APRIL 27, 2009

INFLUENZA -
SWINE FLU
SELF STUDY PACKAGE

For TET’s Staff

BY QHSE DEPT.
OUTLINE
9 WHAT IS SWINE FLU ?
9 SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
9 HOW DOES SWINE FLU SPREAD ?
9 HOW CAN SOMEONE WITH THE FLU INFECT SOMEONE ELSE ?
9 WHAT SHOULD I DO TO KEEP FROM GETTING THE FLU ?
9 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
9 TRAVEL HEALTH
9 WHAT CAN I DO TO PROTECT MYSELF FROM GETTING SICK ?
9 IS IT SAFE IF I EAT PORK ?
9 THERE ARE EVERYDAY ACTIONS PEOPLE CAN TAKE TO STAY HEALTHY.
9 WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO KEEP FROM SPREADING THE VIRUS THROUGH
COUGHING OR SNEEZING ?
9 TRAVEL ADVISORY
9 FOOD SAFETY ISSUES
9 GENERAL HEALTH TIPS
9 WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I GET SICK ?
9 IS THERE A HUMAN VACCINE TO PROTECT FROM SWINE INFLUENZA ?
9 WHAT DRUGS ARE AVAILABLE FOR TREATMENT ?
WHAT IS SWINE FLU ?

X Swine Influenza (swine flu)

is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by
type A influenza viruses (H1N1 subtype)
that causes regular outbreaks in pigs.
People do not normally get swine flu, but
human infections can and do happen

Swine flu viruses have been reported to

spread from person-to-person, but in the
past, this transmission was limited and
not sustained beyond three people
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of swine flu in

people are similar to the symptoms of
regular human flu and include fever,
cough, sore throat, body aches,
headache, chills and fatigue. Some
people have reported diarrhea and
vomiting associated with swine flu.
In the past, severe illness (pneumonia
and respiratory failure) and deaths
have been reported with swine flu
infection in people.
Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause
a worsening of underlying chronic
medical conditions.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the

symptoms of seasonal flu in humans and may include:

9 Fever (greater than 100°F or 37.8°C)

9 Sore throat
9 Cough
9 Stuffy nose
9 Chills
9 Headache and body aches
9 Fatigue
HOW DOES SWINE FLU SPREAD ?

X Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be

happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses
are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or
sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may
become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and
then touching their mouth or nose.
MINIMISING THE RISK OF AN EPIDEMIC

9 Culling – killing large numbers of infected and potentially

infected animals

9 Quarantine – putting infected farms in quarantine

9 Vaccinating birds against the virus – remains controversial and

contentious. Indonesia launched poultry vaccination in July
2004 and Thailand is considering the same measure

9 Latest normal flu vaccine – for people involved in culling

operations to minimize the risk of being infected by both bird
flu and human flu simultaneously
HOW CAN SOMEONE WITH THE FLU INFECT
SOMEONE ELSE ?

X Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day

before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after
becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on
the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well
as while you are sick.
WHAT SHOULD I DO TO KEEP FROM GETTING THE FLU ?

X First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good
general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage
your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not
touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid
close contact with people who are sick.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
9 Avoid live animal markets, poultry and pig farms in affected
countries
9 Always maintain high levels of personal hygiene, especially before
and after food preparation and in-out of toilets. Regular wash your
hands
9 Cook pork thoroughly
9 Do not consume half-done pork
9 While in an affected region, seek immediate medical attention if
you develop influenza-like symptoms. (High Fever, body pain,
coughing and red nose)
TRAVEL HEALTH

9 WHO does not recommend any travel

restrictions to areas experiencing
outbreaks, including countries, which
have reported, associated cases of
human infection.

9 WHO does not, at present recommend

the routine screening of travelers coming
from affected areas.

Spreading Country as on April 27, 2009 are ; Mexico, US, New Zealand,
Israel, China
WHAT CAN I DO TO PROTECT MYSELF FROM GETTING
SICK ?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine
flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread
of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take
these everyday steps to protect your health:

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

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

9 Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this

way

9 Try to avoid close contact with sick people

IS IT SAFE IF I EAT PORK ?

X Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. You cannot

get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating
properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.
THERE ARE EVERYDAY ACTIONS PEOPLE CAN TAKE TO
STAY HEALTHY
X Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or
sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it
X Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you
cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also
effective
X Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that
way
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO KEEP FROM SPREADING THE
VIRUS THROUGH COUGHING OR SNEEZING ?

X If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much
as possible. Do not go to work , stay at home or in your hotel
room . Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when
coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from
getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover
your cough or sneeze if you do not have a mask. Then, clean
your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.
TRAVEL ADVISORY
DO YOU REALLY NEED TO TRAVEL?

Before any travel to affected area

Î Educate yourself and others traveling with you
Î Take specific vaccinations as recommended by
CDC of both US and Thailand
Î Assemble travel health kit
Î Check your health insurance plan

During travel to an affected area

Î Avoid all direct contact with pigs and visiting the
farms
Î Practice careful and frequent hand washing
Î Consume thoroughly cooked food
Î Seek immediate medical attention if symptoms
occur

After your return

Î Monitor your health for 10 days
Î If you become ill with high fever consult a doctor
immediately.
FOOD SAFETY ISSUES

Cook food thoroughly

Follow good hygienic practices

No “pink” parts for meat

Buy food from safe and established

supermarkets

Check the expiry date (if any)

Choose a clean and known restaurant for

dining
GENERAL HEALTH TIPS

X Avoid close contact

z With sick people. Keep safe distance

X Stay home when you are sick

z If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands

X Cover your mouth and nose

z Cover mouth and nose with tissue when coughing or sneezing

X Clean your hands

z Frequent hand washing will protect you from germs

X Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth

z Germs often spread when a person touches something that is
contaminated and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I GET SICK ?

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention

include:
X Fast breathing or trouble breathing
X Bluish skin color
X Not drinking enough fluids
X Not waking up or not interacting
X Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
X Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
X Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention

include:
X Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
X Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
X Sudden dizziness
X Confusion
X Severe or persistent vomiting
IS THERE A HUMAN VACCINE TO PROTECT FROM SWINE
INFLUENZA ?
X There are no vaccines that contain the current swine influenza
virus causing illness in humans. It is not known whether current
human seasonal influenza vaccines can provide any protection.
Influenza viruses change very quickly. It is important to develop a
vaccine against the currently circulating virus strain for it to
provide maximum protection to the vaccinated people. This is
why WHO needs access to as many viruses as possible in order
to select the most appropriate candidate vaccine virus.

WHAT DRUGS ARE AVAILABLE FOR TREATMENT ?

X Antiviral drugs for seasonal influenza are available in some
countries and effectively prevent and treat the illness. There are
two classes of such medicines, 1) adamantanes (amantadine and
remantadine), and 2) inhibitors of influenza neuraminidase
(oseltamivir and zanamivir).
 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS : Please e-mail: [email protected]

End of Slide