Pandemic H1N1 Influenza A

Columbus Public Health and Franklin County Board of Health continue heightened surveillance as a result of the Pandemic H1N1 flu outbreak. Both health departments are collaborating with the Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Vaccine Information

Certain priority groups, as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine as it is made available. Those priority groups are:

1. Pregnant women
2. Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than six months of age
3. Health care and emergency medical services personnel
4. Persons between the ages of six months and 24 years of age
5. Persons aged 25 through 64 years of age who have health conditions associated with higher risks of medical complications from influenza.

Currently, there is no vaccine shortage, but the supply will be limited in the beginning. Health care providers, pregnant women and caregivers for children under six months of age are eligibile to receive the H1N1 vaccine now. As more vaccine becomes available, other priority groups will be able to receive the vaccine. Once enough pandemic H1N1 vaccine becomes available, others will be able to receive it.

More vaccine information including the vaccine clinic schedule is available at Columbuspandemicflu.org.

Click HERE to learn more about the CDC recommendations on who should get the H1N1 vaccine.

Pandemic H1N1 Case Reporting

August 2009 - - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Ohio Department of Health have changed the process in which H1N1 flu is reported. Individual cases of H1N1 flu will no longer be reported. Instead, public health surveillance for this virus will now be identical to that done for seasonal influenza viruses. This system will still allow health officials to determine when and where flu activity is occurring, track flu-related illness, determine what flu viruses are circulating, detect changes in flu viruses and measure the impact of flu on hospitalizations and deaths in the U.S.

Ohio Department of Health Surveillance Information

CDC Surveillance Information (Q&A)

Symptoms

The symptoms of H1N1 flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza, which includes high fever, muscle aches, lack of appetite, coughing, chills, headache and fatique. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Those with the flu may not experience all of these symptoms.

Warning! Do not give aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) to children or teenagers who have the flu; this can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s syndrome. For more information about Reye’s syndrome, visit the National Institute of Health website.

Click HERE to learn more about medications and the flu.

Anyone with flu-like symptoms should stay home at least 24 hours after being fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medications.

Pregnant women are at greater risk for getting very sick with the flu. If you are pregnant and become sick, contact your doctor immediately. 

Public health officials offer the following prevention recommendations:

• Stay informed
• Cover your cough or sneeze by using your sleeve or arm. You may also cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw away the tissue in the trash.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.

If you get sick, we recommend you stay home from work or school for at least 24 hours after being fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medications. Also, limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Note: You are encouraged to get your seasonal flu vaccination as soon as it is available. H1N1 vaccinations will be given seperately and you will need both to be protected from seasonal and H1N1 flu.

For additional national and international information about national and international H1N1 flu, go to: www.CDC.gov/h1n1flu for the latest in information from around the U.S. and the world.

Resources

Healthcare Providers click HERE for more information.

Central Ohio Pandemic Flu web site

Visit the Central Ohio Pandemic Flu web site to understand and plan for pandemic influenza. The most up-to-date information and guidance is available, as well as, planning tools. Click HERE.

Community Flu Hotline

Residents of Central Ohio may reach our information hotline by calling 211 or 221-2255, where trained personnel can provide health and safety information regarding the current H1N1 outbreak.  

For commonly asked questions, click HERE.
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