The State of Florida has a toll-free telephone service that residents and visitors can call to receive health information about influenza A (H1N1). The number for Florida residents to call is 1-800-342-3557. The line will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily until further notice. After-hours calls will be handled by an automated service.

As Florida responds to swine flu, the Florida Department of Health offers the following recommendations:

• People with respiratory illness or fever should stay home from work or school to avoid spreading infections, including influenza, to others in the community.

• Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear ill.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

• Wash hands frequently to lessen the spread of respiratory illness.

• Symptoms of swine flu are rapid-onset fever, cough, fatigue and, in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea.

If you think you have the flu, please call your healthcare provider and discuss whether you need to be seen in his/her office or an emergency department, or stay at home.

Sacred Heart Hospital Emergency/Trauma Center is on the alert and prepared to screen for possible swine flu in patients exhibiting influenza-like symptoms. Sacred Heart Hospital’s lab is in contact with the State of Florida Bureau of Laboratories regarding testing of influenza A specimens.

“We continue to be vigilant with respiratory etiquette in our ED, doctor’s offices and walk-in clinics, which means patients presenting with influenza-like symptoms are given a surgical mask and tissue to prevent the spread of possible virus,” said Kim Settle, Sacred Heart Hospital Infection Control Manager. “In our state of heightened awareness, all cases of possible influenza are being tested. Those samples testing positive for Influenza A are then sent to the state lab for further subtyping,” she explained.

CDC has developed a PCR diagnostic test kit to detect this novel H1N1 virus and has now distributed test kits to all states in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, allowing states to test for this new virus. This increase in testing capacity is likely to result in an increase in the number of reported confirmed cases in this country, which should provide a more accurate picture of the burden of disease in the United States.

As of Monday, May 11, the CDC reported 2532 confirmed U.S. cases of swine flu in 44 states, with three deaths. Most of the confirmed cases have been mild. The latest updates on the swine flu in the US can be found on the CDC Web site at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.

Scientists are uncertain why the virus is so severe in Mexico and relatively mild in other areas. They are also puzzled why victims of the H1N1 virus are mostly young and healthy, when influenza usually hits hardest among the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

The World Health Organization determined that the virus is capable of significant human-to-human transmission in at least two countries, prompting the elevation of its pandemic alert level from level four to level five on its six-level threat scale. The U.S. government is alerting its citizens to the health risks of traveling to Mexico because of the prevalance of the H1N1 virus in that country. Get the latest official travel alerts at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/. In response to the outbreak, antiviral medications from the U.S. government strategic stockpile are being distributed to the U.S. states where confirmed cases of the virus have been identified.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in humans the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of the “common flu” or an influenza-like illness. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue, as well as possible diarrhea and vomiting. A diagnosis of confirmed swine flu requires laboratory testing of a simple nose and throat swab. People experiencing flu-like symptoms should seek medical attention, especially those who live in or have recently traveled in areas with confirmed swine flu cases.

The swine influenza virus that is now infecting humans is a mutated form of the virus that usually affects swine. The current strain is a new variation of an H1N1 virus, which is a mix of human and animal influenza strains. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food, and a person cannot get swine influenza from eating pork products.  The infections appear to spread from person to person and drugs called antivirals may reduce the severity and duration of flu illness, if taken early.

Prevention and Infection Control Measures

Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. The CDC advises that everyday precautions should be observed to avoid spread of influenza viruses:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
  

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
  

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth to prevent infecting yourself and spreading any germs you might be carrying.
  

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
  

• If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

In addition to the CDC Web page (www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu), get updated releases from The Florida Department of Health Web page at www.doh.state.fl.us and the World Health Organization at www.who.int/en.

Parents concerned with swine flu can learn more at kidshealth.org/parent.

 

 

Related Links:

http://www.sacred-heart.org