H1N1 Flu
by Kerri Thorne
September 10, 2009
York
Public Schools and Four Corners Health Department have met and
remain in contact on how we can work in conjunction to inform
students and their families about H1N1.
Two
important pieces of information we need you to be aware of:
*H1N1
is not necessarily a more severe strain than other type of
influenza, it is a NEW form of influenza that we are not immune to
yet.
*Students and Staff need to stay home from school until they have been fever-free for 24 hours WITHOUT using fever-reducing medications.
What is Novel
H1N1?
Novel H1N1 is
a new influenza virus causing illness in people. It is spread
in the same way that seasonal flu spreads mainly from person to
person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza or by
touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their
mouth or nose.
What are the
symptoms?
Symptoms
of this novel H1N1 flu virus are similar to the symptoms of
seasonal flu which include:
*Fever
*Cough
*Sore
Throat
*Runny or
Stuffy Nose
*Body
Aches
*Headache
*Chills
*Fatigue
*Diarrhea
*Vomiting
Severe illness and death have occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.
How can I protect
myself from the H1N1 Flu?
*Wash
hands often with soap and water
*Avoid
touching your eyes, nose or mouth
*Avoid close
contact with people who are coughing or appear ill
*Get the seasonal and novel H1N1 vaccine when available
*Clean
surfaces, door knobs, light switches, toys etc... with a household
disinfectant
Seek Emergency
Medical Care if your child experiences the following:
*Fast
breathing or trouble breathing
*Bluish or
gray skin color
*Not drinking enough fluids
*Severe or persistent vomiting
*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
Are
medications available to treat this new virus?
Antiviral
drugs are prescription medicines that fight against the flu by
keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. They may
prevent serious flu complications. During the current
outbreak, the priority use for influenza antiviral drugs is to
treat severe influenza illness.
