H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Information

2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus What You Need To Know, For Our Patients and Visitors

Q&A with Dr. Wilbur Chen

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Get answers to your H1N1 (Swine) flu questions.

Note: This is for informational purposes only. Doctors cannot provide a diagnosis or individual treatment advice via e-mail. Please consult your physician about your specific health care concerns.

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Influenza expert Dr. Wilbur Chen, a clinical investigator and infectious disease physician at the University of Maryland's Center for Vaccine Development. where he is overseeing the clinical trials of the H1N1 vaccine. Below, Dr. Chen answers some frequently asked questions about the H1N1 (swine) flu.

What is H1N1 influenza?
What are the symptoms of H1N1 influenza?
How does H1N1 influenza spread?
How can I protect myself?
Who is at risk of complications from H1N1 flu?
What should I do if I have the flu or fever and a cough?
What should I do if my symptoms worsen?
Should I be tested for swine flu?
What medication is used to treat H1N1 flu?
Is there a vaccine for swine flu?
What should I do if someone I live with is sick with flu-like symptoms?
What should I do if testing confirms that someone I live with has the 2009 H1N1 flu virus?
Can household cleaning help prevent transmission?
What can I do if the situation feels overwhelming?
I was in Mexico recently. Does that mean I'm at risk?
Is it safe to travel?
Should I send my children to school?

What is H1N1 influenza?

H1N1 influenza, also known as swine flu, is a respiratory infection caused by a new virus called novel H1N1. Since April 2009, when this virus was initially recognized, the virus has spread from Mexico, throughout the United States and the entire world. On June 11, 2009 the World Health Organization declared the novel H1N1 virus as this century’s first Pandemic. Although this virus is efficiently spread from human-to-human, the severity of disease has predominantly been mild and similar to that of seasonal influenza viruses.

What are the symptoms of H1N1 influenza?

The symptoms are similar to those of seasonal flu, including fever accompanied by cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and/or fatigue. A few people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with the 2009 H1N1 flu.

How does H1N1 influenza spread?

Flu viruses (including this one) are spread through contact with the infectious respiratory droplets of ill people who sneeze or cough. People may also become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their eyes, mouth or nose.

How can I protect myself?

Take the same precautions that you would to avoid regular seasonal flu and other respiratory infections:

Encourage everyone to cover their mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze.
Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
Avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get sick, stay home and limit contact with others to avoid infecting them.

Who is at risk of complications from H1N1 flu?

Some people have an increased risk of complications from common seasonal flu, and also may be at higher risk of complications from H1N1 flu. These include:

Children less than 2 years old
People with lung, heart, kidney, liver or blood disorders, and those with compromised immune systems
Pregnant women

Anyone in these categories who develops flu-like symptoms (see above) should contact their healthcare provider if they develop flu-like illness.

What should I do if I have the flu or fever and a cough?

Stay home from work or school for at least 7 days, or for 48 hours after symptoms have resolved, whichever is longer.
You do not need to go to the hospital if you have only mild flu-like symptoms, such as fever and cough, even if you think you could have H1N1 flu. Healthy people (no underlying chronic medical conditions) with the flu usually recover without any medical treatment. Situations when you should seek urgent medical attention include: difficulty with breathing or feeling short of breath, pain or discomfort in the chest or abdomen, severe vomiting, sudden dizziness or confusion, and flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fevers and cough.
Rest, drink plenty of liquids, and take the medications that you would normally use for fever and other symptoms such as ibuprofen (Motrin™) or acetaminophen (Tylenol™). People under the age of 18 should avoid aspirin and aspirin-containing products because of the possibility of Reye's syndrome – a potentially deadly side effect of aspirin use in the young.
To help prevent spreading the disease, you should avoid contact with others, wash your hands frequently, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

What should I do if my symptoms worsen?

If you develop more severe symptoms, you should contact your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency department and seek treatment immediately. Make sure you let them know you have flu-like symptoms that have gotten worse.
Signs that a child needs urgent medical care:

Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not interacting normally
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash

Signs that an adult needs urgent medical care:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
A very high fever
Confusion or sudden dizziness
Severe or persistent vomiting
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and cough

Should I be tested for swine flu?

Testing is not usually necessary. Right now it is being done to help health authorities track the spread of the disease, and in cases where people have severe symptoms. Testing is not required to begin treatment.

What medication is used to treat H1N1 flu?

The antiviral medicines Tamiflu™ and Relenza™ can help alleviate H1N1 flu symptoms in those with severe illness or risk factors for complications from flu when taken within the first 2-3 days of when symptoms begin. Most flu lasts only a few days, and most people recover completely without medication, so use these medicines only if your healthcare provider recommends them.

Is there a vaccine for swine flu?

On September 15, 2009, the FDA approved monovalent H1N1 virus vaccines. The seasonal influenza vaccine does not provide protection against swine flu. Both the seasonal flu and H1N1 flu vaccines will be made available starting in mid-October.

What should I do if someone I live with is sick with flu-like symptoms?

Follow the same precautions you would to avoid ordinary seasonal flu. Avoid close contact and wash your hands frequently. If the symptoms are severe, the person should see a medical provider. If the affected person has had close contact with a probable or confirmed case of H1N1 flu, the medical provider may suggest testing for H1N1 flu.

What should I do if testing confirms that someone I live with has the 2009 H1N1 flu virus?

Follow the same precautions you would to avoid ordinary seasonal flu:

Limit your contact with the affected person. Avoid close contact such as kissing, and do not share towels, glasses or toothbrushes with the affected person.
Avoid having visitors. If visitors must enter the home, they should avoid contact with the affected person.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub.
Consider using a face mask on the infected person. These can be purchased at a pharmacy or hardware store. If you use a reusable fabric face mask, it should be laundered with normal laundry detergent and tumble-dried in a hot dryer.
Wash dirty dishes and eating utensils either in a dishwasher or by hand with warm water and soap. You do not need to separate the patient's eating utensils.
It is fine to do your laundry in a standard washing machine with warm or cold water and detergent. It is not necessary to separate the patient's laundry.

Can household cleaning help prevent transmission?

Yes. Remember that flu is spread mainly by the infectious cough or sneeze. But you can also get the flu by touching a contaminated surface and then your eyes, nose or mouth. To help prevent transmission, all hard surfaces (doorknobs, refrigerator door handles, telephones, and bathroom surfaces), should be cleaned and disinfected. Products such as bleach or disinfectant wipes may be helpful. Make sure to follow the instructions on the product label.

What can I do if the situation feels overwhelming?

You and your family may experience more stress than usual or even fear during this time. Such a reaction is normal. Some tips for managing your stress:

Stay connected to your family, friends and social groups by telephone or email.
Stay informed, but avoid watching report after report about the outbreak. The repetition can be distressing, especially for children. Parents should limit the amount of news their children watch and should talk with them about what is going on to help them keep things in perspective.

If your stress feels overwhelming, consider seeking professional help or calling the Crisis Hotline at 410-752-2272.

I was in Mexico recently. Does that mean I'm at risk?

Not necessarily, the H1N1 virus has spread globally and Mexico is not the only location from which you can get an H1N1 infection. Wherever you may be traveling, you should pay close attention to your health throughout your travel and for the first 7 days after you return home. If you become sick with a fever and cough or sore throat, stay home. Call your doctor if you need medical advice, or if your symptoms worsen.

Is it safe to travel?

The CDC currently recommends the travelers with high risk for complications from the flu should discuss their travel plans with their doctor. To help control this disease, you should not travel if you are ill.

Should I send my children to school?

Local and state health departments are monitoring the situation and will advise parents if schools will need to be closed. At this time, there is no reason to keep children at home unless they are sick or the school was closed by public health authorities.

For more information about H1N1 influenza or swine flu, please contact your healthcare provider or visit the following Web sites:

From Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
From U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
From Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

General information about swine flu

This page was last updated on: September 18, 2009.