SWINE FLU ALERT
Swine
influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease in pigs caused by one of several swine influenza
A viruses.
Symptoms
Manifestations of swine influenza are similar to those of seasonal influenza. Patients present with symptoms of acute respiratory illness, including at least 2 of the following:
• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Body aches
• Headache
• Chills and fatigue
• Diarrhea and vomiting (possible)
Treatment Recommendations
• Patients who develop flulike illness (ie, fever with either cough or sore throat) should be strongly encouraged to self-isolate in their home for 7 days after the onset of illness or at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved, whichever is longer.
• To seek medical care, patient should contact their health care providers to report illness (by telephone or other remote means) before seeking care at a clinic, physician’s office, or hospital.
• Patients who have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath or who are believed to be severely ill should seek immediate medical attention.
• If the patient must go into the
community (eg, to seek medical care), he or she should wear a face mask to reduce the risk of spreading the virus in the community when coughing, sneezing, talking, or breathing. If a face mask is unavailable, ill persons who need to go into the community should use tissues to cover their mouth and nose while coughing.
• While in home
isolation, patients and other household members should be given infection control instructions, including frequent hand washing with soap and water. Use alcohol-based hand gels (containing at least 60% alcohol) when soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty. Patients with swine influenza should wear a face mask when within 6 feet of others at home.
Medications
Drugs indicated for treatment of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus include neuraminidase inhibitors (ie, oseltamivir and zanamivir).
Swine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease in pigs caused by one of several swine influenza A viruses.
Symptoms
Manifestations of swine influenza are similar to those of seasonal influenza. Patients present with symptoms of acute respiratory illness, including at least 2 of the following:
Fever
Cough
Sore throat
Body aches
Headache
Chills and fatigue
Diarrhea and vomiting (possible)
Treatment Recommendations
Patients who develop flulike illness (ie, fever with either cough or sore throat) should be strongly encouraged to self-isolate in their home for 7 days after the onset of illness or at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved, whichever is longer.
To seek medical care, patient should contact their health care providers to report illness (by telephone or other remote means) before seeking care at a clinic, physician’s office, or hospital.
Patients who have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath or who are believed to be severely ill should seek immediate medical attention.
If the patient must go into the community (eg, to seek medical care), he or she should wear a face mask to reduce the risk of spreading the virus in the community when coughing, sneezing, talking, or breathing. If a face mask is unavailable, ill persons who need to go into the community should use tissues to cover their mouth and nose while coughing.
While in home isolation, patients and other household members should be given infection control instructions, including frequent hand washing with soap and water. Use alcohol-based hand gels (containing at least 60% alcohol) when soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty. Patients with swine influenza should wear a face mask when within 6 feet of others at home.
Medications
Drugs indicated for treatment of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus include neuraminidase inhibitors (ie, oseltamivir and zanamivir).