by touching (doorknobs, tables,
  countertops, toys, shaking hands, etc.) and then
  touching our eyes, nose or mouth.

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H1N1 Cases in U.S. 4/25/09 7/10/09
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H1N1 Cases in the U. S. by Age Group, as of
7-24-09
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Key Points About H1N1 Flu

• Most infected people have mild illness and get
  better without medicine.
• Severe illness and death have occurred in a small
  number of cases.
• Younger age groups are most affected.
• Adults over 60 yrs. of age may have some
  protection from the new H1N1 virus.

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Treatment for Flu

• Prescription medicines
• Tamiflu (oseltamivir)
• Relenza (zanamivir)
• Over the counter medicines
• Given to people who are sick with flu to help
  bring their fever down and relieve their pain.

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Flu Prevention

• Vaccines
• Social Distancing
• Handwashing
• Cough Hygiene

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Vaccines for H1N1 Flu

• Getting vaccine is the best way to protect
  yourself from the flu!
• You need seasonal vaccine and H1N1 vaccine.
• Both vaccines will be ready this fall (2009).
• Priority groups for H1N1 vaccine are based on
  risk for infection.
• Children under 10 years of age will probably
  require 2 doses of H1N1 vaccine.

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Vaccine Safety

• H1N1 vaccine in U.S. will be made by 5
  manufacturers licensed by the FDA.
• H1N1 vaccine is made and tested the same way as
  seasonal flu vaccine.
• Flu vaccine is safe for most people.
• Safety of H1N1 vaccine will be carefully watched.

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Priority Groups for H1N1 Vaccine

• All pregnant women
• Everyone 6 months through 24 years of age
• People who live with or care for children younger
  than 6 months of age
• Healthcare and emergency services personnel,
• People aged 25 through 64 years who are at high
  risk of complications from flu

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Handwashing

• Use warm running water.
• Lather with soap.
• Scrub between fingers for 20 seconds.
• Rinse with water.
• Dry thoroughly with a clean dry towel or paper
  towel.
• Turn off faucet with towel.

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Cough Etiquette

• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough and
  sneeze.
• Throw away used tissues.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

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Flu Prevention in the Community

• Stay home when sick!
• At least 24 hours after your fever is gone
• Applies to camps, schools, businesses, etc.
• Applies to all people with flu like illness, even
  if taking antiviral medicines
• Social distancing
• Avoid group activities/events
• Depending on severity
• Adapted work schedules
• Cancellation of public events
• School closure (dismissal)

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Personal Flu Prevention

• Get a seasonal flu shot every year!
• Get an H1N1 flu shot this year.
• Wash your hands use hand sanitizer.
• Practice cough etiquette.
• Stay 3-6 feet away from people who are coughing
  and sneezing.
• Ask your doctor if you need pneumococcal vaccine.

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Flu Care at Home Materials
English Spanish Portuguese Chinese Vietnamese Hait
ian Creole Russian Arabic Khmer
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Flu Care at Home
Most cases of H1N1 Flu can be cared for at home

• Use fever reducing medicines
• Drink fluids water, juice, soup, broth, Gatorade
  (adults), Pedialite (children), no caffeine or
  alcohol
• Keep room comfortable and use humidifier
• Get out of bed 2 or 3 times a day
• Get plenty of rest
• Eat well
• Avoid close contact with others until symptoms
  resolve
• Check with health care provider about special
  care and medications.

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Cleaning at Home

• Clean dishes and laundry with hot water and soap.
• Clean frequently touched surfaces (bathrooms,
  tabletops, countertops, doorknobs, toys) with a
  regular household cleaner.
• It is very difficult to keep these types of
  surfaces free of virus, which is why washing
  hands is so important.

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Do you need a mask?

• Not usually needed in community settings
• Sick people may wear masks when close to other
  people
• breastfeeding a baby
• waiting in a doctors office or emergency room
• waiting in the school nurses office
• Caregivers may choose to wear masks when in close
  contact with a sick person.

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Planning Ahead for Flu

• Make a personal/family plan http//www.flu.gov
• Talk to others in your family, workplace, and
  community about flu planning
• Consider becoming a Citizen Corps Volunteer in
  your community http//www.citizencorps.gov/

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MDPH FluWebsite for

• General Public
• Parents
• Schools and Colleges
• Providers
• Special risk groups
• Businesses

mass.gov/flu
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Resources for Novel H1N1 Flu

• Mass 211 dial 211
• Massachusetts Department of Public Health
  www.mass.gov/flu
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  http//www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
• U.S. Department of Health Human Services
  http//www.flu.gov/

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Flu? If we but knew The cause of flu And whence
it came and what to do, I think that you And we
folks, too, Would hardly get in such a stew. Do
you? Illinois Health news, vol. 9,
November 1918