The H1N1 Virus

[ElectricBarbarella]

**I am changing names to protect the crazy but I just received this from someone I generally can trust (at least homeschooling/age wise):

Thing One and Thing Two,

I attended the monthly luncheon today with the Emergency Operation Center. The focus was on the Novel H1N1 flu outbreak. It is here. It’s not the horrific type they expected but it is still expected to last a while. Many families are re-infecting themselves because they are not taking individual precautions. So far there are 42 confirmed cases but since they don’t expect it to be as serious as once thought, they are not even testing for it as previously done. There have been 0 deaths.

MOTTO: “IF IT’S WET AND IT’S NOT YOURS...DON’T TOUCH IT” (I see a problem with the little ones in each family)

Basically, if you have flu symptoms, you have the Novel H1N1 virus. What makes this different is that it’s 2 parts “human” strain; 1 part “swine” strain and 1 part “avian” strain. So we have it all; it is already a pandemic. It’s been here since late April/early May.

Tomorrow, there will be a joint news briefing by the BLANKETYBLANK Health Dept, School Board and the Emergency Management group. BLANKTV will film for presentation at a later date. I am not sure what papers will be there. They expect a problem and resurgence when school starts. There will be more cases, more people infected and a longer term. One group they do not even know about or have considered until I mentioned it today is the Homeschool group. We get together for skating, small groups, co-ops, lessons, etc. so I feel we must know what to do and what the danger symptoms are.

The primary transmission or spreading is LARGE DROPLET NUCLEI. If you are hit with someone’s sneeze or cough, you will get it. So we need to teach our parents and children what to do to help prevent this from becoming worse that they expect. Most of the cases are the young between 6 mo and 24 years old. Anyone with a risk factor such as pregnancy, diabetes, asthma or heart disease should take extra precaution. It’s unusual in people who are over 60 years old because we have been exposed to flu viruses since we were young and before there were vaccines.

Prevention from spreading
1) Sneeze into either your shoulder or your elbow if you do not have a Kleenex.
2) Wash your hands after sneezing or coughing as well as bathroom duties.
3) Use the hand sanitizers as long as they are at least 60% alcohol.
4) Stay home from activities or classes if you are sick

Knowing the incubation/contagious period is the hard part. One is contagious for 1 day BEFORE you know you have it and for 7 days after you have the flu. If one has a fever of 100+, ISOLATE for one full day AFTER the fever breaks. So, if someone in your family has a fever and has it for two days, ISOLATE for THREE days.

Here are the EMERGENCY signs that need to watched, especially in young children.

Emergency Warning Signs
If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.
In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish or gray skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Severe or persistent vomiting
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

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough


Vaccine will be available in late Nov/ Dec. for all who want it and will be given in three phases:
Phase 1: High risk- those who are pregnant; under 24 years of age; healthcare workers; Emergency personnel; adults 24-50 with a medical condition
Phase 2: Emergency Services
Phase 3: All others if supply remains

The vaccine is a 2 shot series and can be taken in conjunction with the seasonal vaccine. I know many of our families are against all vaccines and that is their personal choice. However, I feel this information needs to be available to those in the homeschool community that want the information.

But Remember...Be Flexible -Time frames change and there is nothing the Health Department can do about it.

I need to either debunk this or find out of it is actually true. Having two asthmatics, they would fall in Phase 1. DD has been hospitalized with something "minor" before, so if this is true, I want to nip it in the bud now.

Is there anything in here that is/isn't true?
(aside from the general knowledge to wash hands, etc. and how to cover your nose, etc.. and the general signs/symptoms)


(I should add that the person who sent this isn't one of the "crazy". She's actually on the emergency disaster team and is a DAR as well as Coast Guard)

[mela681]

I took my kids to the pediatrician Friday for check ups and he said that they have seen several cases of the H1N1 virus in the last couple of weeks and that it would only get worse as flu season got closer. He said that the vaccine would be available in October (I think). He didn't seem too incredibly worried about it, though. He just gave us the info as he was telling us when the flu shots would be in.

[ElectricBarbarella]

See, and last I heard it was still in the testing stages. And this email is making it sound like my DD will have to get a total of 3 shots: her normal flu, and the two this one offers.

Can you do that? Back to back flu shots like that?

[AnglRdr]

It is still in the testing phase, but, as I understand, like all other flu vaccines, it's just a one-jabber.

But really, for questions like this, you should ask your doctor.

[ElectricBarbarella]

Originally Posted by AnglRdr

It is still in the testing phase, but, as I understand, like all other flu vaccines, it's just a one-jabber.

But really, for questions like this, you should ask your doctor.

He's next. Phone call in the morning. I am more concerned with whether or not this is actually true because this person, while usually credible, is quite knee-jerk and the email has already been passed around.

So, I thought I'd come here and ask if anyone knew anything that I could point them to, regarding this.

[damian]

We're just coming out of flu season. Out of hundreds of reported cases, I think there's been about half a dozen deaths. In each case, the victim also had a more serious condition (eg. cancer).

After the initial scare mongering by the media, everyone seems to have stopped worrying. It hasn't really been news for a while now.

[Banrion]

Here is what the CDC has to say.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm

The novel H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine – it is intended to be used along-side seasonal flu vaccine.

So it will be multiple shots to cover H1N1 plus normal flu.

They are also recommending vaccination for the standard high risk categories as well as

All people from 6 months through 24 years of age
Children from 6 months through 18 years of age because we have seen many cases of novel H1N1 influenza in children and they are in close contact with each other in school and day care settings, which increases the likelihood of disease spread, and
Young adults 19 through 24 years of age because we have seen many cases of novel H1N1 influenza in these healthy young adults and they often live, work, and study in close proximity, and they are a frequently mobile population;

[llewtrah]

No flu shots for me. I'm one of those people that get flu even after flu shots (I used to have to have the shots when I worked in a hospital and found out I don't develop any immunity as a result). OTOH this means more flu shots available for others.

My cat sneezed on me last night - will I get cat flu too

[Magpye]

We'll get the regular flu shots this fall, but not the H1N1 shots - because we both just had it a couple of weeks ago. It wasn't bad at all, even though I'm pregnant and Bryan's on immuno-suppressants. It would probably be bad for asthmatics, though, since it caused a cough that has lingered, in me anyway, for close to three weeks.

[Hero_Mike]

Originally Posted by Magpye

We'll get the regular flu shots this fall, but not the H1N1 shots - because we both just had it a couple of weeks ago. It wasn't bad at all, even though I'm pregnant and Bryan's on immuno-suppressants. It would probably be bad for asthmatics, though, since it caused a cough that has lingered, in me anyway, for close to three weeks.

Check CBC news, as some of the H1N1 flu deaths in Canada have been pregnant women who are otherwise healthy and young.

[Chloe]

Originally Posted by Hero_Mike

Check CBC news, as some of the H1N1 flu deaths in Canada have been pregnant women who are otherwise healthy and young.

Are you suggesting that she will get it twice?

[Hero_Mike]

Originally Posted by Chloe

Are you suggesting that she will get it twice?

No, sorry, just using the thread to bring to light this bit of potentially useful information. The article I read mentioned that the risks from H1N1 are much higher for pregnant women. As if they needed another "risk"....

[Chloe]

Oh, hush--it's just an "inconvenience"!

[Magpye]

Originally Posted by Hero_Mike

No, sorry, just using the thread to bring to light this bit of potentially useful information. The article I read mentioned that the risks from H1N1 are much higher for pregnant women. As if they needed another "risk"....

No, that's all right - I'd heard the risks were higher for pregnant women and was very happy, and a bit surprised, that neither of us had a very bad case.

[Brad from Georgia]

Our college has several cases of H1N1 right now. The official response is that we are supposed to tell the students to wash their hands. Compulsively. I hope it helps.

[Nick Theodorakis]

Originally Posted by Brad from Georgia

Our college has several cases of H1N1 right now. The official response is that we are supposed to tell the students to wash their hands. Compulsively. I hope it helps.

It's not because you're teaching Macbeth this semester?

Nick

[htonl]

Originally Posted by Brad from Georgia

Our college has several cases of H1N1 right now. The official response is that we are supposed to tell the students to wash their hands. Compulsively. I hope it helps.

My university's web page on the flu (we also have a few cases) includes the advice to "avoid all events where you will come closer than two metres to other people". This is not advice that is easy to follow if one wants to, say, attend lectures and tutorials. Or, indeed, if one wants to eat in the cafeteria.

[DawnStorm]

Originally Posted by Hero_Mike

No, sorry, just using the thread to bring to light this bit of potentially useful information. The article I read mentioned that the risks from H1N1 are much higher for pregnant women. As if they needed another "risk"....

I've heard that about pregnant women as well. What's the risk factor for regular flu other than Junior sneezing and getting snot in your uterus?

[Brad from Georgia]

As usual these days, we seem lodged between a rock and a hard place. We're told "Because of privacy laws, you cannot discuss a student's health with anyone. If a student tells you he or she has the flu, you can't talk about it to other students, faculty or staff."

And later in the same document, "Teachers who know of confirmed cases of H1N1 in their classes must give the name and ID number of the ill students to...." the department that is charged with monitoring health on campus.

I've heard that the college administration has been pressed by some students to hire a campus nurse (or nurse practitioner) and establish an on-campus clinic. Of course we have no money or space for that (one faculty office is currently being shared by five teachers). One faculty member told me, "That's a stupid idea. All the students would just use an on-campus clinic for free health care."

[Magpye]

Originally Posted by DawnStorm

I've heard that about pregnant women as well. What's the risk factor for regular flu other than Junior sneezing and getting snot in your uterus?

I did a little internet research when I was sick... the risks (to the fetus) seem to be confined largely to situations where the mother has a sustained fever of 102 F or higher, or is in the first trimester (or, more likely, both). The fetus can't regulate its temperature, so if the mother's running a fever, so is the baby. Apparently developmental damage, particularly brain damage, or miscarriage can result from prolonged (24 hours or more) first-trimester fevers. I doubt that the H1N1 risks to the fetus are any different; the concern seems to be that pregnant women are more susceptible to this strain of flu, or that it's more likely to cause additional risk factors (high fever or others) that would put the mother at greater risk than the average flu strain would.

All of this is, as I said, Google-based research and may not be completely accurate, let alone conclusive, but the sources I found seemed to be consistent. For my part, I was in the mid-second trimester and found that acetaminophen kept my fever down quite easily, which was a relief.