Disease Course

H1N1 spreads through droplets, and lasts 4-5 days with 2-3 days of fever. Sufferers can shed the virus up to 7 days.

High Risk Populations to be vaccinated first:

• Pregnant women
• Caregivers for children <6 months of age
• Healthcare and Emergency Medical Personnel
• All people 6 months to 24 years of age
• Persons aged 25 to 64 years of age with high risk medical conditions

Symptoms include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Body aches
• Vomiting (rare)

Prevention

To limit the spread of any illness, follow the following tips.

• Frequent hand washing or use of hand sanitizer
• Cover nose and mouth when sneezing
• Frequent cleaning of work space
• Self isolation of faculty/staff/students with flu like symptoms
• Social distancing. A minimum of 6 ft. if possible, mask for infected individual if necessary
• Vaccination when available

Influenza Self Care

If suffering from:

• A documented fever of 100 degrees or more (checked with a thermometer)
• Congestion, cough or soreness
• Symptoms occurred quickly (within 12 to 24 hours)

But are not suffering from:

• A rash that wasn’t there before

There is an 80% probability that you may have influenza or another illness. (Some of the symptoms of influenza are the same as other illnesses.)

Schedule an appointment with the Health Center asap at 684-6078. (At least 48 to 72 hours of the start of your symptoms if possible) If your symptoms are mild, treat the symptoms with over-the-counter medications and drink plenty of fluids (water, juice, Gatorade, etc.) to stay hydrated.

The Health Center is open Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. If you have flu-like symptoms during off-hours and feel you need medical attention, contact the Community Memorial Hospital in Hamilton.

Follow up with the Health Center at 684-6078 if your symptoms become more severe or if there is no improvement in a few days.