H1N1 Update

Marty WhiteOctober 12, 2009

H1N1 Information

Pandemic declared by World Health Organization in June 2009

The symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue

Some may have vomiting and diarrhea Severe illnesses and deaths have

occurred 1/3 of population over 60 may have

antibodies against the H1N1 flu

Flu Activity

Percentage of Visits to Health Care Providers for Flu-Like Illness

H1N1 Complications Most people with 2009 H1N1 have had mild illness and have not needed medical

care or antiviral drugs. However, some people are more likely to get flu complications and should

consult their health care giver. They are: Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old People 65 and older Pregnant women People who have:

Cancer Blood disorders (including sickle cell disease) Chronic lung disease [including asthma or chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease (COPD)] Diabetes Heart disease Kidney disorders Liver disorders Neurological disorders (including nervous system, brain or spinal cord) Neuromuscular disorders (including muscular dystrophy and multiple

sclerosis) Weakened immune systems (including people with AIDS)

Also, it’s possible for healthy people to develop severe illness from the flu so anyone concerned about their illness should consult a health care provider.

Urgent Medical Care

What are “emergency warning signs” that should signal anyone to seek medical care urgently?

In children: 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

In adults: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen Sudden dizziness Confusion Severe or persistent vomiting

Contagious nature of H1N1

What Should You Do?

Wash your hands often (20 seconds with soap and warm water)

Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth Stay healthy - sleep, exercise, drink fluids,

manage stress Avoid sick people – stay 6 feet away Talk to your health care provider about flu

vaccinations Cover coughs & sneezes with disposable

tissues Stay home if sick

Lab Guidelines

Notify health services when You or family gets flu-like symptoms You return to work after flu-like illness Supervisor sends a sick person home for flu-like

illness Stay home for 7 days after onset or 24 hours

after fever breaks (whichever is longer) See Lab Pandemic Website for more information The Lab has applied for H1N1 vaccine for our high

risk employees, but we have no word if we will get any vaccine. High risk employees should contact their physicians to see if they can get priority H1N1 shots when available.

Take your seasonal flu shot if you are not egg allergic. 

Publicize the Lab's pandemic website:  http://www.lbl.gov/Publications/pandemic/

Encourage employees in the high risk groups (outlined at http://www.lbl.gov/publicinfo/newscenter/tabl/2009/september/09-15-09/flu-jump.html) to contact their physicians to see if they can get priority H1N1 shots when available.

The Lab has applied for H1N1 vaccine for our high risk employees, but we have no word if we will get any vaccine.

Take your seasonal flu shot if you are not egg allergic.  LBNL vaccine clinics are described in the second link above.