1. Influenza A, H1N1 “Swine Flu”
The Facts and How to Protect Yourself

2. What is Influenza A, H1N1 Swine Flu?
Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by a virus. It regularly causes outbreaks of influenza among pigs
Influenza A, H1N1 swine flu is a new strain of the flu that moved from pigs to humans and can be transmitted from human to human.

3. Influenza A, H1N1 (swine flu)‏
Swine flu is different from seasonal flu because:
It is a new strain of the virus
Humans do not have an immunity from it

4. How Does It Spread?
Thought to be spread in the same way that seasonal flu spreads
Mainly from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes and spreads tiny particles into the air
Sometimes by touching something with flu viruses on it, and then touching the mouth, nose or eyes

5. What Can You Do to Protect Yourself and Others?
Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for seconds
Alcohol-based hand cleaners are OK
Cover your coughs and sneezes by coughing and sneezing into your arm, not your hands. Or, sneeze into a tissue and discard it
Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth
Try to avoid close contact with people who appear sick, and have a fever and cough

6. What Can You Do to Protect Yourself and Others? Cont.
If you are sick, stay home
If your child is ill, keep them home from school or childcare
Practice good health habits: get enough sleep, eat nutritious food, keep physically active

7. What are Signs and Symptoms of the Flu?
Similar to symptoms of regular human flu:
Fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue
May include diarrhea and vomiting
May cause more serious symptoms in individuals with chronic medical conditions
Pneumonia, respiratory failure, and deaths have been reported.

8. How Long Can an Infected Person Spread it to Others?
People are contagious as long as they have symptoms 7 are sick.
Children, especially infants, may be more contagious
Viruses can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like tables, desks, and door knobs.

9. What To Do If You Get Sick
If you have symptoms:
Fever, body aches, running nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea
Visit the government hospital in your area where designated for Swine flu treatment.
Stay home and avoid contact with others as much as possible

10. What To Do if Your Child is Sick
If your child has these symptoms, seek immediate medical care:
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.

11. What More Can I Do To Prepare?
Develop a family emergency plan as a precaution, include:
Storing a supply of food
Medicines
Facemasks
Alcohol-based hand cleaners
Other essential supplies
For an emergency checklist, see

12. What are Local Public Health Officials doing?
Working with hospitals and health care providers to promptly identify potential cases of swine flu
Assuring that appropriate treatment and prevention measures are used
Developing fact sheets for pharmacies, schools, the general public, and health care providers.