Swine Flu - Risk to Cats and Dogs

To date, only humans have been affected by the new A/H1N1 virus, and it is unknown whether the virus will impact other animals, BUT . . . . . .

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Can Pets get Swine Flu?

Can pets contract H1N1, or Swine Flu?

Pet owners started asking this question soon after the H1N1 Flu outbreak occurred.
There is no simple answer. Scientists are still trying to understand the disease in humans.

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Some FACTS about Swine Flu

If a lot of people catch swine flu it could lead to a pandemic flu outbreak. Pandemic means across the world. An outbreak is when a large number of people get a disease very quickly.

Everyone is at risk of catching swine flu. This means . . . .

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Focus turns to treatment as Swine Flu claims US Fatality

With the development of a vaccine against swine flu A several months away, pharmaceutical companies such as Basel-based Roche are boosting production of prescription drugs to combat the deadly contagious virus, which claims its first victim outside Mexico in the US as a 23-month-old infant dies in Texas. Roche said it is storing enough packages of its . . . .

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Swine Flu Scam Alert

With the growing world-wide threat of Swine Flu (or the H1N1 virus) the public is alerted to various fake or scam products purporting to be either treatments or preventatives for this deadly disease.

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Advice for people with Swine Flu

One course of antiviral will be issued
for each person with swine flu.
You should notify a medical adviser
if you are pregnant or suffering with
renal disease, as a different course
of antiviral may be required.

Antiviral drugs are . . . . .

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SwineFlu: What you need to know

Previous to April 2009 Swine Flu had been limited to pigs aka swine. It is possible for humans to catch true swine flu but it has happened rarely. The human has to be around infected swine on a regular basis. The virus passes from pig to human. There have been different varieties or strains of swine flu through the years. Currently . . . . .

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Swine Flu Treatment

Early investigation of U.S. cases suggest that this illness is indistinguishable from influenza due to the current human influenza viruses circulating annually. As a result, laboratory testing is a critical part of surveillance; however, persons returning from areas affected by this outbreak should not be specifically instructed to seek medical care solely for testing for influenza. As with seasonal . . . . . .

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2009 swine flu outbreak

The new influenza strain, a conglomeration of genetic fragments from swine, bird and human viruses, is the biggest threat of a large-scale flu pandemic.

At least 68 died and more than 1,000 became sick with flu- like symptoms in the Mexico City
region in the past month. Swine flu was confirmed in 20 of the deaths so far. Of 14 tissue samples tested . . . .

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H1N1 Virus Testing & Treatment Algorithm for Clinicians





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Managing H1N1 Illness - Symptoms and Cure

If you are sick with a flu-like illness, stay home for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. Stay apart from others as much as possible.

You’re most likely to spread flu to people who are within 3-6 feet of you. If sick and you have to be very close to others, wear a surgical mask if you can or cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer. People can . . . . .

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Clinician Guidance for Treating and Preventing H1N1

Influenza-associated deaths among children, while uncommon, do occur with seasonal influenza with an estimated average of approximately 92 influenza-related pediatric deaths each year in the United States. Some deaths in children have been associated with co-infection with influenza and Staphylococcus aureus, particularly methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA).

Symptoms of severe disease may include . . . . . .

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Protect Yourself From Swine Flu

Stay home when you are sick.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when coughing and sneezing. Properly dispose of used tissues.

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Antiviral Recommendations For Patients With Confirmed Or Suspected Swine Influenza A H1N1 Virus Infection And Close Contacts

To provide interim guidance on the use of antiviral agents for treatment and chemoprophylaxis of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection. This includes patients with confirmed or suspected swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection and their close contacts.

A confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with an acute respiratory illness with laboratory confirmed swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection at CDC by one or more of the following tests . . . . .

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Which Patients Should Be Tested For Swine Flu

Enhanced surveillance is necessary to identify additional cases that may otherwise remain undetected.

We ask that specimens be collected from patients who meet the case definition for influenza-like illness (ILI):

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FAQ: What Kids Want to Know

The word swine means pig or hog. The word flu is a short form of influenza, a disease of the respiratory system (mouth, nose, throat, lungs) that is caused by viruses and is easily transmitted from one person to another. Swine flu is also known as influenza A (H1N1). It is an influenza-type disease of pigs.

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Swine Flu Assessment and Treatment

The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

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Clinical Guidance for Treatment of Swine-Origin Influenza

These guidelines are intended to provide a general approach. Clinicians are urged to continue their normal practice to every extent possible and apply sound clinical judgment to the approach of each individual patient. It is important to remember that the clinical symptoms and presentation of H1N1 (Swine Flu) infection may be similar to other respiratory illnesses and should be considered in the context of a complete differential diagnosis.

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Swine Flu Talking Points

Influenza is always serious. Each year in the United States, seasonal influenza results in an estimated 36,000 deaths from flu-related causes.

Because this is a new virus, most people will not have immunity to it and illness may be more severe and widespread, as a result.

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CDC Criteria for Swine Flu Treatment

A confirmed case of S-OIV infection is defined as a person with an acute febrile respiratory illness with laboratory confirmed S-OIV infection at CDC by one or more of the following tests:

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General Treatments and Symptoms

Antiviral drugs are not a cure, but can aid recovery if taken within 48 hours of symptoms developing. There are two possibilities: Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and Zanamivir (Relenza)

Oseltamivir and its active metabolite, oseltamivir carboxylate, are excreted into human breast milk in very small amounts. Limited data suggest that clinical sequelae from maternal treatment would not be expected in a breastfed infant. To see more detail...

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Hospital Staff FAQs

■ How can I prevent getting H1N1 (Swine Flu)?
■ I hear people refer to "ILI". What is that?
■ What if I get sick? Should I come to work?
■ What is considered a suspected case of H1N1?
■ What is considered a probable case of H1N1?
■ What is considered a confirmed case of H1N1?

AND more . . . . . . .

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Guidance On Swine Flu

CDC continues to update guidance, including a recent posting for concerned parents and other caregivers of children on how to identify symptoms; how to prevent infection; and what to do if your child gets sick. Children are at high risk for serious complications from seasonal flu and it would not be surprising to find a pattern where they also are at higher risk of serious complications from this new virus.

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Swine Flu Customer Care Talk Track

Q1: What is Swine flu?

Q2: How widespread is swine flu?

Q3: Is swine flu contagious?

Q4: What are the symptoms?

Q5: How can I protect myself?
Q6: What should I do if I get sick?

Q7: Will the flu vaccine I got this year protect

me from swine flu?

Q8: What medicines are available to treat swine flu?

Q9: How can I get more information about swine flu?

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