HEALTH INFO

IMPORTANT SWINE FLU INFORMATION:

The H1N1 (Swine) Influenza is a highly contagious but relatively mild form of the flu. It originated in Mexico and has rapidly spread throughout the United States and the rest of the world.

In order to protect yourself, your family and the entire community, please take the following simple steps:

• If you are ill, stay home from work and/or school. If your illness includes fever in excess of 100 degrees in conjunction with sore throat, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, aches and pains, etc., please see your physician.
• Wash your hands at least six times daily, especially after you cough or sneeze. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into your elbow not your hands.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread rapidly in that manner.

There is no vaccine as yet for H1N1 Influenza, however, there are anti-viral medications which may lessen the severity of the illness. Please only take anti-virals under the direction of a physician, otherwise they will lose their effectiveness and you will suffer side-effects needlessly.

In children, emergency warning signs that need medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Being so irritable, the child does not want to be held
• Fever with a rash
• Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever
• Not waking up or not interacting

In adults, emergency warning signs include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Pain or pressure in the chest
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

For further information, contact the Fort Lee Health Department at 201-592-3500 x 1510. A great deal of information is also available on the CDC web-site at http://www.cdc.gov/swine/flu. Also please see the Pandemic Flu Home Care Manual.