Updated and considered accurate on July 17, 2009. Since information may change, please visit this Web site and those listed below frequently for additional information and updates.
H1N1 Information and Case Update
H1N1 is a new strain of influenza A. Since it is a new strain, the vaccine received for traditional flu will not protect a person from getting this flu. Cases of H1N1 have been reported in Wake County, the State of North Carolina, throughout the United States, and internationally. Symptoms have ranged from mild and not requiring a visit to a medical provider to severe symptoms requiring medical care.
Student Health has diagnosed and treated several individuals with H1N1 influenza. As individuals are diagnosed, Student Health is following recognized public health guidelines about treatment, isolation to prevent spread of the infection to others, and notification of contacts.
H1N1 has components of swine, avian, and human flu. The term "swine flu" that was initially used has been replaced by H1N1. A person does not get H1N1 by being around pigs or by eating pork.
Symptoms
Symptoms of H1N1 influenza may include fever over 100, sore throat, cough, stuffy or runny nose, fatigue, headache, body aches, vomiting, and diarrhea.
How Flu is Spread
Person to Person: By direct contact with respiratory droplets, such as kissing or sharing a drink or by respiratory droplets when the infected person coughs or sneezes. This sends droplets through the air that can be deposited in the mouth or nose of a well person nearby, as much as 6 feet away.
From
Contaminated Objects to Person: When a well person touches something that is contaminated by flu droplets, and the contaminated hands are brought to the mouth, nose, or eyes. (Flu virus can survive minutes to hours on surfaces.)
Incubation Period
Incubation period from exposure to developing symptoms is usually within 7 days.
Period When Contagious
A person with flu is considered contagious (able to spread infection to others) 1 day before symptoms develop and for about 7 days after symptoms develop.
An individual with suspected or confirmed H1N1 is asked to self-isolate (stay away from others) for a mimimum of 7 days after the onset of the first symptom or for at least 24 hours after the last symptom is gone, whichever is longest.
If You are Ill
If you develop symptoms suspicious for flu, contact your medical provider for advice or to arrange a visit. Make a Student Health appointment online at healthweb.ncsu.edu or call 919-515-7107.
Individuals with a mild case might choose to self-treat and not see a medical provider. Those who see a medical provider might be diagnosed based on symptoms and have no testing. Sometimes flu testing might be done.
Student Health offers a rapid flu test that can distinguish Influenza A from Influenza B. The H1N1 Influenza is caused by a strain of Influenza A. The rapid flu test may be positive when there is flu infection, but there is no guarantee that the rapid flu test will be positive even if a person has the flu. More definitive testing to determine the specific influenza strain is sometimes ordered. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is only recommending more definitive testing for those patients who are hospitalized and in certain other special situations.
Remember that there are many illnesses with symptoms similar to influenza that are not influenza at all. For example, a common cold or allergies can cause nasal symptoms and cough. If you have questions about your symptoms or feel you need to be seen because of symptoms, contact your healthcare provider.
Treatment
Student Health Pharmacy stocks Tamiflu and Relenza, prescription anti-viral medications which are considered effective against H1N1 flu. These medications can lessen the severity or shorten the course of flu, and are most effective if started within 48 hours of the onset of flu symptoms.
Anti-viral medication might not be necessary for all patients with H1N1 infection, such as those with mild symptoms.
Monitor temperature and treat fever. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen are two medications commonly used to treat fever and body aches.
Over-the-counter throat lozenges, cough syrups, or cough drops are sometimes used.
Antibiotics are prescribed for bacterial complications, such as pneumonia or ear infection.
Prescription cough medication is sometimes given for severe cough.
Get extra rest and extra fluids.
Those with confirmed or suspected Influenza A H1N1 virus infection should stay at home for 7 days after symptom onset or 24 hours after resolution of symptoms (whichever is longer).
How to Keep from Spreading Flu if You Are Illand How to Notify Contacts
Those with confirmed or suspected Influenza A H1N1 virus infection should stay at home for 7 days after symptom onset or 24 hours after resolution of symptoms (whichever is longer).
Students who are told to self-isolate should contact instructors by phone or e-mail to make them aware that they will be away from class and should discuss with instructor how to keep up with assignments. Remember that you may be too ill to study or be productive academically while you are recovering from the flu.
Contact your employer to let them know you will be away from work.
Your medical provider can advise you about which individuals need to be notified about your diagnosis (such as significant other, roommate, or classmates).
Discontinue usual socializing, including church, parties, and visiting friends.
If you must go out for essential activities (such as an urgent errand) and will be around others, cover your cough, discard tissues contaminated by coughing or blowing your nose, frequently decontaminate your hands by washing or using hand sanitizer, and consider wearing a mask.
Cover mouth or nose when coughing or sneezing and discard tissue.
Wash your hands after handling respiratory droplets from the nose or mouth.
Remember that "FRIENDS DON'T COUGH ON FRIENDS."
Decontaminate shared items periodically, such as remote controls, refrigerator handles, and doorknobs, and do not share personal items, such as drinks. (Common household cleaners, such as bleach-containing cleaners, Lysol, or other cleaners, such as alcohol-based, should be effective.)
How to Keep From Getting Flu
Stay away from sick people.
Wash hands or use hand sanitizer frequently, especially after being out in public (handling grocery cart, money, using ATM machine, touching doors).
Do not share personal items, such as drinks.
If you have had known contact with a confirmed or suspected case of influenza, contact your healthcare provider to consider whether prophylactic anti-viral medication is warranted.
There is currently no vaccine for H1N1, but a vaccine is expected to be available by October or later. Check this Web site and those listed below frequently for information and updates about a vaccine.
Until a vaccine is available, prevention by avoiding sick people and by washing hands is the best recommendation.
