How to protect yourself from Swine Influenza [Influenza A (H1N1)]:
You have a role in protecting yourself and your family.
Take these 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, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
Do not go to work or school if you are sick. CDC recommends that you limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
If you are sick, do not go to work or school.
Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
If you don’t have one yet, consider developing a family emergency plan as a precaution. This should include storing a supply of extra food, medicines, facemasks and other essential supplies.
Recommendation regarding Mexico Travel·
We are recommending that people avoid non-essential travel to Mexico at this time.
If you must travel to Mexico, there are steps you should take to reduce your risk of infection.·Visit http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel for the latest information on travel.
H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu): Information for Concerned Parents and Caregivers
What is H1N1 Flu?
H1N1 is a type of influenza (flu) virus that causes respiratory disease that can spread between people. Most people infected with this virus in the United States have had mild disease, but some have had more severe illness, and there has been at least one death. Young children, pregnant women, and people with chronic diseases like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease may be at higher risk for complications from this infection. More information about who may be at higher risk will be available when more is known about the disease. There are steps you can take to protect your family and to know when to seek medical care.
What are the symptoms?
In most children, the symptoms of H1N1 flu are similar to the symptoms of regular flu. They include:
Fever
Cough
Sore throat
Body aches
Headache
Chills and fatigue
Occasionally, vomiting and diarrhea
Young children may not have typical symptoms, but may have difficulty breathing and low activity. Little is known about how H1N1 may affect children. However, we think the infection may be similar to other flu infections. Typically, flu infections cause mild disease in children, but children under 5 years old are more likely to have serious illness than older children. Although rare, severe respiratory illness (pneumonia) and deaths have been reported with flu infections in children. Flu infections tend to be more severe in children with chronic medical conditions.
How to keep from getting it:
Flu viruses spread from person to person mainly through the coughing or sneezing of a sick person. Flu virus may also be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with the virus and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. We think H1N1 flu spreads the same way as other flu viruses. Right now, there is no vaccine to protect against H1N1 flu, but there are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like H1N1 flu:
Teach your children to wash their hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds. Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself.
Teach your children to cough and sneeze into a tissue or into the inside of their elbow. Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself.
Teach your children to stay at least six feet away from people who are sick.
Children who are sick should stay home from school and daycare and stay away from other people until they are better.
In communities where H1N1 flu has occurred, stay away from shopping malls, movie theaters, or other places where there are large groups of people.
What to do if your child is sick:
Unless they need medical attention, keep children who are sick at home. Don’t send them to school or daycare.
Have them drink a lot of liquid (juice, water, Pedialyte ®).
Keep the sick child comfortable. Rest is important.
For fever, sore throat, and muscle aches, you can use fever-reducing medicines that your doctor recommends based on your child’s age. Do not use aspirin with children or teenagers; it can cause Reye’s syndrome, a life-threatening illness.
If someone in your home is sick, keep him or her away from those who are not sick.
Keep tissues close to the sick person and have a trash bag within reach for disposing used tissues. If your child comes in contact with someone with H1N1 flu, ask your doctor if he or she should receive antiviral medicines to prevent getting sick from H1N1 Flu. If your child experiences any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care:
Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish or gray skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that he or she does not want to be held
Not urinating or no tears when crying
Their symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough For more information call 1-800-CDC INFO, or go to http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1
washing hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol-based hand gel; use soap and water and wash long enough to sing Happy Birthday twice. If you don’t have soap and water, use alcohol-based hand cleaner.
staying away from people who are sick, if possible.
What you should do if schools are dismissed or daycare centers are closed?
If you have children, make plans for their care if officials close schools or daycare centers. Schools may be closed for as long as 14 days.
Do not plan to bring children to your workplace.
Plan learning activities and recreational activities that your children can do at home.
Restrict your children’s social contacts and being around with other children.
If limiting all outside contact is not be possible, consider developing a support system with co-workers, friends, other family members, or neighbors to continue childcare and social events. For example, two to three families may work together to supervise and provide care for a small group of infants and young children while their parents are at work. Studies suggest that childcare group size of less than six children may be associated with fewer respiratory infections.
What you should do if you become sick?
Be prepared to stay home if you develop flu symptoms for seven days after the start of illness or at least 24 hours after you no longer have symptoms, whichever is longer. Call your doctor by telephone, or other remote means, before going to the clinic, doctor’s office, or hospital.
In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting
If you must leave home and go into a crowd, wear a facemask to reduce spreading the virus. If a facemask is unavailable, use tissues to cover any coughing.
Other steps you can take if you feel sick are to:
stay home as soon as you feel sick;
ask your doctor about antiviral medicines;
not attend public events.
Family members and caregivers should:
isolate sick people in hospitals, homes, or other facilities;
be prepared for schools closings and workplace closings as needed;
