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Swine Flu- What You Need to Know

Everyone’s talking about it, but what really is Swine Flu, a.k.a. H1N1? Influenza is a virus that typically affects people in the United States from winter through spring. The virus easily mutates so that even if you have had the flu once, you may get it again. Usually, previous infection and annual vaccination can lessen symptoms of the illness or provide protection against acquiring it. What makes the H1N1 virus different from other flu strains is that it is a combination of bird, pig, and human flu viruses, so previous infection and vaccination are not likely to prevent infection or decrease the symptoms. We don’t know that H1N1 is going to cause more severe symptoms than the regular flu, but we are concerned that it will be more contagious than regular flu, and therefore affect a greater number of people. Symptoms are the same as regular flu- fever, chills, headache, nausea, achy muscles.

So what can you do about the H1N1 flu? Wash your hands often. Avoid contact with people who have flu symptoms, and if you yourself have flu symptoms, stay home to prevent spreading it to others. Infected individuals are typically contagious from a day before symptoms through one week after. For people who have the flu, Tamiflu, which comes as a pill or liquid, or Relenza, which is inhaled, can be prescribed and are most effective when started in the first 48 hours of the illness. Close contacts of people with the flu who are considered high-risk, such has the very young, the very old, and people with asthma, can take these medicines to prevent contracting the virus. Talk to your doctor if you think you may need medication for prophylaxis.