H1N1 Flu - Previously called Swine Flu
This virus was originally
referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory
testing showed that many of the genes in this
new virus were very similar to influenza viruses
that normally occur in pigs (swine) in North
America. But further study has shown that this
new virus is very different from what normally
circulates in North American pigs. It has two
genes from flu viruses that normally circulate
in pigs in Europe and Asia and bird (avian)
genes and human genes.
The U.S. Centers for Disease
Control (CDC), the Michigan Department of
Community Health and the Branch-Hillsdale-St.
Joseph Community Health Agency continue to take
aggressive action to respond to the expanding
outbreak. The response goals are to reduce
spread and illness severity, and provide
information to help health care providers,
public health officials and the public address
the challenges posed by this emergency.
Antiviral Guidance
The CDC has issued guidance for health care
providers on the use of antiviral medications
during the current outbreak. The priority use
for influenza antiviral drugs is to treat severe
influenza illness and people who are at high
risk of serious influenza related conditions.
School Guidance
As of May 5, 2009, the CDC recommends the
primary means to reduce spread of influenza in
schools focus on early identification of ill
students and staff, staying home when sick, and
good cough etiquette and frequent hand washing.
Decisions about school closure should be at the
discretion of local authorities based on local
considerations. The CDC has
developed a
comprehensive school toolkit for school
administrators in planning for the fall 2009
school year.
Parent Information Packets to send to
parents are also available for download.
Vaccination
A vaccine to protect against novel H1N1
influenza is expected to be available this fall.
CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices has made recommendations for a
voluntary novel H1N1 vaccination effort to
counter a possibly severe upcoming flu season.
Various clinical trials have begun, some under
the direction of the National Institutes of
Health and others by manufacturers under
contract with Health and Human Services
Vaccine Guidelines
The groups recommended to receive the novel H1N1
influenza vaccine include:
-
Pregnant women
because they are at higher risk of
complications and can potentially provide
protection to infants who cannot be
vaccinated;
-
Household contacts and
caregivers for children younger than 6
months of age because younger infants are at
higher risk of influenza-related
complications and cannot be vaccinated.
Vaccination of those in close contact with
infants less than 6 months old might help
protect infants by “cocooning” them from the
virus;
-
Healthcare and emergency
medical services personnel because
infections among healthcare workers have
been reported and this can be a potential
source of infection for vulnerable patients.
Also, increased absenteeism in this
population could reduce healthcare system
capacity;
-
All people from 6 months
through 24 years of age
-
Children from 6
months through 18 years of age because
we have seen many cases of novel H1N1
influenza in children and they are in
close contact with each other in school
and day care settings, which increases
the likelihood of disease spread, and
-
Young adults 19
through 24 years of age because we have
seen many cases of novel H1N1 influenza
in these healthy young adults and they
often live, work, and study in close
proximity, and they are a frequently
mobile population; and,
-
Persons aged 25 through
64 years who have health conditions
associated with higher risk of medical
complications from influenza.
H1N1 Clinics
Power Point Presentations
States With Confirmed Cases
Frequently Asked Questions
Preventing the Spread of Communicable Disease
Other Important Links
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