Swine Flu information

I just read this on my Vistage site:

The recent outbreak of swine flu has many business owners concerned for their employees’ health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released detailed information on swine flu and says the symptoms are similar to the symptoms of the common influenza virus. The good news is that most people who become infected with swine flu will recover without hospitalization or long-term complications.

Symptoms
The most common swine flu symptoms include:
Cough
Congestion
Nasal Congestion
Body aches
Joint Pains
Fever
Chills
Sore throat
Headache
Fatigue
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Decreased energy
Those who are immune-compromised, older or pregnant may be at higher risk of complications or serious respiratory illness.

Transmission
This strain of swine flu is believed to be transmitted, like other human viral flus, by casual contact or through the air by sneezes or coughs. Touching or eating pork products will not transmit this flu.

According to the CDC infected people may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to seven or more days after becoming sick. That means you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you’re sick, as well as while you are sick.

Prevention
Here are actions people can take to help prevent getting or spreading the flu virus:

- 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. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
If you get sick, the CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others.
What to do if you suspect you have swine flu
If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact your physician. Your doctor will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.

If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.

Treatment
Currently, we are at the tail end of our normal flu season, and most people with flu symptoms simply have a viral infection and not the swine flu. Maintaining adequate hydration is highly important if you contract any viral illness.

If you contract the swine flu, there are two flu medications which can be helpful. The CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine flu viruses. The CDC says that the antiviral medications amantadine and rimantadine will not work against swine flu.

Young people under the age of 18 with fever or flu symptoms should not be given Aspirin or aspirin-containing products (such as bismuth subsalicylate – Pepto Bismol) due to the risk of Reye syndrome.

Travel
Susan Locke, M.D., Medical Director of Vistage Healthnetwork, discourages any nonessential travel to Mexico at this time. “If someone needs to go for business,” she said, “I would recommend seeing his/her physician prior to leaving and to get a prescription filled for either Tamiflu® or Relenza, both of which are effective against swine flu. These should be started at the onset of any flu-like symptoms.”

For those who have recently traveled to Mexico and have any flu-like symptoms, Susan recommends they go to their physician immediately and get tested for swine flu.


Swine Flu Vaccine
Currently, no vaccine is available to help prevent the swine flu. For those who received the flu vaccine this year, it does not offer protection against the swine flu.