• About Us
  • Governance
  • Strategic Plan
  • Staff
  • Patient Services
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
• Advocacy & Policy
  • Community Benefit
  • Oregon RAC
  • State Issues
  • Federal Issues
  • Action Alerts
  • Government Links
  • OHPAC
• Rural Health
  • Oregon Landscape
  • Rural Issues
  • Strategic Plan
  • Annual Summit
  • Calendar
• Quality & Education
  • Initiatives & Programs
  • Accountability
  • Hospital Workforce
  • Nurse Staffing
  • Patient Safety Reporting
  • Quality Resources
  • Regulatory & Accreditation
  • Calendar
• Data & Resources
  • Hospital Utilization
  • HUR Reports
  • State Comparisons
  • AAPCC Rates
  • Uncompensated Care
  • PricePoint
  • DATABANK
  • Terminology
• Member Services
  • Allied Members
  • Hospital Members
  • Associate Members
  • Create an Account
  • Members Only Area
• Newsroom
  • Press Releases & RSS
  • Media Resources
  • Publications & Hospital Voice
  • Member News & Alerts
  • Calendar
  • Contact OAHHS

Patient Information: H1N1 Flu

OREGON H1N1 RESOURCES:

• Oregon Public Health Division: http://www.flu.oregon.gov/
• Oregon Public Health Hotline: 1-800-978-3040
• Oregon county health departments: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/lhd/lhd.shtml
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm
• Federal pandemic H1N1 flu information: http://www.flu.gov
• Disaster Preparedness Regional Coordinators

CONTENTS:

• CDC Guidelines for Infection Control
• CDC Hospital-Recommended H1N1 Toolkit
• CDC Flu View: National surveillance 
• Commonly Asked Questions
• Contamination & Cleaning
• Prevention & Treatment

Commonly Asked Questions

What is 2009 H1N1 (swine flu)?
2009 H1N1 (referred to as "swine flu" early on) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a pandemic of 2009 H1N1 flu was underway.

Why is 2009 H1N1 virus sometimes called "swine flu"?
This virus was originally referred to as "swine flu" because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs (swine) in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and bird (avian) genes and human genes. Scientists call this a "quadruple reassortant" virus.

2009 H1N1 Flu in Humans

Are there human infections with 2009 H1N1 virus in the U.S.?
Yes. Human infections with the new  H1N1 virus are ongoing in the United States. Most people who have become ill with this new virus have recovered without requiring medical treatment.
CDC routinely works with states to collect, compile and analyze information about influenza, and has done the same for the new H1N1 virus since the beginning of the outbreak. This information is presented in a weekly report, called FluView.

Is 2009 H1N1 virus contagious?
CDC has determined that 2009 H1N1 virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human.

How does 2009 H1N1 virus spread?
Spread of 2009 H1N1 virus is thought to occur in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something – such as a surface or object – with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

What are the signs and symptoms of this virus in people?
The symptoms of 2009 H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.

How severe is illness associated with 2009 H1N1 flu virus?
Illness with the new H1N1 virus has ranged from mild to severe. While most people who have been sick have recovered without needing medical treatment, hospitalizations and deaths from infection with this virus have occurred.

In seasonal flu, certain people are at "high risk" of serious complications. This includes people 65 years and older, children younger than five years old, pregnant women, and people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions. About 70 percent of people who have been hospitalized with this 2009 H1N1 virus have had one or more medical conditions previously recognized as placing people at "high risk" of serious seasonal flu-related complications. This includes pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease, asthma and kidney disease.

One thing that appears to be different from seasonal influenza is that adults older than 64 years do not yet appear to be at increased risk of 2009 H1N1-related complications thus far. CDC laboratory studies have shown that no children and very few adults younger than 60 years old have existing antibody to 2009 H1N1 flu virus; however, about one-third of adults older than 60 may have antibodies against this virus. It is unknown how much, if any, protection may be afforded against 2009 H1N1 flu by any existing antibody.

How does 2009 H1N1 flu compare to seasonal flu in terms of its severity and infection rates?
With seasonal flu, we know that seasons vary in terms of timing, duration and severity. Seasonal influenza can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Each year, in the United States, on average 36,000 people die from flu-related complications and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related causes. Of those hospitalized, 20,000 are children younger than 5 years old. Over 90% of deaths and about 60 percent of hospitalization occur in people older than 65.

When the 2009 H1N1 outbreak was first detected in mid-April 2009, CDC began working with states to collect, compile and analyze information regarding the 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak, including the numbers of confirmed and probable cases and the ages of these people. The information analyzed by CDC supports the conclusion that 2009 H1N1 flu has caused greater disease burden in people younger than 25 years of age than older people. At this time, there are few cases and few deaths reported in people older than 64 years old, which is unusual when compared with seasonal flu.  However, pregnancy and other previously recognized high risk medical conditions from seasonal influenza appear to be associated with increased risk of complications from this 2009 H1N1. These underlying conditions include asthma, diabetes, suppressed immune systems, heart disease, kidney disease, neurocognitive and neuromuscular disorders and pregnancy.

How long can an infected person spread this virus to others?
People infected with seasonal and 2009 H1N1 flu shed virus and may be able to infect others from 1 day before getting sick to 5 to 7 days after. This can be longer in some people, especially children and people with weakened immune systems and in people infected with the new H1N1 virus.