Influenza - H1N1 and Season Flu
Prevention: How to stay well
Get a flu shot. Use the Flu Shot Locator.
Who is at higher risk?
Treatment: What to do if you get sick
Information for caregivers
Need information and materials in alternative formats?
For professionals
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS: click here for the latest flu guidance.
For other professionals: click here for planning tools.
Beware of fraudulent or bogus products.The FDA is alerting the public to be wary of Internet sites and other promotions for products that claim to diagnose, prevent, treat or cure the 2009 H1N1 flu virus. Read more.
FLU ESSENTIALS: What you need to know (including fact sheets in several languages)
Each year in the U.S., an average of 36,000 people die, and more than 200,000 are hospitalized from serious flu-related complications. Get the facts about preventing and treating H1N1 and seasonal flu.
The best sources for general Information are: http://www.flu.gov or 1.800.CDC.INFO
In Delaware the Division of Public Health is coordinating flu information. http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/index.html
Other Delaware-specific information, including free materials, is available at http://www.flu.gov/professional/states/delaware.html
Simple steps can help prevent infection.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. Alcohol-based cleaners are also effective.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Get a flu shot. Find a flu clinic near you (seasonal flu only)
http://www.flucliniclocator.org - Try to avoid contact with sick people.
- Stay home if you are sick.
About the vaccine
For some facts about H1N1 vaccine, please visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm
Individuals at higher risk
Some people are more likely to get flu complications and should talk to a health care
provider about whether they need to be examined if they get flu symptoms this season.
They are:
- Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old.
- People 65 and older.
- Pregnant women.
- People who have chronic or underlying medical conditions, such as:
- Cancer
- Blood disorders (including sickle cell disease)
- Chronic lung disease [including asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD) - Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Kidney disorders
- Liver disorders
- Neurological disorders (including nervous system, brain, or spinal cord)
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Weakened immune systems (including people with AIDS)
Find out more at http://www.flu.gov/pdfs/whosathighrisk.pdf
PARENTS- Click here for information about children and adolescents with high-risk medical conditions.
Treatment: What to do if you get sick
How do I know if I have the flu?
You may have the flu if you have some or all of these symptoms:
- fever*
- cough
- sore throat
- runny or stuffy nose
- body aches
- headache
- chills
- fatigue
- sometimes diarrhea and vomiting
*Not everyone with flu will have a fever.
Feeling sick and not sure if you have the flu? Try the self-evaluation tool at http://www.flu.gov/evaluation/
Stay home
If you get sick with flu-like symptoms this flu season, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care. Most people with 2009 H1N1 have had mild illness and have not needed medical care or antiviral drugs and the same is true of seasonal flu. CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone, except to get medical care or for other things you have to do and no one else can do for you. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®.) You should stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings.
Antiviral drugs
Talk to your doctor about getting antiviral medications. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that can be used for prevention or treatment of flu viru
Facemasks and respirators
If you must have close contact with a sick person (for example, hold a sick infant), try to wear a facemask or N95 disposable respirator. More on Facemasks and Respirators.
