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Seasonal Flu |
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H1N1 Flu |
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What is...? |
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The Flu is an infection caused by influenza viruses. There are many different flu viruses and new flu viruses emerged in humans making people sick every year.
The most active influenza viruses in humans are H1N1 and H3N2.
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H1N1 is a very common sub-family of influenza viruses and many virus members of this family cause seasonal flu each year.
2009 H1N1 flu is a new flu virus that is spreading worldwide among people.
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Contagious? |
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Is contagious and spread person-to-person within 3 to 6 feet through coughing or sneezing by infected persons. People may become infected by touching contaminated surfaces or objects and then touching their mouth or nose. |
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Same as seasonal flu; contagious period: 1 day before getting sick to 5 to 7 days after the onset of symptoms. This can be longer in someone, especially children and people with a weakened immune system. |
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Common symptoms? |
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Fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue
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Same as seasonal flu
Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea.
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How severe? |
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Ranged from mild to severe and at times can lead to death
“Each year, in the United States, on average 36,000 people die from flu-related complications and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related causes. Of those hospitalized, 20,000 are children younger than 5 years old. Over 90% of deaths and about 60 percent of hospitalization occur in people older than 65.” - CDC www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm
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“The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza based on the 122 Cities Report has increased and has been higher than what is expected at this time of year for four weeks now (Oct, 2009 ).” – CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly |
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Who are at "high risk" of serious complication? |
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Children younger than 5 years of age, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions includes asthma, diabetes, heart disease, kidney or liver disease, and diseases that impair the immune system such as active cancer or HIV , children taking long-term aspirin, elderly patients. |
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Same as seasonal flu except that people younger than 25 years of age more at risk than older people.
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Testing |
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Rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) – usually done in doctor’s office, is quick but does NOT distinguish between different family members of influenza |
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Can only be detected by special laboratory test called RT- PCR that distinguishes between different family members of influenza, however must be sent to outside laboratory. |
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Vaccines |
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2009-2010 seasonal flue vaccine contains three viruses: 2007 H1N1-like, 2007 H3N2-like, and an influenza B virus. |
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Contains the 2009 influenza A H1N1 |
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What types of vaccines are available? |
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Live, attenuated (weakened) influenza vaccine called LAIV given as a nasal spray.
Inactivated influenza vaccine called the “flu shot” given as a shot through a syringe.
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Same as seasonal flu |
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Who can get either the LAIV or Inactive shots |
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Patients from 2 to 49 years old who are not pregnant and who do not fit into the category below. |
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Same as seasonal flu |
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Who can get only the inactive shots |
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Patients with asthma or other chronic conditions, patients between 6 months and 2 years old, and patients older than 50 years. |
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Same as seasonal flu |
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What besides vaccination are the best and easiest ways of preventing flu? |
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Cover your mouth and nose when coughing, stay home when sick and avoid contact with sick people, wash hands often with soap and water, eat healthily, drink fluids. |
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Same as seasonal flu |
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