Get the Facts
Facts about the flu, H1N1, and flu pandemic
Flu
What is influenza (the “flu”)?
Prevent the seasonal flu: get vaccinated.
H1N1 (Swine Flu)
What is the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus?
How is the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus spread?
Is H1N1 (Swine Flu) contagious?
What are the signs and symptoms of H1N1 (Swine Flu) in people?
What should I do if I think I have H1N1 (Swine Flu)?
Can I get the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus from eating pork?
Is there a vaccine for H1N1 (Swine Flu)?
Are there medicines to treat H1N1 (Swine Flu)?
Are there any travel restrictions because of H1N1 (Swine Flu)?
Flu Pandemic
What are the symptoms of a pandemic flu infection?
How is the United States preparing for the next flu pandemic?
What is the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic?
What are the effects of a flu pandemic?
Will there be a vaccine available for pandemic flu?
Flu
What is influenza (the “flu”)?
The seasonal flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It usually causes a mild to severe illness and, less commonly, can lead to death. The best way to prevent catching the flu is by getting a flu shot each fall. The flu season in the U.S. usually lasts from December through March. Every year in the United States, approximately 36,000 people die from seasonal flu-related complications.
The symptoms of flu include fever, headache, cough, sore throat, chills, and muscle aches. Some people, such as the elderly, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications. These can include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, or worsening of chronic conditions such as heart problems or diabetes. Children can also have gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but these symptoms are uncommon in adults. Most people, however, recover from the seasonal flu within a two-week period.
How the flu spreads.
Flu viruses spread from person to person in respiratory airborne droplets caused by coughing and sneezing. Sometimes people become infected by touching something (i.e., a door knob or other surface) contaminated with flu viruses and then touching their mouth or nose.
Prevent the seasonal flu — get vaccinated.
The single best way to prevent the seasonal flu is to get a flu vaccination each fall, between October and November. There are two types of vaccines:
- The “flu shot” — An inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle.
- The nasal-spray flu vaccine — A vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu.
About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that protect against influenza virus infection. Seasonal flu vaccines will not protect against influenza-like illnesses caused by other viruses or protect against other influenza strains not in the current vaccine, such as avian flu The reason for this is the decision on which strains of flu to include in that year’s vaccine is based on what was most common the previous flu season, so brand “new” strains are usually not in the vaccine. You can learn more about seasonal flu by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
Influenza ABCs.
There are three main classes of influenza viruses: A, B, and C. Most human cases of flu illness are Type A or Type B, with A being more common. Influenza viruses also infect birds, pigs, horses, and other mammals — in fact some kinds of flu are mainly animal illnesses. In the past, where historical information is available, human pandemics have been Type A flu viruses.
There are many subtypes of the Type A influenza viruses. They differ because of variations in certain proteins on the surface of the influenza A virus called H (hemagglutinin) and N (neuraminidase) proteins. There are 16 known H subtypes and nine known N subtypes of influenza A viruses. Many different combinations of H and N proteins, and therefore many different subtypes, are possible. The influenza virus commonly changes from year to year, developing new subtypes.
H1N1 (Swine Flu)
What is the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus?
Swine flu is a group of respiratory diseases of pigs caused by a type A influenza virus (H1N1) that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza among pigs. H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus do not normally infect humans; however, human infections with swine flu do occur. Public health officials in the United States and throughout the world have determined that this strain of the H1N1 (Swine Flu) spreads from human-to-human and can cause illness.
How is H1N1 (Swine Flu) spread?
Spread of H1N1 (Swine Flu) is similar to the way the seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with the influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
Is H1N1 (Swine Flu) contagious?
The CDC has determined that this swine influenza (H1N1) is contagious and is spreading from human to human.
What are the signs and symptoms of H1N1 (Swine Flu) in people?
Symptoms of H1N1 (Swine Flu) are similar to the seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu.
What should I do if I think I have H1N1 (Swine Flu)?
If you feel ill, have high fever, cough and/or sore throat you should limit your contact with people as much as possible. If you are worried about your symptoms, you may want to contact your health care provider. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is necessary.
Can I get the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus from eating pork?
No, the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus is not spread by food. You cannot get swine flu by eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe. You should always prepare pork to 160 degrees F or 70 degrees C.
Is there a vaccine for H1N1 (Swine Flu)?
Currently, there are no vaccines for H1N1 (Swine Flu), nor is it thought that the current vaccine for seasonal flu provides protection for the current strain of H1N1 (Swine Flu).
Are there medicines to treat H1N1 (Swine Flu)?
Antivirals are types of prescription drugs that may help prevent or treat viral infection. The CDC recommends antiviral drugs in specific circumstances for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine flu. More information on antiviral drugs is available at the CDC website. In the case of a pandemic, the regional government health departments would coordinate distribution of anti-viral medication through recommendations on the priority order of patients to doctors.
Are there any travel restrictions because of H1N1 (Swine Flu)?
At this time, CDC recommends that U.S. travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico. Changes to this recommendation will be posted on the CDC Travel website.
Flu Pandemic
What is flu pandemic?
A flu pandemic is a global outbreak of influenza, according to the CDC. A flu pandemic happens when a new influenza virus emerges. This is called “antigenic shift” — where a sudden change causes the virus to infect humans effectively. The virus becomes highly infectious and contagious in humans. No prior immunity would exist from exposure to seasonal influenza, and no vaccine would be available for wide distribution. It can spread easily from person to person, cause serious illness and death, and can sweep across the country and around the world in a very short time.
Three conditions must be met for a human pandemic to start:
- A new influenza subtype that can infect humans emerges.
- It must cause illness in humans.
- It must spread easily between people and continue spreading among humans without major interruption.
H1N1 (Swine Flu) Influenza
The H1N1 influenza virus (also called the swine flu) has met the first two criteria and according to the WHO is capable of sustained human-to-human transmission. To date, swine flu virus outbreaks have been detected in several countries around the world, including several states in the U.S.
Avian Influenza
The H5N1 influenza virus (also called avian or bird flu) is currently spreading through wild birds and poultry in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. So far, it has met the first two criteria of a human pandemic — it’s a new virus that can infect humans, and it has caused rare cases of serious illness and death. However, to date, it has not met the third criteria. It has not been easily transmitted from human to human.
What are the symptoms of a pandemic flu infection?
The symptoms of a pandemic flu infection will likely be similar to those of seasonal flu, but they may last longer and be more severe.
How is the United States preparing for the next flu pandemic?
The United States is working with other nations and the World Health Organization (WHO) to strengthen systems to detect and contain outbreaks of viruses that may cause a pandemic. WHO uses a series of six phases of pandemic alert to inform the world of the seriousness of the threat and of the need for progressively more intense preparedness. The current WHO phase of pandemic alert is 5 -- evidence of increases in human-to-human transmission.
World Health Organization Pandemic Alert Phases
Inter-pandemic phase |
Low risk of human cases |
1 |
|---|---|---|
New virus in animals, no human cases |
Higher risk of human cases |
2 |
Pandemic alert |
No or very limited human-to-human transmission |
3 |
New virus causes human cases |
Evidence of increases in human-to-human transmission |
4 |
| Evidence of significant human-to-human transmission | 5 | |
Pandemic |
Efficient and sustained human-to-human transmission |
6 |
- The United States is improving vaccine technology in order to produce vaccines quickly and in large quantities.
- Preparedness information and checklists have been developed for different sectors of the economy and for individuals, families, and communities to help reduce the effects of a pandemic.
- The government is providing funding, advice, and other support to states to assist with pandemic preparation.
- The government is providing up-to-date information through www.pandemicflu.gov.
- The United States is stockpiling antiviral medicines, such as oseltamivir brand name Tamiflu, to treat certain high risk people who may get sick with pandemic flu.
What is the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic?
Epidemics and pandemics refer to the spread of infectious diseases among a population. An illness or health-related issue that is showing up in more cases than normally expected defines an “epidemic”. In the case of a “pandemic,” even more of the population is affected than in an epidemic, and it is more widespread around the world.
What are the effects of a flu pandemic?
A flu pandemic will have a significant impact on society. A pandemic could result in a large number of people falling ill, including children and young adults, with many deaths. A pandemic could also require restrictions on travel, alterations to normal business operations, and dismissal of students from school to help slow the spread of infection.
The United States was overwhelmed by the 1918–1919 flu pandemic, which caused the deaths of at least 675,000 Americans. If a pandemic of similar severity occurred today, 90 million Americans could become ill, and approximately two million Americans could die. In addition to the impact on human health, a flu pandemic presents a major threat to the world economy.
Will there be a vaccine available for pandemic flu?
A vaccine for pandemic flu may not be available for 4–6 months after a pandemic starts, and even then, it may be available only in limited amounts.
Information gathered from WHO and www.pandemicflu.gov.
*WHO only reports laboratory-confirmed cases.
Important information about links to other sites