Flu Questions & Answers

Q  What is H1N1 (swine) flu?
A H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses. Outbreaks of swine flu happen regularly in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Most commonly, human cases of swine flu happen in people who are around pigs but it’s possible for swine flu viruses to spread from person to person also. 

Q Is there a vaccine available for the H1N1 Influenza (swine flu)?
A  A vaccine will be available.  Availability is projected for fall 2009; perhaps October.

 
Q  Can people catch H1N1 (swine) flu from eating pork?
A No. H1N1 (swine) influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You can not get H1N1 (swine) influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the H1N1 (swine) flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.


Q  Are there human infections with H1N1 (swine) flu in the U.S.?
A In late March and early April 2009, cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses were first reported in Southern California and near San Antonio, Texas. The CDC and local and state health agencies are working together to investigate this situation. An updated case count of confirmed H1N1 (swine) flu infections in the United States is kept at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm. CDC and local and state health agencies are working together to investigate this situation.


Q  How many H1N1 (swine) flu viruses are there?
A Like all influenza viruses, swine flu viruses change constantly. Pigs can be infected by avian influenza and human influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses. When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, the viruses can reassort (i.e. swap genes) and new viruses that are a mix of swine, human and/or avian influenza viruses can emerge. Over the years, different variations of swine flu viruses have emerged. At this time, there are four main influenza type A virus subtypes that have been isolated in pigs: H1N1, H1N2, H3N2, and H3N1. However, most of the recently isolated influenza viruses from pigs have been H1N1 viruses.

Q  Is this H1N1 (swine) flu virus contagious?
A CDC has determined that this virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it is not known how easily the virus spreads between people.

Q  What are the signs and symptoms of H1N1 (swine) flu in people?
The symptoms of H1N1 (swine) flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with H1N1 (swine) flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with H1N1 (swine) flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, H1N1 (swine) flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

Q  How serious is H1N1 (swine) flu infection?  Can this be life threatening?
A Like seasonal flu, H1N1 (swine) flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Between 2005 until January 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu were detected in the U.S. with no deaths occurring. However, swine flu infection can be serious. In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman in Wisconsin was hospitalized for pneumonia after being infected with swine flu and died 8 days later. A swine flu outbreak in Fort Dix, New Jersey occurred in 1976 that caused more than 200 cases with serious illness in several people and one death.

Q  How do you catch H1N1 (swine) flu?
A Spread of H1N1 (swine) flu can occur in two ways:

  • Through contact with infected pigs or environments contaminated with swine flu viruses.
  • Through contact with a person with H1N1 (swine) flu.
    • Human-to-human spread of H1N1 (swine) flu has been documented also and is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu.
    • Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.

Q Are there medicines to treat H1N1 (swine) flu?
A Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu ®) or zanamivir (brand name Relenza ®) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these H1N1 (swine) influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

Q How long can an infected person spread H1N1 (swine) flu to others?
A People with H1N1 (swine) influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to 7 days following illness onset. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.


Q  What can I do on a day to day basis to protect myself from getting sick?
A There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza.

  • 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.
    • Remind others to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue when they cough or sneeze.
      Remind them to throw their tissue in the trash after they use it.
    • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
      Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
    • Remind others that washing their hands is one of the best preventions against getting or spreading a flu virus. 
    • 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, CDC and SFCHC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

The spread of many viral diseases can be prevented by hygienic factors such as efficient sanitation facilities, effective waste disposal, clean water, and personal cleanliness. Active immunization by vaccines (antigen-containing preparations that elicit the synthesis of antibodies and thus immunity) has been useful in preventing common epidemics caused by acutely infectious viruses.

Q  How can someone with the flu infect someone else?
A Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

Q  What should I do to keep from getting the flu?
A First and most important: wash your hands. Touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with infected hands is a very common way of spreading the virus from one person to another.  Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Try not to touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus.
Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.  Avoid close contact with people who are sick or have symptoms associated with the flu.

Q  What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?
A If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

Q  What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?
A Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water. or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. we recommend that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

Q  What should I do if I get sick?
A If you live in areas that have reported cases 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 their health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care 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 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

Q  What is an influenza pandemic?
A A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza A virus emerges for which there is little or no immunity in the human population, begins to cause serious illness, and then spreads easily person-to-person worldwide.

Q  Why are pandemics such dreaded events?
A Influenza pandemics are remarkable events that can rapidly infect virtually all countries. Once international spread begins, pandemics are considered unstoppable, because the virus spreads very rapidly by coughing or sneezing. The fact that infected people can share the virus before symptoms appear adds to the risk of international spread via travelers. 
     The severity of disease and the number of deaths caused by a pandemic virus vary greatly, and cannot be known prior to the emergence of the virus. During past pandemics, attack rates reached 25-35% of the total population. Under the best circumstances, assuming that the new virus causes mild disease, the world could still experience an estimated 2 million to 7.4 million deaths (projected from data obtained during the 1957 pandemic). Projections for a more virulent virus are much higher. The 1918 pandemic, which was uniquely severe, killed at least 40 million people. In the US, the mortality rate of people infected with the virus during that pandemic was around 2.5%.
      During a severe pandemic, such as the one that occurred in 1918, there would be large surges in the numbers of people requiring or seeking medical or hospital treatment, temporarily overwhelming health services. High rates of worker absenteeism could also interrupt other essential services, such as law enforcement, transportation, and communications. Because populations will be fully susceptible to a pandemic virus, rates of illness could peak fairly rapidly within a given community. This means that local social and economic disruptions may be temporary. They may, however, be amplified in today’s closely interrelated and interdependent systems of trade and commerce. As all countries are likely to experience emergency conditions during a pandemic, opportunities for inter-country assistance, as seen during natural disasters or localized disease outbreaks, may be curtailed once international spread has begun and governments focus on protecting domestic populations.

Q What age groups are most likely to be affected during an influenza pandemic?
A Although scientists cannot predict the specific consequences of an influenza pandemic, it is likely that many age groups would be seriously affected. The greatest risk of hospitalization and death – as seen during the last two pandemics in 1957 and 1968 and during annual influenza – will be infants, the elderly, and those with underlying health conditions. However, in the 1918 pandemic, most deaths occurred in young adults. Few if any people would have immunity to the virus.

QWhere can I find more information concerning the swine flu?
AClick the tab in the left-hand margin of this page titled, "Swine Flu."  There is additional information available on that page.  There are also internet links to other sites having information concerning the swine flu.

This Q & A session has been provided by PandemicFlu.gov & the SFCHC


Influenza surveilance statistics; graphs, charts, and maps.  See where the flu is spreading, which states
are effected, and how many cases have been reported.

Return to Influenza page