Frequently Asked Questions and Answers...

**H1N1 Decision Chart**  If you have flu symptoms use the guidelines in this table to help make the best decision for you and your loved ones

What is Pandemic?

What Should I do If I'm not Feeling Well?

What is H1N1 Influenza Virus?

How is H1N1 Spread?

How do I protect myself from getting H1N1?

What Are The Symptons of H1N1?

How Serious is H1N1?

When Should I Go See A Doctor?

Is There A Treatment for H1N1?

If I Have Been Diagnosed with H1N1, do I Have Immunity and Will I Still Need the Vaccine?

What is the Difference Between a Cold and the Flu?

How Can Influenza Be Prevented In The Workplace?

What Kind of Cleaning Can Help Prevent Influenza?

How Should A Workplace Respond to Staff or Clients with Influenza like Symptoms?

Are Workplace Settings To Be Closed?

 

What is a Pandemic?

A pandemic is when there is widespread transmission of the virus from person to person in several countries throughout the world.

A pandemic refers to the levels of virus activity and not the severity of the disease

What Should I do if I'm not Feeling Well?

A decision chart is included here which will help you determine the approriate course of action...

What is H1N1 Influenza Virus?

H1N1 refers to a subtype of influenza A viruses. This is a genetic mix of viruses that causes respiratory illness.

How is H1N1 spread?

H1N1 influenza is spread the same way as regular seasonal influenza:

• It can be spread directly from person to person through coughing or sneezing.

• It can be spread indirectly by touching contaminated items then touching the eyes, nose or mouth.

• Transmission is most likely to occur during the first few days of obvious illness. It is recommended that persons who are ill with influenza symptoms should stay home from work or school and limit contact with others and not return to routine activities outside the home until they feel well enough to return to regular daily activities.

• Influenza is a respiratory illness and cannot be spread through food.

How do I protect myself from getting H1N1?

There are very simple but effective measures that everyone can use to reduce their risk of getting sick:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water.

• Cough and sneeze into a tissue, throw the tissue away in the garbage and wash hands, or cough and sneeze into your arm.

• Clear shared surfaces frequently, such as telephones, computer keyboards, door handles etc.

• Stay two metres or six feet away from a coughing or ill person if you are able.

• Stay home if you are ill with mild to moderate symptoms.

What are the symptoms of H1N1?

Sudden onset of fever and cough.   There may also be sore throat, muscle aches, joint pain, chills, fatigue or weakness.  Vomiting and/or diarrhea may be present and fever may not be prominent.

How serious is H1N1?

Most H1N1 illness to date in Saskatchewan and Canada has been mild to moderate.

Severity can range from mild to severe and appears to be more severe in people with underlying illnesses including chronic lung diseases, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, immune deficiency, and in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy.

When should I go see a doctor?

You do NOT need to see a doctor if your symptoms are mild or moderate.

You should see a doctor as soon as possible if you have:

• difficulty breathing

• shortness of breath

• chest pain

• severe or persistent vomiting

• Adults - high fever that lasts more than two days

• Children – severe tiredness

• confusion or difficulty waking an ill person

If you do visit your doctor, you will not necessarily be tested to confirm you have the H1N1 strain of influenza.

Is there treatment for H1N1?

Antivirals:

• Antivirals are a prescription medication that help to reduce symptoms, shorten the length of illness and reduce the risk of complications.

• They should be taken after onset of symptoms – up to and including after 48 hours of onset of symptoms.

• Antivirals should only be given if symptoms are moderate to severe, or if influenza symptoms occur in individuals with underlying illness.

Vaccine:

• A vaccine will produce immunity to the disease.

• It will be available free to everyone who wants it throughout Saskatchewan.

• The clinics will be run by the health regions and some larger employers.

If I have been diagnosed with H1N1, do I have immunity and will I still need the vaccine?

In most cases, when a person is infected with an influenza virus and recovers, they develop antibodies that provide them with immunity to that particular virus. However, this immunity is not long-lasting; if someone who was already infected receives the vaccine, the result would be a further boost in their immunity without an increase in risk for complications. Therefore, in the case of the H1N1 flu virus, the vaccine will be recommended to everyone, including people who have already been diagnosed with H1N1.

What is the difference between a Cold and the Flu?

The difference between a Cold and the Flu

 

How can influenza be prevented in the workplace?

Hand Hygene :

• Wash hands after direct contact with individuals.

• Wash hands for 15 seconds using soap, friction and warm running water.

• Ensure areas for hand washing are kept well supplied.

• If unable to wash hands immediately, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Cough and sneeze hygiene:

• Cover nose and mouth with tissue when sneezing and coughing

• Use disposable, one-use tissues. If no tissue, cough into the arm.

• Be sure to wash hands or use alcohol based hand sanitizer after coughing, sneezing or using tissues and encourage children to do the same.

• Influenza can spread from hand to eye and nose contact – avoid touching these areas.

• Wearing a mask is not a necessary measure at this time.

What kind of cleaning can help prevent influenza?

Viruses can live on surfaces for up to 48 hours. Develop a facility routine for cleaning surfaces.  Hard surfaces that are touched frequently should be cleansed at least daily and when obviously soiled using any commonly available household cleaning products.  There is no special handling requirement for soiled laundry.  Handle all waste materials with usual precautions. Line or double line waste baskets and dispose daily.

How should a workplace respond to staff or clients with influenza like symptoms?

As is necessary with any respiratory illness, staff that develop a fever and cough should be requested to stay home until symptoms resolve. If the employee is ill enough, they need to seek medical attention.

Distance provides protection, so keeping some distance between staff and a coughing client and turning away while the client is coughing will decrease the risk of transmission.

Are workplace settings to be closed?

There is no recommendation to close workplaces in Saskatchewan. If there is sufficient staff to enable a workplace to function there is no need to close.