2009 H1N1
Please visit the 2009 H1N1 vaccine updates page for information on the availability of
the vaccine for patients. Click on the image to the right to take the Microsoft 2009 H1N1 Self-Asssement.
What is 2009 H1N1 ("swine flu")?
What is happening with 2009 H1N1?
What does it take for an influenza virus to cause a pandemic?
Why is 2009 H1N1 influenza virus sometimes called "swine flu"?
What are the signs and symptoms of this virus in people?
How can I distinguish between the seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1?
Should the flu tests be done on everyone?
How severe is illness associated with the 2009 H1N1 flu virus?
How is 2009 H1N1 spread?
What is Emory Healthcare doing to prepare for the 2009 H1N1 virus?
What should I do if I think I have 2009 H1N1?
If I get the seasonal flu shot, will it protect me from the 2009 H1N1 flu?
Is there a 2009 H1N1 vaccine?
What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
Who will get the 2009 H1N1 vaccine?
Do I need one or two shots for 2009 H1N1?
If I am diagnosed with 2009 H1N1, can I still get the vaccine?
Are there medicines to treat 2009 H1N1 infection?
If I have a family member at home who is sick with 2009 H1N1 flu, should I go to work?
What should I know about 2009 H1N1 if I am pregnant?
What is 2009 H1N1 ("swine flu")?
2009 H1N1 (previously called the "swine flu") is a new influenza virus that was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. In June 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that a pandemic of 2009 H1N1 flu was under way, meaning that the virus is causing infections in many places around the world. This influenza virus has been called by many other names, including "swine flu," novel H1N1 and pandemic H1N1. The last two names emphasize that this virus is different from the regular flu viruses usually present during the annual flu season in winter. The regular flu viruses are usually called seasonal influenza. The current name of this influenza virus is 2009 H1N1.
What is happening with 2009 H1N1?
Based on knowledge we have thus far, it is possible that up to 40 percent of the U.S. population could become infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus by this fall and winter. This could lead to as many as 1.8 million hospital admissions and 90,000 deaths. Those most at risk include children, young adults with underlying medical problems, pregnant women and adults with lung disease. The World Health Organization predicts that 2 billion people could contract 2009 H1N1 worldwide.
What does it take for an influenza virus to cause a pandemic?
A virus is capable of causing a pandemic if it can cause infections in humans, is different enough from past flu viruses so that people don't have any immunity to it, and has the ability to spread from person to person. The 2009 H1N1 virus has all of these properties.
Why is 2009 H1N1 influenza virus sometimes called "swine flu"?
This virus was originally called "swine flu" because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were similar to genes in influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs (swine). Further study has shown that this virus is very different from regular swine flu, which is why it is now referred to as 2009 H1N1. In fact, the 2009 H1N1 flu virus is a cousin to human flu viruses that were around before the 1950s. This is one reason why older people don't get many 2009 H1N1 infections. They have partial immunity from past infections with similar viruses.
What are the signs and symptoms of this virus in people?
The symptoms of 2009 H1N1 flu virus are like seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Although fever and cough are the most common symptoms, 2009 H1N1 appears to cause more diarrhea and vomiting than regular (seasonal) flu.
How can I distinguish between the seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1?
The symptoms of both influenza types are similar. There are laboratory test that can detect seasonal and novel H1N1 infections. However, basically all flu viruses currently in circulation are novel H1N1.
Should the flu tests be done on everyone?
It is not necessary for everyone with flu-like symptoms to get tested. The rapid flu tests done in many doctors' offices are not very good tests for detecting 2009 H1N1 flu - these tests can miss a lot of cases. Some hospitals and larger laboratories have better tests that can help sort out 2009 H1N1 from regular flu. The flu test done at Emory labs is very good at detecting different flu strains. It is expensive. Because most cases of 2009 H1N1 flu are mild and because of the cost of the test, it isn't necessary to confirm the diagnosis in otherwise healthy people with typical flu symptoms. However, it is often best to confirm the diagnosis in patients who are sick enough to require hospitalization, those with weakened immune systems or in health care workers who get sick.
How severe is illness associated with the 2009 H1N1 flu virus?
Overall, 2009 H1N1 virus infection is about as severe as regular seasonal influenza. While most people who have been sick have recovered without needing medical treatment, hospitalizations and deaths from infection with this virus have occurred. About 70 percent of people who have been hospitalized with 2009 H1N1 virus have had one or more medical conditions previously recognized as placing people at "high risk" of serious seasonal flu-related complications. One thing that appears to be different from seasonal influenza is that adults older than 64 years do not yet appear to be at increased risk of 2009 H1N1-related complications. About one-third of adults older than 60 may have antibodies against this virus, meaning that they may have some protection from severe infection, probably from being exposed to similar viruses when young.
How is 2009 H1N1 spread?
The 2009 H1N1 virus spreads just like seasonal flu viruses. The main way that flu viruses are spread is from person to person in respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes. This is called "droplet spread." This can happen directly when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person travel - usually less than six feet - through the air and land on the mouth or nose of people nearby. Droplet spread also occurs indirectly when you touch a contaminated object, like a doorknob or telephone and then touch your mouth or nose.
What is Emory Healthcare doing to prepare for the 2009 H1N1 virus?
Emory Healthcare is developing institutional plans to help take care of patients with flu, protect our staff and make sure the hospitals can handle a large influx of patients. We have also mandated seasonal flu vaccination for all health care workers to alleviate the severity of this flu season and keep our patients, their families and our colleagues safe.
What should I do if I think I have 2009 H1N1?
Call your primary care physician for an evaluation.
If I get the seasonal flu shot, will it protect me from the 2009 H1N1 flu?
No, the seasonal flu shot will protect you only from the seasonal flu virus strains, not novel H1N1.
Is there a 2009 H1N1 vaccine?
Yes. Please refer to the 2009 H1N1 vaccine updates page for more information.
What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
- Get the flu vaccine.
- Clean your hands often with alcohol-based hand cleansers or soap and water.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth after you have touched potentially contaminated surfaces.
Who will get the 2009 H1N1 vaccine?
Please refer to the 2009 H1N1 vaccine updates page for more information.
Do I need one or two shots for 2009 H1N1?
For otherwise healthy people, only one shot of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine is necessary. Some people may require two shots.
If I am diagnosed with 2009 H1N1, can I still get the vaccine?
If you have a confirmed 2009 H1N1 infection, a 2009 H1N1 flu shot probably won't help. However, if the 2009 H1N1 infection wasn't confirmed, it is probably a good idea to get the vaccine. It is not known if people who get 2009 H1N1 infection and then get the vaccine have a higher risk of side effects, including a sore arm.
Are there medicines to treat 2009 H1N1 infection?
Yes. Two medications, oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) are available to treat and/or prevent infection with 2009 H1N1 flu. Not everyone who gets the flu needs to be treated. Most people recover from the flu without medications. Some people are at increased risk of influenza complications; these people are usually treated if seen by doctors within 48 hours of onset of symptoms. After 48 hours of symptoms, the flu medications don't offer much benefit. Groups at increased risk of flu complications include:
- People hospitalized with suspected or confirmed influenza
- People with suspected or confirmed influenza who are at higher risk for complications
- Children less than than 5 years old (children less than 2 years old are at higher risk for complications than older children)
- Adults 65 years and older
- Pregnant women
- People with certain chronic medical or immunosuppressive conditions
- People less than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
If I have a family member at home who is sick with 2009 H1N1 flu, should I go to work?
Employees who are well but have an ill family member at home with 2009 H1N1 flu can go to work as usual. These employees should monitor their health for signs of influenza infection and take everyday precautions, including cleaning hands with alcohol-based hand rubs or washing their hands often with soap and water, especially after they cough or sneeze. Persons who become ill should notify their supervisor right away and stay home.
What should I know about 2009 H1N1 if I am pregnant?
Visit The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists H1N1 updates page.
