What is (swine flu)?

How does 2009 H1N1 virus spread?

Can 2009 H1N1 flu virus be spread through water in swimming pools or through food?

There has never been a documented case of influenza virus infection associated with water exposure. Recreational water that has been treated at recommended disinfectant levels does not likely pose a risk for transmission of influenza viruses.

2009 H1N1 viruses are not spread by food.

What are the signs and symptoms of this virus in people?

Influenza viruses infect the human upper respiratory tract.
The symptoms of 2009 H1N1 flu virus include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea.
Illness with 2009 H1N1 virus has ranged from mild to severe and may cause death in cases associated with pneumonia.

What should I do if I have a fever? 

Fever can be one of the symptoms of a flu-like illness for many people. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) should not be given to children or teenagers who have flu, this can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s syndrome.

• If you are sick with flu-like illness,stay at home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone.
  
  
• Consult your physician
  
  
• Take paracetamole
  
  
• Take plenty of  fluids
  
  
• Keep your room well aerated

How long can an infected person spread this virus to others?

People infected with seasonal and 2009 H1N1 flu shed virus and may be able to infect others from 1 day before getting sick to 5 to 7 days after.

Can I get 2009 H1N1 more than once?

It's not likely that a person would be infected with the identical influenza virus more than once.

What are the everyday steps to protect your health?

• 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
•  If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people

Pandemic Influenza Vaccine

How is the vaccine given?

Some vaccines contain inactivated (or killed) viruses given by injection.
Another type of vaccine is made with live viruses, and is administered by nasal spray.

Can the pandemic influenza vaccine be administered simultaneously with other vaccines?

Inactivated influenza vaccine can be given at the same time with other injectable vaccines, but the vaccines should be administered at different injection sites.

Is there a risk of catching illness from the vaccine itself?

Inactivated vaccines contain killed viruses or parts of viruses, which cannot cause disease. But the vaccine can cause some mild flu-like side effects (e.g. muscle ache, fever) of short duration.

Why do some people who have been vaccinated still get influenza?

No vaccines, including pandemic influenza vaccines, provide 100% protection against disease. But they do greatly reduce the risk of disease. Also, influenza vaccines only become effective about 14 days after vaccination. Those infected shortly before
(1 to 3 days) or shortly after immunization can still get the disease.

Vaccinated individuals can also get influenza caused by a different strain of influenza virus, for which the vaccine does not provide protection.

Should people continue to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza?

Who will have priority for vaccination?

Health workers are given the priority for early vaccination to protect themselves and their patients. Other groups include pregnant women; those aged above 6 months with one of several chronic medical conditions; healthy young adults of 15 to 49 years of age; healthy children; healthy adults of 50 to 64 years of age; and healthy adults of 65 years of age and above.

Who should not have the inactivated pandemic vaccine?

Inactivated vaccines should not be administered to:

• People with a history of hypersenstivity reactions, or other life-threatening allergic reactions to any of the constituents of the vaccine;
• History of a severe reaction to previous influenza vaccination;
• People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine;
• Children less than 6 months of age
• Moderate-to-severe illness with a fever

What about safety for pregnant women?
To date, studies do not show harmful effects from the pandemic influenza vaccine with respect to pregnancy, fertility, or a developing embryo or fetus.

Recent studies show that infected pregnant women have a 10 times higher chance to require hospitalization in intensive care units than infected persons in the general population. The benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks.

What are the expected side effects of the new vaccine?

Inactivated vaccines, administered by injection, commonly cause local reactions such as soreness, swelling and redness at the injection site, and less often can cause fever, muscle- or joint- aches or headache. These symptoms are generally mild; do not need medical attention, and last 1 to 2 days. Fever, aches and headaches can occur more frequently in children compared to elderly people.

Rarely, such influenza vaccines can cause allergic reactions such as hives, rapid swelling of deeper skin layers and tissues, asthma or a severe multi-system allergic reactions due to hypersensitivity to certain vaccine components.