H1N1 Flu: What It Is And What To Do To Protect Yourself

The virus formerly known as "swine flu" is spreading across the world. Officials fear that this year's Flu Season will increase the spread of H1N1 and could prove deadlier than ever.

By: FROM STAFF REPORTS | TriCities.com
Published: April 28, 2009

Read more about H1N1 Flu here in our special section as well as see an updated map indicating where cases have been reported.

Virginia now has a hotline for people asking questions about the H1N1 flu. The number is 1-877-ASK-VDH3. Read more here.

Anyone who fears they are sick, or those just seeking information, can get free answers by calling MSHA at (800) 888-5551 or Wellmont at (877) 230-NURSE. Both numbers are toll-free. For more information, click here.

What is H1N1 flu? Officials now confirm that this particular strain of Influenza A is a combination of a swine flu (which is, itself, a combination of avian and human flu), avian flu and human flu viruses.

The race is on to develop a vaccine that is effective against the pandemic strain known as H1N1 before the flu season begins this fall in the northern hemisphere.
Estimates for when a vaccine will be available range from September to December. The government and vaccine makers are already seeking thousands of volunteers to try out the first shots.

But medical experts have warned against rushing the vaccines through trials.

Dr. Bill Devens from Holston Valley Medical Center and Melissa Hamilton, a registered nurse who is the disaster preparedness coordinator at Holston Valley will be on hand for a special web chat here tonight.

Questions and Answers about H1N1 Flu

The CDC offers the following information for people to avoid H1N1 flu and for those who think they might be sick:

There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.
• 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. Germs spread that way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
• If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

The CDC Strongly Recommends Home Isolation of Cases:
• Persons who develop influenza-like-illness (ILI) (fever with either cough or sore throat) should be strongly encouraged to self-isolate in their home for 7 days after the onset of illness or at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved, whichever is longer. Persons who experience ILI and wish to seek medical care should contact their health care providers to report illness (by telephone or other remote means) before seeking care at a clinic, physician’s office, or hospital. Persons who have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath or are believed to be severely ill should seek immediate medical attention.
• If ill persons must go into the community (e.g., to seek medical care) they should wear a face mask to reduce the risk of spreading the virus in the community when they cough, sneeze, talk or breathe. If a face mask is unavailable, ill persons needing to go into the community should use a handkerchief or tissues to cover any coughing.
• Persons in home isolation and their household members should be given infection control instructions: including frequent hand washing with soap and water. Use alcohol-based hand gels (containing at least 60% alcohol) when soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty. When the ill person is within 6 feet of others at home, the ill person should wear a face mask if one is available and the ill person is able to tolerate wearing it.