By mid-November 2009, H1N1 influenza (swine flu) had infected approximately 22 million Americans since April; nearly 4,000 persons have died during the prolonged outbreak, based on statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta on Nov. 13.
The virus has spread across the globe, and the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6 in June.
Additionally, President Barack Obama declared the swine flu outbreak as a national health emergency in late October, an action which allows hospitals and local governments to quickly set up alternate sites and procedures, if needed, to handle any surge of patients, according to the White House.
The CDC estimates that 12 million adults younger than age 65 and 8 million children have become ill with H1N1 influenza; approximately 2 million older adults have exhibited flu symptoms.
Of those numbers, about 98,000 people have been hospitalized from swine flu or its complications, including 36,000 children, 53,000 adults younger than 65 and 9,000 older adults. (These numbers are based on statistics available through Oct. 17, 2009.)
Definition of H1N1 Influenza
The 2009 H1N1 virus (sometimes called swine flu), according to the CDC, is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. The new virus, detected among people in the United States in April 2009, is spreading from person to person worldwide in much the same way as regular seasonal flu viruses spread.
The virus originally was 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.
Further study has shown, however, that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates among North American pigs; it has two genes from flu viruses that usually circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia, plus bird (avian) genes and human genes — called a “quadruple reassortant” virus by scientists.
Risks
The 2009 H1N1 virus is contagious and spreads from human to human most likely in the same way that seasonal flu spreads — from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people who have influenza or sometimes by touching something (a surface or an object) with the flu virus on it and then by touching their nose or mouth.
Increased-risk populations include young children, pregnant women, people of any age who have certain chronic medical conditions, and adults younger than age 25. Although people 65 and older are the least likely to be infected with 2009 H1N1 flu, if they do get sick, they also are at high risk of developing serious complications from their illness, says the CDC.
Symptoms
According to the CDC, the symptoms of H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu, including H1N1, and have respiratory symptoms without fever.
Prevention Tips
The CDC suggests taking these everyday steps to protect your health:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze; throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. That’s how germs are spread.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you are sick with flu-like illness, the CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone, except to go for medical care or other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
- Keep away from others as much as possible so that you don’t make them sick.
- Cases have been noted related to H1N1 influenza in which normally healthy people develop secondary complications that have led to hospitalization and sometimes death.
- The Dallas County Health Department has posted suggestions concerning when individuals should seek treatment at an emergency room or urgent care center (PDF - 42KB).
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DCCCD Influenza Questions and Answers
See detailed responses to H1N1 influenza questions related specifically to DCCCD employees and students (PDF - 36KB), including policies and recommended procedures.
Additional Information
Many additional sources of information are available online, including federal, state and county sites. Visit these Web sites for details:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Dallas County Health Department
Texas Department of State Health Services
World Health Organization (WHO)