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GoogleThe Center for Disease Control defines H1N1 (referred to as "swine flu" early on) as a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. Other countries, including Mexico and Canada, have reported people sick with this new virus. This virus is spreading from person-to-person, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.
The symptoms of novel H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and 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. Also, like seasonal flu, severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.
Spread of novel H1N1 virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
· Stay home if you are sick for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.
· 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.
"Looking at the numbers does not give you a true picture of the total influenza pandemic. Many times people who are sick do not visit their doctor, and go about their everyday activities. Stay home when you are ill to prevent spread to other people, and stay away from others who are sick" states Beverly Powers, Surveillance Public Health Nurse at Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department.
What monitoring is being done in Southwest Nebraska?
The health department annually monitors seasonal influenza using the following public health partners:
1. Weekly surveillance with hospitals -- hospitals report the number of patients with influenza like illnesses
2. Weekly surveillance from the sentinel provider -- a designated physician located within the eight county health district reports weekly the numbers of patients seen with influenza
3. Weekly school surveillance -- schools report number of absences and symptoms every Wednesday to the health department; surveillance is limited to when school is in session
4. Daily monitoring of laboratory reporting -- laboratory reports are daily posted for the health departments review and follow-up
This surveillance continues to be monitored this summer to track any suspected influenza or H1N1 activities.
"We anticipate that we will continue the increased surveillance as long as the World Health Organization (WHO) has the pandemic level at the highest level of six" states Myra Stoney, Director of Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department.
More information on H1N1 may be obtained at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ or www.swhealthdept.com or www.hhs.state.ne.us/H1N1Flu/ or by calling Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department at 308-345-4223. Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department serves Chase, Dundy, Hayes, Hitchcock, Frontier, Furnas, Perkins and Red Willow Counties. www.swhealthdept.com.