SWINE FLUWhat you need to know to help

protect yourself and your students from this potentially fatal H1N1 virus.

Intended For the Pasadena Independent School District Administration, Faculty, and Staff

Eric Brown, Ph.D. student Walden University

PH 8165-1 Environmental HealthInstructor: Dr. Joanne Flowers

Fall Quarter, 2009

Learning Objectives

• What is the Swine Flu• Facts & Myths of H1N1• How It Spreads• The Symptoms• Who’s At Risk• Prevention Methods• Action Methods

Swine Flu Basics

• New Flu Virus• Not Related to Seasonal Flu Viruses• Originated from Swine (Hence Swine Flu)•Can Affect Anybody at Any Age• Vaccination is Most Effective Preventative• Spreads The Same As Normal Seasonal Flu• Causes Death Due To Little Or No Immunity

Facts And Myths About Swine Flu

•Myth – The new vaccine is unsafe and untested• Myth – It cost to much to

get Vaccinated• Myth – You can get infected by eating pork

•Fact – Clinical trials have been conducted and it is

approved by the FDA• Fact – There are many community clinics providing the vaccine at NO CHARGE!• Fact – Consuming properly

handled and cooked pork has no risk of causing infection

How It Spreads

• Like Seasonal Flu• Person-to-Person• Coughing• Sneezing• Infected Hands• Infected Surfaces

Signs And Symptoms

• Fever• Cough• Sore Throat• Runny or Stuffy Nose• Sneezing• Body Aches• Headache• Chills • Fatigue• Vomiting• Diarrhea

Emergency Warning Signs

• Fast Breathing• Trouble Breathing• Bluish Skin• Not Drinking• Not Waking Up• Very Irritable• Fever With Rash• Symptoms Improve,Then Come Back And Get

Worse

•Have Students Or Yourself Seek Immediate

Medical Attention With Any Of The Above Symptoms

Who’s At Risk

• Everyone Including Healthy People• Largest Number of Cases

Were People Between 5 and 24 years of age• Most susceptible are children under 5, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions, and people over 65

How Can You Prevent It?

• Get Vaccinated • Educate and encourage students to cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing• Remind Students to practice good hygiene•Clean classrooms and hand use items with disinfectants

What To Do When “It” Strikes

• Have Personal Protective Equipment such

as masks available• Extend the time sick people stay home by 24 hours after symptoms are gone• Allow “high-risk” people

to stay home• Conduct symptom screening• Stay in touch with local Health Department

RECAP – Main Points

• Spreads The Same As Normal Seasonal Flu• Can Affect Anybody at Any

Age• Vaccination is Most Effective Preventative• Educate Students About Proper Hygiene• Allow Staff and Students

to Stay Home for an Extra 24 Hours

• Watch for Emergency Signs and Symptoms• Stay In Touch With Local

Health Department

Any Questions?

Further ReadingCDC Websites

• http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm

• http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/• http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/grou

ps.htm• http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/back

ground.htm• http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/scho

ols/toolkit/teacherfactsheet.htm• http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/scho

ols/toolkit/pdf/schoolflutoolkit.pdf

• http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/frequently_asked_questions/about_disease/en/index.html

• http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/

• http://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/How_To_HandWash_Poster.pdfhttp://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/frequently_asked_questions/what/en/index.html

World Health Organization Websites

ReferencesCDC. (2009, September 24). 2009 H1N1 Flu ("Swine Flu”)

and You. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Retrieved October 24, 2009, from H1N1 Flu: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm

CDC. (2009, August 9). Action Steps for Schools to Prevent the Spread of Flu. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Retrieved October 24, 2009, from H1N1 Flu: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/schools/toolkit/actionsteps.htm

CDC. (2009, July 31). Novel H1N1 Flu: Background on the Situation. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Retrieved October 24, 2009, from H1N1 Flu: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/background.htm

CDC. (n.d.). Preparing for the Flu (Including 2009 H1N1 Flu).

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Retrieved October 24, 2009, from School Flu Toolkit: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/schools/toolkit/pdf/schoolflutoolkit.pdf

CDC. (2009, August 7). Teacher Fact Sheet - Action Steps for

Teachers to Prevent the Spread of Flu. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Retrieved October 24, 2009, from H1N1 Flu: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/schools/toolkit/teacherfactsheet.htm

CDC. (2009, August 5). What To Do If You Get Sick: 2009 H1N1 and Seasonal Flu. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Retrieved October 24, 2009, from H1N1

Flu: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm

HHS. (2009, October 21). CDC Guidance for State and Local Public Health Officials and School Administrators for School (K-12) Responses to Influenza during the 2009-2010 School Year. (Department of Health and Human Services) Retrieved October 24, 2009,

from Flu.Gov: http://www.flu.gov/professional/school/schoolguidance.html

HHS. (2009). Flu Myths and Realities. (Department of Health and Human Services) Retrieved October 24, 2009, from

Flu.Gov: http://www.flu.gov/myths/index.html

WHO. (2009, April). Influenza (Seasonal). (World Health Organization) Retrieved October 24, 2009, from Fact Sheets:

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs211/en/index.html

WHO. (2009, June 11). What is the New Influenza A (H1N1)? (World Health Organization) Retrieved October 24,

2009, from Global Alert and Response (GAR): http

://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/ frequently_asked_questions/about_disease/en/index.html