Things to Know and Do - Influenza A(H1N1) Virus

Living the Good Life means staying Healthy especially now when the Influenza A(H1N1) virus is affecting the health of many people. A primer about things to know and things to do regarding the Influenza A (H1N1) virus can be obtained from the United Nations Staff Pandemic Portal. Here are some basic information you will learn from the primer:

WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT HUMAN INFLUENZA VIRUSES?
• They spread through infected droplets from breathing passages.
• Droplets are expelled by talking, spitting, coughing, sneezing.
• The droplets spread about 1 meter (3 feet) from the infected person, either directly to other people or indirectly through hands and other surfaces.
• The viruses can live for several hours on hard surfaces, or on cloth and paper.
• If healthy people touch infected hands, doorknobs, keyboards, telephones, etc., they can infect themselves by touching mouths, noses or eyes.
• Sometimes the viruses can spread through the air.
• An infected person is most likely to spread the virus when he or she has fever and a cough.
• It is possible that an infected person will spread the virus a day before showing signs of illness.

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE INFLUENZA? COLD OR FLU?
Learn the differences between influenza symptoms and those of a common cold. According to the primer, unlike the common cold, you get headaches and high fever, feel body aches, extreme exhuastion, fatigue and weakness in an influenza A(H1N1) flu.
Seasonal Influenza:
• Fever
• Headache
• Aching muscles
• Exhaustion and feeling weak
• Loss of appetite
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Dry cough
Pandemic Influenza:
While the first symptoms of pandemic influenza might be similar to seasonal flu symptoms, how the symptoms develop will depend on the nature of the specific virus. It is likely that most people will recover without needing medical attention, but the following symptoms may help you decide if you need to seek medical help:
• Shortness of breath while resting or doing very little work
• Persistent fever for 4 or 5 days
• Painful or difficult breathing
• Coughing up a lot of phlegm or bloody sputum
• Wheezing
• You are feeling better and then you develop a new fever or worsening cough with sputum
• You feel very drowsy and others have difficulty waking you up or note you seem confused or disorientated

WHAT SHOULD I DO TO KEEP FROM GETTING INFECTED FROM BY THE INFLUENZA A(H1N1) VIRUS?
First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus and avoid close contact with people who are sick.