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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommend flu vaccination for all Americans older than 6 months of age. The vaccine developed to prevent infection with the 2009 H1N1 virus is one component of the seasonal flu shot for 2012-2013. The flu shot also protects against two other influenza viruses that are expected to be the most common during the 2012-2013 flu season.
The vaccine will be available as an injection or a nasal spray. The nasal spray is approved for use in healthy people 2 through 49 years of age who are not pregnant.
These measures also help prevent H1N1 swine flu and limit its spread:
- Stay home if you're sick. If you do have H1N1 swine flu, you can give it to others starting about 24 hours before you develop symptoms and ending about seven days later.
- 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.
- Contain your coughs and sneezes. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. To avoid contaminating your hands, cough or sneeze into a tissue or the inner crook of your elbow.
- Avoid contact. Stay away from crowds if possible. And if you're at high risk of complications from the flu — for example, you're younger than 5 or age 65 or older, you're pregnant, or you have a chronic medical condition such as asthma — consider avoiding swine barns at seasonal fairs and elsewhere.
- Reduce exposure within your household. If a member of your household has H1N1 swine flu, designate one other household member to be responsible for the ill person's close personal care.
References
- Thorner AR. Epidemiology of pandemic H1N1 influenza ('swine influenza'). http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed May 10, 2012.
- H1N1 (Originally referred to as Swine Flu). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.flu.gov/types/h1n1/index.html. Accessed May 10, 2012.
- Key facts about human infections with variant viruses (swine origin influenza viruses in humans). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swineflu/keyfacts-variant.htm. Accessed May 10, 2012.
- What you should know about antiviral drugs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/antivirals/whatyoushould.htm. Accessed May 10, 2012.
- Thorner AR. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of pandemic H1N1 influenza ('swine influenza'). http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed May 10, 2012.
- Thorner AR. Treatment and prevention of pandemic H1N1 influenza ('swine influenza'). http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed May 10, 2012.
- Jefferson T, et al. Neuraminidase inhibitors for preventing and treating influenza in healthy adults and children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com/sp-3.5.1a/ovidweb.cgi?&S=MJGAFPPDAFDDBDDBNCALFHGCMLDJAA00&Complete+Reference=S.sh.15%7c1%7c1. Accessed May 10, 2012.
- The flu: What to do if you get sick. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/takingcare.htm. Accessed May 10, 2012.
- Key facts about seasonal flu vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm. Accessed May 10, 2012.
- Vaccine selection for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 influenza seasons. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaccine-selection.htm. Accessed May 12, 2012.
- A guide to safe use of pain medicine. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm095673.htm. Accessed June 5, 2012.
- CDC reports cases 18-29 of H3N2v virus infection; continues to recommend interim precautions when interacting with pigs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/spotlights/h3n2v_us_cases.htm. Accessed Aug. 6, 2012.
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