Is the 2009 H1N1 Flu done?
No. The CDC reports that, "Flu activity is low nationwide; however small numbers of 2009 H1N1 viruses continue to be reported...April 18-24 , flu activity in the United States declined from last week and is falling across all key flu indicators. Sporadic flu activity, caused by either 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu viruses, may continue throughout the summer in the United States. Internationally, 2009 H1N1 viruses are still circulating, including in the Southern Hemisphere, which is entering its flu season."
What is the latest update on the Novel H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine?
The Orange County Health Care Agency now reports wide vaccine availability. Please contact your doctor's office to find if they have the H1N1 flu vaccine. In addition, some retail pharmacies and outlets are also beginning to receive vaccine. You can use the Flu Vaccine Locator to find a flu shot location near you.
Where else can I go for a seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccine?
St. Joseph Hospital's La Amistad Family Health Center
and Puente a la Salud Mobile Health Clinics
Mondays from 12/7/09 1-4 p.m.
Walk-in H1N1 influenza vaccination clinic; $9.00 charge
353 S. Main St. Santa Ana, 92701
(714) 771-8006 or (714) 744-8801
At St. Joseph Heritage Medical Group, H1N1 vaccines are available for their currently established or new patients during regular office hours by appointment. For more information please visit the St. Joseph Heritage website by clicking here
.
We also recommend checking the Orange County Public Healthcare Agency's flu clinic locator ( please see the bottom of this page) . Please check back for updates, as this information has been changing on a frequent basis.
What about the seasonal flu vaccine - will it protect against the H1N1 Swine flu?
No. However, health experts are urging the community to protect themselves from the flu and its potential complications by obtaining both seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccinations.
Can the seasonal vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine be given at the same time?
Yes, when both vaccines are available.
What is H1N1 Flu?
H1N1 (swine flu) 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 have been some deaths. 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.
What questions should I as my doctor?
Here are a few questions to consider asking your health care provider about flu antivirals
- Do I need antiviral treatment if I have flu symptoms?
- When should I call back if I don’t feel better?
- What do I do if my child is prescribed oseltamivir and can’t swallow capsules?
How widespread and serious is the current outbreak of new influenza A (H1N1) swine flu?
The CDC estimates that 60 milllion Americans were infected with H1N1 between April 2009 and March 2010. There were 41,821 hospitalizations and 2,117 deaths nationwide due to H1N1. Most of these fatalities had underlying medical conditions that placed them at higher risk for severe illness and complications.
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 do I 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 do I do if my 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
What should I do if I or my adult family member gets sick?
If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact your healthcare provider, particularly if you are worried about you or your family’s symptoms. Your healthcare provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.
If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others. If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.
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
According to WHO, the swine flu has been characterized, to date, by the mildness of symptoms in the overwhelming majority of patients, who usually recover, even without medical treatment, within a week of the onset of symptoms.
What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
CDC recommends influenza vaccination as the first and most important step in protecting against the flu. Because sporadic cases of 2009 H1N1 continue to be detected in the United States and 2009 H1N1 viruses are being reported in other parts of the world, CDC continues to encourage 2009 H1N1 vaccination for anyone who wants to protect themselves against 2009 H1N1. Also, it’s possible that the United States could experience early 2009 H1N1 flu activity next season, before seasonal flu vaccine is available. Getting vaccinated against 2009 H1N1 at this time might be especially important for people who are traveling to areas where 2009 H1N1 is occurring, and/or for people who are at higher risk of flu-related complications, but have not yet gotten a 2009 H1N1 vaccine.
Take these everyday steps to protect your health against the H1N1 and other strains of influenza:
- 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.
- If you get sick with influenza, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Will H1N1 affect my travel plans?
Click here for a link to the CDC's flu and travel website.
Who should receive the 2009 H1N1 Vaccine?
The CDC recommends that certain groups of the population receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine when it first becomes available. These target groups include pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old, and people ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.
Will the seasonal flu vaccine also protect against the H1N1 flu?
No, it is not expected to protect against the 2009 H1N1 flu.
How important will influenza A(H1N1) vaccines be for reducing pandemic disease?
Vaccines are one of the most valuable ways to protect people during influenza epidemics and pandemics. Other measures include anti-viral drugs, social distancing and personal hygiene. Health officials expect H1N1 vaccine to be available this fall. For more details from the CDC, please click here.
Can the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine be given at the same time?
The CDC anticipates that seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 vaccines may be administered on the same day. However, you can expect the seasonal vaccine to be available earlier than the H1N1 vaccine. The usual seasonal influenza viruses are still expected to cause illness this fall and winter. Individuals are encouraged to get their seasonal flu vaccine as soon as it is available.
Frequently Asked Questions about Antiviral Drugs from the CDC
What are antiviral drugs?
Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) that fight against the flu in your body. While CDC recommends flu vaccine as the first and most important step in preventing flu, antiviral drugs are a second line of defense against the flu. Antiviral drugs are not sold over-the-counter and are different from antibiotics. You can only get them if you have a prescription from your doctor or health care provider.
What antiviral drugs are recommended this flu season?
There are two antiviral drugs recommended by CDC this season. The brand names for these are Tamiflu® and Relenza® (The generic names for these drugs are oseltamivir and zanamivir). Tamiflu® is available as a pill or liquid and Relenza® is a powder that is inhaled.
Who should take antiviral drugs?
It’s very important that antiviral drugs be used early to treat flu in people who are very sick (for example people who are in the hospital) and people who are sick with flu and have a greater chance of getting serious flu complications. Other people may also be treated with antiviral drugs by their doctor this season. Most healthy people with flu, however, do not need to be treated with antiviral drugs.
What are the benefits of antiviral drugs?
When used for treatment, these drugs can make you feel better and shorten the time you are sick by 1 or 2 days. They can also prevent serious flu complications.
When should antiviral drugs be taken for treatment?
Studies have shown that flu antiviral drugs work best for treatment if they are started within 2 days of getting sick. There may still be benefit in treating people with antiviral drugs even after two days have gone by, especially if the sick person has a greater change of serious flu complications or if the person has certain symptoms (such as shortness of breath, chest pain/pressure, dizziness, or confusion) or is in the hospital because of the flu.
Is there anything else I should know?
On December 1 the CDC reported receiving notices of fraudulent emails (phishing) referencing a CDC-sponsored State Vaccination Program.The messages request that users must create a personal H1N1 (swine flu) Vaccination Profile on the cdc.gov website. The message then states that anyone that has reached the age of 18 has to have his/her personal Vaccination Profile on the cdc.gov site.
The CDC has NOT implemented a state vaccination program requiring registration on www.cdc.gov. Users that click on the email are at risk of having malicious code installed on their system. CDC reminds users to take the following steps to reduce the risk of being a victim of a phishing attack:
Do not follow unsolicited links and do not open or respond to unsolicited email messages.
Use caution when visiting un-trusted websites.
Use caution when entering personal information online.