2009 H1N1 Influenza Questions and Answers
Is 2009 H1N1 influenza present on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?
The campus outbreak of influenza started during the first week of the fall semester. It continues.
How do I know if I have 2009 H1N1 or a cold?
Symptoms of both influenza and colds overlap, including fever, cough, and congestion. Influenza generally begins with abrupt onset of fever, worsening over several hours, accompanied by headache, body ache, and sore throat.
How do I tell 2009 H1N1 flu from seasonal flu?
Symptoms of 2009 H1N1 influenza and seasonal influenza are identical and their management is the same. However, the seasonal influenza season has not yet started. In addition to 2009 H1N1, seasonal strains expected to circulate this winter include seasonal H1N1 and H3N2.
What should I do if I think I have the flu?
Stay home and stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Take a fever medication for temperatures greater than 100 °F, 37.8 ° C (following the directions accompanying the medication). If you think you might need assistance, call your health provider for guidance.
Is there anything I can do to prevent getting 2009 H1N1?
Many things reduce risk of infection. People should wash their hands frequently or use a hand sanitizer after potential exposure to contaminated surfaces. Sharing beverages should be avoided, and people should stay out of crowded places whenever possible. Basic health measures are also a good idea, like following a balanced diet and getting adequate sleep. People who cough should cover their mouths with their sleeves so that others aren’t exposed.
The best protection is to get a 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccination when it is available.
How is 2009 H1N1 influenza diagnosed?
Influenza is usually diagnosed by signs and symptoms only. 2009 H1N1 is a Type A influenza strain. Although there are different rapid influenza tests available that can detect Type A and Type B influenza strains, the tests are not very sensitive for 2009 H1N1 influenza. That is, tests are often negative when 2009 H1N1 influenza is present. Although state departments of health have a very sophisticated 2009 H1N1 test that they use to follow outbreaks, there is no rapid medical office test specifically for 2009 H1N1 influenza.
Many people with 2009 H1N1 are not taking any antiviral medications. Is not taking an antiviral dangerous?
Antiviral medications are no longer recommended for the treatment of mild to moderate 2009 H1N1 unless there are patient risk factors. Though they can reduce the duration of flu symptoms by about a day, if they are used on a widespread basis, they may foster the development of resistance.
What has the university done to prepare?
The campus has been preparing for handling potential infectious outbreaks for the past few years. The Infectious Disease Work Group on campus has been developing plans that address academic, human-resource, information-management and medical concerns. The committee has representation from units across campus.
How much is the preparation costing the campus?
It’s too early to know.
When can I be vaccinated against H1N1?
McKinley Health Center has ordered enough H1N1 vaccine for every student age 24 and younger on campus. It will not be vaccinating staff. Shipments of small amounts of vaccine have started to arrive. The health center has not yet been notified when vaccine will begin arriving, though it expects to take first deliveries in October. The McKinley Web site will be kept up to date concerning H1N1 vaccine locations, times, and dates.
Will you cancel classes if this gets bad?
That’s doubtful, but if public health authorities mandate such an action, the university would comply.
Will I be excused from class if I’m sick?
Faculty will individually make decisions about how each class will be handled. They have been encouraged to use reasonable flexibility.
Are McKinley Health Center and the residence halls prepared to deal with a lot of sick students?
Both McKinley Health Center and Campus Housing have made extensive plans for dealing with H1N1. Each unit is addressing the evolving situation.
Where can I get more information?
The McKinley Web site, www.mckinley.illinois.edu, and the Web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/h1n1, are the best places for information about H1N1 for students and staff at Illinois.
What happens to university employees who don’t report to work because they’re afraid of getting H1N1?
The university will issue guidance about personnel issues. Most current policies are expected to remain applicable.
Who’s at risk for H1N1?
In short, everyone. It appears, however, that young people are more easily infected by H1N1 than those who were born before 1957. People who are pregnant, have young children, or who provide care to young children are considered to be at greatest risk, as are individuals with chronic medical conditions such as asthma.
2009 H1N1 seems not to be all that dangerous compared to seasonal influenza. Why has there been so much preparation in the country?
Most people who contract 2009 H1N1 will experience the same mild to moderate symptoms that occur with seasonal influenza. However, a much larger percentage of people may become ill from 2009 H1N1 flu than from seasonal influenza. A large number of people home with the flu is likely to cause disruptions in education and commerce. The recommendations are designed to reduce the number of people who become ill before they have the opportunity to be vaccinated.
I am the parent of a University of Illinois student. What can I do?
As a concerned parent, you are a part of the university’s influenza plan.
Urge your son or daughter to get two shots: one for seasonal flu and one for 2009 H1N1 flu. Seasonal flu shots are available at McKinley Health Center and at clinics the center holds on campus. Clinic dates and hours are on the center Web site: http://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/General/updates/flu_update.htm.
Students with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, asthma, sickle-cell disease, cardiovascular disease, an immune compromising condition, or who have had their spleen removed should make sure that they have had an adult pneumococcal vaccination. This is not a shot that all children receive. Your son or daughter is much more likely to remain healthy if they frequently clean their hands. They should carry an alcohol-based hand disinfectant.
They also should have a plan if they get sick. If they always stay ahead on projects, assignments, and studying, then illness will put them less behind academically. They should plan to spend as much as a week out of class if they contract influenza. They should identify someone and develop a plan for looking in on each other when one becomes ill. They should have their sick week supplies ready, including nourishing liquids, a thermometer, disposable tissue, medicine to reduce fever, and a hand disinfectant.
Students who are sick are best managed at home, whenever possible. We hope that as many as 80 percent of families will take their sick son or daughter home to recover.
If your son and daughter becomes sick with the flu and must remain on campus, they will need to stay in their room until their fever has been gone for at least 24 hours without the need to use a fever-reducing medication. They will require nourishing liquids to remain hydrated, a thermometer, disposable paper tissues, and fever-reducing medication. A friend should be identified who can look in on them several times a day. Both people should use facemasks. Facemasks are available in local pharmacies.
Is the 2009 H1N1 flu shot safe?
The 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine is prepared the same way as the seasonal flu vaccine. There is no reason to expect any reactions to the 2009 H1N1 vaccine different from those associated with the seasonal flu vaccine. The 2009 H1N1 vaccine has been tested the same way as all seasonal flu vaccines and has proven in clinical tests to be safe and effective.
Is 2009 H1N1 flu the same thing as bird flu?
No, 2009 H1N1 flu and bird flu are unrelated strains of influenza virus. Bird flu, or H5N1 influenza, has a high mortality rate, but does not yet have the ability to spread from person to person. 2009 H1N1 influenza is very contagious and probably has a mortality rate similar to seasonal influenza. There is no human H5N1 influenza in the United States.
In 1976, there was a swine flu scare that turned into nothing important. Is this 2009 H1N1 outbreak the same thing?
No, this strain of influenza is not the same swine flu that the nation prepared for in 1976. The 1976 swine flu virus appeared to have a high fatality rate but it was not easily transmissible from person to person. 2009 H1N1 virus spreads easily from person to person.
Is 2009 H1N1 flu the same thing as pandemic flu?
The World Health Organization on has declared a 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. This means that the virus has become widespread. The change in status recognizes 2009 H1N1’s global impact.
H1N1, 2009 H1N1, swine flu, North American flu. I’ve heard all of these names used. Why so many names?
The scientific name for this virus is Influenza A (2009)H1N1. or 2009 H1N1 for short. “Swine flu” denotes the virus’s genetic similarity to influenza viruses that are known to circulate among hogs. However, the term swine flu mischaracterizes hogs as a source of infection and is therefore not a recommended term. People do not get sick with 2009 H1N1 from hogs or by eating pork or pork products.
Various flu pandemics have taken on the names of the region of the world where they were initially reported. Historic examples include Spanish flu, Asian flu, and Hong Kong flu. Thus, North American flu and Mexican flu have also been names used for this outbreak.
One of the predominant 2008 strains of seasonal influenza was also an H1N1 virus. The 2009 H1N1 virus is substantially different. Since it is newly recognized, “Novel” H1N1 has become the term now used by CDC and others to refer to this virus.
Last updated 10/29/2009 10:35
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