What's New

Swine Flu Information

Posted on: 04/30/2009

Swine Flu Information 
 
Swine Influenza (Swine Flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza.  Previously humans were infected through close contact with pigs, but recently human to human transmission has been documented.  Though the influenza vaccine provides protection against influenza A, the influenza vaccine does not protect against Swine Flu.  As of 4/29/09, 91 cases of Swine Flu have been reported in the United States, which includes 51 cases in New York. 

The symptoms of Swine Flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with Swine Flu. Like Seasonal Flu, Swine Flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions and rarely, may lead to more serious complications. Take 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, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.  In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash

Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products.

For further information and up to date stats, please check out the CDC website: 

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/