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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffA vaccine has been developed to prevent swine flu. In the United States, vaccination is recommended for:
- Pregnant women. The risk of swine flu complications is higher during pregnancy. Mothers can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot be vaccinated.
- Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age. Younger infants are at higher risk of flu complications and cannot be vaccinated. Vaccination of those in close contact with infants less than 6 months old might reduce the infants' risk of exposure to the virus.
- Health care and emergency medical services personnel. Infections have been reported among health care workers, who can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients. Also, increased absenteeism in health care workers could reduce health care system capacity.
- Babies, children and teens, from 6 months through 18 years of age. Many cases of novel H1N1 influenza have occurred in children. Influenza viruses spread easily in school and child care, and children infected in these settings carry the infection to their families.
- Young adults, from 19 through 24 years of age. Immunization is important for young adults because they tend to live, work, and study in close proximity, and they move and travel often.
- People ages 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza. These conditions include heart disease, lung disease and some types of cancer.
These measures also help prevent flu and limit its spread:
- Stay home if you're sick. If you do have swine flu, you can give it to others starting about 24 hours before you develop symptoms and ending about seven days later. As a courtesy to others, do your best to stay out of the emergency room, doctor's office or urgent-care center. You don't want to risk infecting anyone else — particularly in a medical facility, where others receiving care may be especially vulnerable to the flu.
- Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. Use soap and water, or if they're unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Flu viruses can survive for two hours or longer on surfaces, such as doorknobs and countertops.
- Avoid contact. Stay away from crowds if possible.
- Reduce exposure within your household. If a member of your household has swine flu, designate one other household member to be responsible for the ill person's close personal care.
References
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Swine influenza in pigs and people. Accessed April 28, 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/pdf/brochure.pdf
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Swine flu questions and answers. Swine flu and you. Accessed April 27, 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Investigation and Interim Recommendations: Swine influenza (H1N1). Accessed April 27, 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/pdf/HAN_042509.pdf
- World Health Organization. Swine flu illness in the United States and Mexico —Update Accessed April 27, 2009. http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_04_26/en/print.html
- CDC. Swine flu—general info. Accessed April 27, 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu
- CDC. Interim guidance on antiviral recommendations for patients with confirmed or suspected swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection and close contacts. Accessed April 27, 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/recommendations.htm
- World now at the start of 2009 influenza pandemic. Statement to the press by WHO Director-General Margaret Chan. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2009/h1n1_pandemic_phase6_20090611/en/index.html. Accessed June 11, 2009.
