Infectious Disease Information
The CDC has established a set of best practice guidelines when dealing with the onset of this epidemic. As with any risk, there is no way to predict its onset or severity. The better prepared you are, the better you will be able to respond to a potential crisis.
The first step to H1N1 preparedness is understanding the virus.
H1N1 is the newest form of animal influenza that causes illness in humans. It was originally referred to as “swine flu” because initial lab tests showed that many of the genes in the virus were similar to those in the influenza viruses carried by North American swine. Further tests showed it to be a “quadruple reassortant” virus. This means it carries genes from European and Asian swine, and one from birds and one from humans.
We all know that vaccines for influenza viruses are limited. If you are not at any additional risk, please save the vaccines for those whose immune systems might not be able to fight off the virus on its own. That being said, no one is 100% safe from infection. However, the faster you identify the virus, the better your chances for a full recovery.
A full list of common symptoms includes:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Body aches
- Headache
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Most people experiencing just these ailments probably have the seasonal flu. But if you are worried, additional H1N1 “warning signs” include:
In Children:
- Fast breathing or trouble breathing
- Bluish skin color
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Not waking up or interacting
- Excessive irritability
- Flu-like symptoms that improve but come back with a fever
- Fever with a rash
In Adults:
- Difficulty breathing
- Pain or pressure in the chest and/or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Flu-like symptoms that improve but come back with a fever
If you are experiencing any or many of these symptoms, you might be highly contagious; please protect yourself, your family and your community by going to the doctor immediately.
Hopefully, this information has armed you with the knowledge to properly protect your family and community against an influenza outbreak. As we know in the insurance industry, knowledge is the best defense against risk.
