Stopping the Spread of Swine Flu at Home_ Work and School

Stopping the Spread of H1N1 Virus at Home, Work and School Arizona Center for Public Health Preparedness Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health University of Arizona How Germs Spread  Droplet Spread Person to Person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes  Droplets from an infected individual are propelled through the air and deposited on the mouth or nose of individuals nearby  How Germs Spread Continued  Surfaces Some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer  Influenza viruses may also be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets on another person or object   Always wash hands before touching eyes, mouth or nose Cover Your Mouth and Nose  When sneezing and coughing use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose  Immediately throw the tissue into a garbage basket  If you do not have a tissue sneeze or cough into your upper sleeve not into your hands Wash Your Hands Often  Wash your hands with warm water and soap Remember to wash for 15 to 20 seconds   The time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice or say the alphabet once Alcohol-Based Hand Wipes and Gel Sanitizers When warm water and soap is not available alcohol-based hand wipes may be used  When using gel sanitizers ensure the gel is completely rubbed into hands until the gel is dry   Alcohol in both products kills the germs on hands Disinfecting Surfaces  Lysol Spray or Wipes Clorox Solution (3/4 cups per gallon of water)  Use on:         Allow item to air dry  Keyboards/Mouse Telephones/cell phones TV remotes Door handles Desks Drawer handles Toilet handles When You Are Sick  Avoid close contact  When you are sick limit contact with others as not to infect them  Stay home when you are sick Limit your exposure to work, school, and public places  Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth  Practice Other Good Health Habits Plenty of sleep  Stay physically active  Manage your stress  Drink plenty of fluids  Eat nutritious food  Caring for Individuals at Home with H1N1 Virus Keep the sick individual away from others as much as possible  Remind the sick individual to cover their coughs, and wash their hands  Everyone in the household should wash their hands often  Consult health care provider whether or not house contacts should take antiviral medications  Sick Individual  Keep the sick individual in a room separate from the common area of the house     Guest room with their own bathroom Room and bathroom should be cleaned daily with a household disinfectant Wash linens (bed sheets and towels) by using household laundry soap and tumble dry on a hot setting Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick do not need to be cleaned separately  Sick individuals should not leave the home when they have a fever or during the time that they are most likely to spread their infection  7 days after onset of symptoms in adults  10 days after onset of symptoms in children  Note virus can be passed on to others 1 day (24 hours) prior to the sick individual showing signs and symptoms Caregiver       Avoid being face-to-face with the sick individual Place chin of small children on your shoulder so that they will not cough in your face Always wash your hands after contact with sick individual or objects sick individual used Should wear a mask when they leave their home to keep from spreading flu virus (H1N1) to others in case they are in the early stages of infection passed on from the sick individual they are caring for Consult with health care provider about taking antiviral medication Monitor yourself and household members for flu symptoms   Fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing Some individuals also report runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea How Serious is H1N1 Virus  Can vary in severity from mild to severe  Between 2005 until January 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu were detected in the U.S. with no deaths occurring September 1988 a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman in Wisconsin was hospitalized for pneumonia after being infected with swine flu and died 8 days later Swine flu outbreak in Fort Dix, New Jersey occurred in 1976 caused more than 200 cases with serious illness in several people and one death   Basics to Preventing the Spread of H1N1 Virus  Always  Cover your mouth and nose  Wash your hands often Resources http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/general_info .htm  http://www.who.int/en/ 