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What is
H1N1 (swine) flu?
Why are
people concerned about this
particular strain?
What are
the symptoms of H1N1 flu?
How do you
catch H1N1 flu?
What’s the
incubation period for H1N1 flu?
What can I
do to protect myself from
getting sick?
What
should I do if I develop
flu-like symptoms?
What are fever reducing
medicines?
Are there
confirmed cases of H1N1 flu in
New Jersey?
Are there
any cases of H1N1 flu on campus?
Are the
people who tested positive still
on campus?
Will you
identify this individual so
people know to avoid him/her?
What
should I do if I think I have
been exposed to the flu?
I am an
employee feeling sick. Should I
still report to work?
I am a
visitor on campus and am
experiencing flu-like symptoms.
What should I do?
I had a
flu vaccine this year. Can I
still get H1N1 flu?
Is there a
vaccine available to protect me
against H1N1 flu?
Are there
anti-viral medications that I
can take?
Should
people take extra measures, like
wearing surgical masks to avoid
exposure?
What is H1N1 (swine) flu?
H1N1 (swine) Influenza is a
respiratory disease caused by the
type A influenza virus. This new
virus was first detected in people
in the United States in April 2009.
This virus
is spreading from person-to-person,
probably in much the same way that
regular seasonal influenza viruses
spread. This strain of influenza
virus usually affects pigs, but may
also make people sick. When an H1N1
flu influenza virus does affect a
human, there is a risk that the
animal influenza virus can change
genetically and then spread directly
between humans.
Why are people concerned about this
particular strain?
The current strain is a new
variation of an H1N1 virus, which is
a mix of human and animal versions
of H1N1 virus. The H1N1 flu viruses
are different genetically from the
human H1N1 viruses, and therefore
humans lack immunity to protect
against the H1N1 flu viruses. The
World Health Organization has urged
governments to take precautions to
prevent the spread of this strain of
H1N1 flu virus.
What are the symptoms of H1N1 flu?
Symptoms of H1N1 influenza are
similar to seasonal influenza and
include fever, cough, sore throat,
body aches, headache, chills and
fatigue. Some people have also
reported diarrhea and vomiting.
How do you catch H1N1 flu?
The current strain of H1N1 influenza
circulating around the world is
contagious and is believed to be
spreading among humans in the same
way that the seasonal flu spreads.
Influenza is thought to spread
primarily person-to-person through
coughing or sneezing by infected
people, or when someone touches
something with flu viruses on it and
then touches their mouth or nose.
Infected people may be able to
spread the virus to others beginning
one day (24 hours) before symptoms
develop, and up to seven or more
days after becoming sick. This means
it is important to practice good
hygiene at all times, even if you
have not developed symptoms, in
order to reduce the risk of
spreading sickness. [See also the
question below:
What can I do to protect myself from
getting sick?]
What’s the incubation period for
H1N1 flu?
Flu symptoms usually develop within
three to four days of contact with
an infected person, though it may
take up to seven days.
What can I do to protect myself from
getting sick?
It is important to practice good
hygiene at all times, and there are
everyday actions people can take to
stay healthy:
-
Cover
your nose and mouth with a
tissue when you cough or sneeze,
and properly dispose of the
tissue.
-
If you do not have a tissue,
sneeze or cough into the bend of
your arm rather than into your
hands to reduce the spread of
germs.
-
Wash
your hands often with soap and
water, especially after you
cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based
hands cleaners are also
effective.
-
Avoid touching your eyes, nose
or mouth to prevent the spread
of germs.
-
Try to avoid close contact with
sick people.
What should I do if I develop
flu-like symptoms?
Students:
Students experiencing flu-like
symptoms should stay home and call
their Primary Care Provider. If you
are living on campus, students
should immediately report to Health
Services at Downs Hall Room 126 or
call 908-737-4880 for testing. Upon
reporting to Health Services, please
let the front staff aware you are
experiencing flu-like symptoms.
After Hours, call Campus Police at
908-737-4800. [See also the above
question:
What are the symptoms of H1N1 flu?]
Faculty and Staff:
Faculty and staff experiencing
flu-like symptoms should stay home
and immediately contact their
personal physicians. Employees
should also notify Human Resources
at 908-737-3300.
***If you get sick, the
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
recommends that you
stay home until you are at least 24 hours
fever free without the use of fever
reducing medicines.
What are fever reducing medicines?
Fever reducing medicines include:
acetaminophen (Tylenol®),
ibuprofen (Motrin®,
Advil®), aspirin (this medication
should not be given to persons under
the age of 18), and naproxen
(Aleve®)
Are there confirmed cases of H1N1
flu in New Jersey?
New Jersey has joined the US Centers
for Disease Control in ceasing
reports of individual case counts of
confirmed and probable novel H1N1
flu. The nation's traditional
flu surveillance systems are now
being used to track both novel H1N1
and seasonal flu. Learn more by
visiting the Department's
Influenza Surveillance page,
Are
there any cases of H1N1 flu on
campus?
State and University health
officials confirmed that since
October 30, 2009, there have been four
individuals that tested positive for
H1N1 influenza during this Fall 2009
semester. The affected campus
members were moderately ill when
tested, and have since recovered.
The University is following the
guidelines of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention and
the New Jersey state health
department regarding medical
assessment and treatment.
Are the people who tested positive
still on campus?
An individual student or employee
who tests positive for H1N1 flu will
be removed from living on campus
and/or the workplace while being
treated for the virus. The
University is following guidelines
from federal and state health
officials that individuals with the
H1N1 virus should
stay home until they are 24 hours
fever free without the use of fever
reducing medicines
Will you identify individuals who
test positive so people know to
avoid them?
Personal health information is
private and the University is not
able to release the identity of an
individual receiving medical
treatment; it would be a violation
of federal health privacy rules.
However, we understand the concerns
of members of the University
community, and we want you to know
that University officials are in
regular communication with the New
Jersey local and state health
departments about this public health
issue. The University also is
following the guidelines recommended
by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention for medical
assessment and treatment of positive
cases, as well as following the
hygienic guidelines to minimize the
potential of the virus spreading to
other individuals on campus.
What
should I do if I think I have been
exposed to the flu?
Students, who were exposed to
someone who has told them they had
H1N1 flu or who are experiencing
flu-like symptoms should maintain
their distance from other
individuals and immediately call
their Primary Care Provider.
Students who live on campus should
immediately call Health Services at
908-737-4880 or Campus Police after
hours 908-737-74800 for
assistance. Upon reporting to Health
Services, please let the front staff
aware you are experiencing flu-like
symptoms or have been exposed to
someone who has had H1N1.
Faculty and staff experiencing
flu-like symptoms should return
home, maintain their distance from
others and immediately contact their
personal physicians. Employees
should also notify Human Resources
at 908-737-3300.
***If you get sick, the
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
recommends that you
stay home until you are at least 24 hours
fever free without the use of fever
reducing medicines
I am an employee feeling sick.
Should I still report to work?
If you are experiencing flu-like
symptoms, such as fever, cough, sore
throat, runny nose or vomiting,
employees should stay home from work
and notify your supervisor of your
absence. Employees feeling sick
should immediately contact their
personal physicians and their
department supervisor.
I am a
visitor on campus and am
experiencing flu-like symptoms. What
should I do?
If you are a visitor to campus you
should return home and immediately
call your Primary Care Provider.
I had a flu vaccine this year. Can I
still get H1N1 flu?
The flu vaccine provided during the
fall 2008 flu season does not
provide protection against the H1N1
influenza virus. There will be
a vaccine made available in Fall
2009 for H1N1 and a separate vaccine
for seasonal flu.
Is there a vaccine available to
protect me against H1N1 flu?
Vaccines are available to be given
to pigs to prevent H1N1 influenza,
but there currently is no vaccine to
protect humans from H1N1 flu.
According to the CDC, vaccines are a
very important part of a response to
pandemic influenza and the U.S.
There will be a vaccine made
available for H1N1 in Fall 2009.
Are there anti-viral medications
that I can take?
Antiviral drugs can be used to treat
H1N1 flu or to prevent infection
with H1N1 flu viruses, and they must
be prescribed by a health care
professional. At this time, the
release of effective antiviral
agents is being regulated by federal
and state health authorities. The
antivirals are being released to
hospitals and to pharmacies in very
restricted quantities. The state of
New Jersey has a stock available of
antivirals and will determine the
distribution of antivirals to
respond to public health needs.
Should people take extra measures,
like wearing surgical masks to avoid
exposure?
Because information on the
effectiveness of facemasks or
respirators for the control of
influenza in community settings is
limited, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention is currently
encouraging individuals to practice
good hygiene and take the normal
precautions to protect themselves as
they would from regular seasonal
flu. [See the above question:
What can I do to protect myself from
getting sick?]
Should you choose to purchase a
facemask, masks cleared by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
for use as medical devices have been
determined to help protect
penetration of blood and body
fluids. This includes facemasks
labeled as surgical, dental, medical
procedure, isolation or laser masks,
and these typically are available
for purchase at local pharmacies,
supermarkets or hardware stores.
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