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Friday, May 1

Swine Flu Information

by Blog Admin on Fri 01 May 2009 12:05 PM EDT

Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) infection have been identified in the United States and internationally. As of Wednesday, April 29, two cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Massachusetts; there are no confirmed cases in Boston. The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is working closely with state and federal health officials to increase surveillance and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Swine influenza (swine flu) is flu virus in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu; however, human infection can happen. Symptoms are similar to regular flu and include sudden fever, cough, muscle aches, headache, chills, and general weakness. Some people have also had diarrhea and vomiting. These symptoms can range from mild to severe.

Residents can take steps to protect themselves.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue every time you cough or sneeze. Then throw the used tissue in a waste basket. If you don't have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your upper sleeve.

Clean your hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. You can also use alcohol-based hand cleaner.

Do not go to work or school if sick. Stay home when you are sick. It is recommended that you stay at home for 7 days after you first get sick or for 24 hours after your symptoms have gone away, whichever is longer.

Try to limit contact with others to keep from getting them sick.

Information and Resources

For more information about swine flu and what the Commission is recommending, please read our our Swine Flu Fact Sheet <http://www.bphc.org/programs/Fact%20Sheets/CDC/Infectious%20Diseases/SwineFlu_FS_English_2009.pdf> and Frequently Asked Questions <http://www.bphc.org/programs/Fact%20Sheets/CDC/Infectious%20Diseases/SwineFluFAQ_FS_English_2009.pdf>. These documents are available in multiple languages in the right column of this page. Resources for health care providers, such as posters, are located at the bottom of this page. Residents can also follow us on Twitter <http://twitter.com/BosPublicHealth> and Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boston-MA/Boston-Public-Health-Commission/47308341278>. Multilingual videos are available on our YouTube channel <http://www.youtube.com/BostonPublicHealth>.

The World Health Organization <http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html> (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control <http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/> (CDC) are frequently updating their websites with swine flu information and guidance. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health <http://publichealth.blog.state.ma.us/> (MDPH) provides statewide updates, including a blog and podcasts.