General Information about the H1N1 Flu

Novel influenza A (H1N1) is a new flu virus of swine origin that first caused illness in Mexico and the United States in March and April 2009. It is thought that H1N1 flu spreads in the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread, mainly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick with the virus, but it may also be spread by touching infected objects and then touching your nose or mouth. Novel H1N1 infection has been reported to cause a wide range of flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. In addition, many people also have reported nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea.

The first novel H1N1 patient in the United States was confirmed by laboratory testing at Centers for Disease Control on April 15, 2009. The second patient was confirmed on April 17, 2009. It was quickly determined that the virus was spreading from person-to-person. On April 22, CDC activated its Emergency Operations Center to better coordinate the public health response. On April 26, 2009, the United States Government declared a public health emergency and has been actively and aggressively implementing the nation's pandemic response plan

By June 19, 2009, all 50 states in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have reported novel H1N1 infection. While nationwide U.S. influenza surveillance systems indicate that overall influenza activity is decreasing in the country at this time, novel H1N1 outbreaks are ongoing in parts of the U.S., in some cases with intense activity.

Currently, the World Health Organization considers the overall severity of the influenza pandemic to be moderate. This determination is based upon scientific evidence available to the WHO, as well as input from its Member States on the pandemic's impact on their health systems, and their social and economic functioning.

The moderate assessment reflects that:

1. Most people recover from infection without the need for hospitalization or medical care.
2. Overall, national levels of severe illness from novel influenza A (H1N1) appear similar to levels seen during local seasonal influenza periods, although high levels of disease have occurred in some local areas and institutions.
3. Overall, hospitals and health care systems in most countries have been able to cope with the numbers of people seeking care, although some facilities and systems have been stressed in some localities.

Spread of the H1N1 Flu

Spread of novel H1N1 flue virus in people is thought to occur in the same way that the seasonal flu spreads.  Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through cough or sneezing by people with influenza.  Sometimes people may become infested by touching something - such as a surface or object - with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. 

Studies have shown that influenza virus can survive on environmental surfaces and can infect a person for 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on the surface. 

People infected with seasonal and novel H1N1 flu may be able to infect others from 1 day before getting sick to 5 to 7 days after.  This can be longer in some people, especially children and people with weakened immune systems. 

Prevention of the H1N1 Flu:

The following everyday steps are recommended to protect against the H1N1 Flu:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze; dispose of the tissue immediately.
• If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or upper sleeve.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing.
• Use alcohol based hand sanitizers/anti-bacterials if soap and water are unavailable (solution must be at least 60% alcohol).
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Maintain a 6 ft. distance from anyone exhibiting flu-like symptoms.
• If you are experiencing flu symptoms, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever has resolved without taking a fever-reducing medication.
• If you are experiencing flu symptoms, avoid contact with others and maintain a 6 ft. distance from other members of your household.
• Although the family members of an H1N1 flu sufferer are not restricted from school or work, it is essential that those family members monitor themselves closely for flu-like illness.  Any family member with a fever or flu-like symptoms should remain at home until symptoms have subsided for a 24 hour period without the use of fever-reducing medication. 

Symptoms and Severity of H1N1 Flu

The symptoms of novel H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.

Illness with the new H1N1 virus has ranged from mild to severe. While most people who have been sick have recovered without needing medical treatment, hospitalizations and deaths from infection with this virus have occurred.

In seasonal flu, certain people are at “high risk” of serious complications. This includes people 65 years and older, children younger than five years old, pregnant women, and people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions. About 70 percent of people who have been hospitalized with this novel H1N1 virus have had one or more medical conditions previously recognized as placing people at “high risk” of serious seasonal flu-related complications. This includes pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease, asthma and kidney disease.

One thing that appears to be different from seasonal influenza is that adults older than 64 years do not yet appear to be at increased risk of novel H1N1-related complications thus far. CDC laboratory studies have shown that no children and very few adults younger than 60 years old have existing antibody to novel H1N1 flu virus; however, about one-third of adults older than 60 may have antibodies against this virus. It is unknown how much, if any, protection may be afforded against novel H1N1 flu by any existing antibody.