H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Information

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This page features H1N1 (swine) flu information and updates to help you and your family stay informed about this outbreak.

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Flu.gov

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy (from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC))

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 hands cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Possible Swine Flu Symptoms

The virus, which is caused by the H1N1 strain, causes a respiratory illness with symptoms similar to seasonal flu that we typically see in the winter:

Fever (>100F/37.8C)
Cough
Stuffy nose
Chills
Headaches and body aches
Malaise or fatigue
Diarrhea and vomiting have also been reported by some people infected with this swine flu virus

University of Maryland Medical Center's Swine Flu Plan

UMMC is working hard to be prepared with precautions in place for the health of our patients, employees and visitors. UMMC has a Swine Flu plan regarding early identification, triage, infection control, diagnosis and therapy. It was an outgrowth of our pandemic flu plan, which was developed several years ago, and tested in a preparedness exercise last summer. Our plan is consistent with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH).

Highlights of UMMC Swine Flu Plan:

Enhanced surveillance (active screening and testing) in our Emergency Departments and clinics to rapidly identify patients who may have swine flu symptoms or who may have been exposed to people in other states or countries with swine flu.
A heightened level of infection control with specific procedures for caring for patients who present with flu symptoms in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
A streamlined process to diagnose and treat any future patients who come here with swine flu, which includes rapid testing in our clinical laboratory.

Working with our infectious disease and control specialists, we will be monitoring the situation closely.

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For patient inquiries, call 1-800-492-5538 or click here to make an appointment.

This page was last updated on: May 21, 2012.