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From the Hawaii State Department
of Health Communications Office - H1N1 FAQs
5-12-09
H1N1 Influenza: Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs)
1. What is H1N1 flu (swine flu)?
H1N1 (referred to as swine flu early on)
is a new influenza (flu) virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first
detected in people in the
2. Is the new H1N1 flu here in Hawaii?
Yes. H1N1 flu cases have been reported in
Hawaii. For the most updated case count of laboratory confirmed H1N1 infections in
Hawaii and the rest of the
3. Is this new H1N1 flu contagious?
Yes. This virus is contagious and can spread from
person to person much like seasonal flu.
4. What are the signs and symptoms of the new
H1N1 flu?
The new H1N1 flu illness is similar to the regular
flu. The symptoms include:
Fever
Cough
Sore throat
Body aches
Headache
Chills
Fatigue or tiredness
Some patients also have diarrhea and
vomiting.
Like the regular flu, the new H1N1 flu may cause
chronic medical conditions to get worse.
5. Is there a vaccine against the new H1N1 flu?
Scientists are working on making a vaccine for this
new H1N1 flu, but it may not be ready for several months.
6. What can I do to protect myself from getting
sick?
Although there is no vaccine available right now to
protect against the new H1N1 flu, there are things you can do to keep from getting sick:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue
(Kleenex) when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for
at least 20 seconds, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners
(hand gels) also work.
Avoid close contact with sick people.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Germs spread this way.
7. Will the flu vaccine I received this year
protect me from the new H1N1 flu?
No. The new H1N1 flu virus is different from the
viruses in the regular flu vaccine it is not expected to give protection against it. It is
still a good idea to get the regular flu vaccine every year because it can protect against
seasonal influenza viruses
8. How do you catch new H1N1 flu?
You can catch the new H1N1 flu in two ways:
By contact with a
person infected and still contagious with the new H1N1 flu. Person-to-person spread is
believed to happen in the same way as regular flu: by coughing or sneezing of people sick
with H1N1 flu. People may also become infected by touching something with flu viruses on
it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes.
By contact with infected pigs or environments
contaminated with the new H1N1 flu virus.
9. How long is a person with new H1N1 flu
contagious?
An adult with H1N1 flu may be contagious a day
before they show symptoms of being sick, and 7 days after becoming sick. Children may be
contagious for 10 days after getting sick with H1N1 flu.
10. What should I do if I get sick?
If you become ill with flu-like symptoms, such as
fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you should
contact your doctor. Your doctor will help decide if you need flu testing or treatment.
You should stay home and avoid contact with other
people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.
11. What warning signs should I watch for?
If children are sick and have any of the
following signs, they should see a doctor immediately:
Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not interacting (not talking
or moving)
Being very cranky, child does not want to be
held
Flu-like symptoms get better but then come
back with fever and are more serious
Bad cough
Fever with a rash
In adults, the emergency signs include:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
(belly)
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting
Adults with symptoms listed above should see a
doctor immediately.
12. Are there medicines to treat H1N1 flu?
Yes. Prescription antiviral medications
(oseltamivir/Tamiflu or zanamivir/Relenza) are available to treat swine-origin flu, but
most illnesses seen in the
Medicines such as acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) and
ibuprofen (e.g. Motrin, Advil) can help make people with flu feel better. If you have a
medical condition such as liver, stomach, or kidney problems or take certain medicines
(such as blood thinners like coumadin) you should talk with your doctor before using these
medicines.
Children should avoid taking aspirin while ill with
the flu. Talk with your childs doctor if they take aspirin for medical reasons.
13. Are these antiviral medicines available in
Hawaii?
Yes. Two main sources of anti-influenza medications
are available. These medicines are available through prescription if a doctor believes
their patient should be treated with the antiviral medication. (There is no ongoing
shortage of treatment medications.)
14. Is it safe for children to attend school or
childcare?
Yes. School closures are not currently being
recommended unless staff or faculty absenteeism affects a schools ability to
function safely. Children who are sick with a fever and cough or sore throat should stay
home from school until they are well.
15. Is it safe for adults to go to work?
Yes. If additional cases of new flu are seen in
Hawaii, your employer may have plans for you to change your work schedule. If you
become sick, especially with a fever and cough or sore throat, you should stay home from
work until you have recovered. If your doctor suspects that you may have new H1N1 flu you
will be asked to stay home for at least seven days.
16. Can I get infected with this new H1N1 virus from
eating or preparing pork?
No. H1N1 viruses are not spread by food. You cannot
get this new H1N1 virus from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and
cooked pork products is safe.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS RELEASE
October 4, 2008
Contact person: Quince Mento, Civil
Defense Administrator at 935-0031
County Unveils New Mass Emergency Notification
System
The Hawai'i County Civil Defense
Agency has just acquired a new Mass Emergency Notification System, which allows for County
agencies to easily notify the public in the event of emergencies.
The City Watch is an electronic notification system
that can notify residents about evacuations or other emergency measures via phone or
email.
This new system allows us more
flexibility and speed to notify communities of an impending or imminent emergency, with
appropriate measures for residents to follow, said Civil Defense Administrator
Quince Mento. It will supplement the more
traditional means of communicating with the public such as radio broadcasts.
The system was purchased by State
Civil Defense and was given to the County as a pilot project, Mento said. The system uses maps with registered
residents phone numbers and addresses to target specific communities on the island.
We can use a computer generated
map to focus on say, Waikoloa or Puako, to alert residents to evacuate in the event of a
brush fire, Mento said. The system once
activated sends residents registered on the system a brief voice and email message. This system will only be activated in major
emergencies, Mento said.
Hawaii County residents need to
register for City Watch notification messages by either mailing their contact information
to: County of
The pilot stage of the project will be free to the County, and
subsequent years the County will pay an annual fee of approximately $40,000. The system is used in numerous communities, notably
in
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