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<Home>
<Newsletter> <Third
Issue> <The
2009 H1N1 Pandemic Disease> <Surveillance, Forecasting and Response:
Influenza A (H1N1)>
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Issue No. 003/09 |
20
November2009
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Main Topic:
H1N1 FLU
(SWINEFLU)
THE
2009 H1N1 PANDEMIC DISEASE
Surveillance,
Forecasting and Response
Influenza
A (H1N1)
Key
messages for the public on influenza A(H1N1)
General
information
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Influenza
caused by a new strain of the A(H1N1) virus is transmitted from human
to human. When infected people cough or sneeze, infected droplets
get on their hands, drop onto surfaces, or are dispersed into the
air. Another person can breathe in contaminated air, or touch infected
hands or surfaces, and be exposed.
-
This
new strain of influenza A(H1N1) is sensitive to medicines called oseltamivir
and zanamivir.
-
Since
this strain of influenza A(H1N1) was never detected in humans before,
there is no vaccine against it yet. Manufacture of a new influenza
vaccine can take 5 to 6 months, or more.
-
The
number of cases is changing on an hourly/daily basis
-
Not
every case of influenza is caused by this new strain of influenza
A(H1N1).
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Influenza
is a visible disease. Therefore, countries can easily detect an unusual
increase in number of cases.
-
The
disease cannot be transmitted by mosquitoes or flies.
-
Influenza
is not a food-borne disease and influenza viruses are not known to
be transmissible to people through eating processed pork or other
food products derived from pigs. Heat treatments commonly used in
cooking meat (e.g. 70°C/160°F core temperature) will readily inactivate
any viruses potentially present in raw meat products.
Things
you can do to protect yourself and others
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Avoid
crowded places.
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Cover
your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
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Dispose
of tissues in the garbage after use.
-
Avoid
hugging, kissing and shaking hands when greeting.
-
Wash
your hands regularly with water and soap, especially after sneezing
or coughing.
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Avoid
close contact with sick people.
-
Avoid
touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
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If
sick with influenza, stay at home from work or school and limit contact
with others to keep from infecting them.
-
If
you have influenza symptoms after having traveled to an affected area
or having been in contact with a person coming back from an affected
area, seek medical advice as soon as possible.
| IOMS
Newsletter - 20 November 2009 |
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Issue
No. 003/09
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