H1N1 Flu Resources
For Members & Patients:
For Employers:
Introduction to H1N1 "Swine Flu":
2009 H1N1 (referred to as "swine flu") is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, in much the same way that regular seasonal flu spreads. On June 11, 2009 the World Health Organization declared that a pandemic of 2009 H1N1 was underway.
H1N1 has caused severe illness in some people, but the vast majority recovers completely without any medical treatment. Only a laboratory can tell which type of flu a person has. H1N1 has the same symptoms as regular seasonal flu and it responds to the same treatments. Knowing which type of flu you have will not change the way we treat it. For that reason, the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene recommends against laboratory testing for people with flu symptoms.
Seasonal flu vaccine will not work against H1N1 flu. To protect against both types of flu, people will need 2 different vaccinations, one for seasonal flu (which is available at the Health Centers now) and one for H1N1 which is due to be available in October.
If you have a fever with a cough or sore throat, stay home from work or school until you have been free of fever for 24 hours. If your symptoms are mild you don’t need to go to the Health Center or hospital. There is no need to keep children home from school unless they are sick. Employees who are well but who have an ill family member at home with flu can go to work as usual. These employees should monitor their health every day and take everyday precautions including washing their hands often with soap and water, especially after they cough or sneeze. Workers in general workplace settings such as offices, stores, hotels and restaurants do not need to wear masks. Workers with symptoms should stay home.
Getting information about H1N1 is healthy, but watching too much news can be upsetting, especially for children. Every indication so far has been that H1N1 flu will be no more serious than regular seasonal flu. There is no need to panic. The following links will provide up-to-date useful information about seasonal flu as well as H1N1.
Links:
www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/flu/flu.shtml
www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/influenza/h1n1/
www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/