What is H1N1?
Novel H1N1 (referred to as "swine flu" early on) is a new influenza virus that is
causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United
States in April 2009. This virus is spreading from person to person worldwide,
probably in much the same way that seasonal influenza viruses spread. On June 11, 2009,
the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a pandemic of novel H1N1 flu was
underway. Symptom Checker
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H1N1 Flu
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Seasonal Flu
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Symptoms:
- Fever of 100 degrees +
- Cough
- Sore Throat
- Body aches
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sometimes vomiting and diarrhea
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Symptoms:
- Fever of 100 degrees +
- Cough
- Sore Throat
- Body aches
- Headache
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Possible diarrhea and vomiting
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Diagnosis:
If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications
(asthma, diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, pregnancy, etc.), contact
your health care provider or seek medical care.
Because H1N1 flu is so widespread, testing is not always needed. In
addition, the specific H1N1 test is not typically available in doctors' offices and
clinics, and the regular rapid flu test is not always reliable for diagnosing H1N1.
Therefore, your health care provider may make the diagnosis based on your symptoms
without needing to test you.
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Diagnosis:
If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact
your health care provider or seek medical care. Your health care provider will determine
whether flu testing or treatment is needed. Be aware that if the flu becomes widespread,
less testing will be needed, so your health care provider may decide not to test for
the flu virus.
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Groups at Risk for Complications
The groups that are most at risk of getting an infection, severe complications or
spreading H1N1 to vulnerable groups and seasonal flu are different. Right now,
doctors do not know why certain groups develop infections at a greater rate or
experience greater complications. Without knowing these reasons, it is safest to
vaccinate people at the greatest risk.
For H1N1, these groups are:
- Pregnant Women
- Caregivers for infants six months old and younger
- Healthcare workers (including hospital staff, clinical staff,
Emergency Medical Services technicians, firefighters and law enforcement officers)
- Anyone under 60 years old with a weakened immune system
- Children less than 18 years old
- Young adults 18 to 24 years old
For seasonal flu, these groups, in priority order, are:
- Anyone 65 years of age and older
- People of any age with chronic medical conditions
(such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease)
- Pregnant women
- Children less than 18 years old
Understanding H1N1 Risk Groups
These risk groups were determined for a variety of reasons.
Pregnant women are in the priority groups because they are more likely than
any other group to experience complications if they develop H1N1 flu.
Caregivers for children younger than six months are in the priority
group because the children they are caring for cannot be vaccinated.
Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel are included because
immunizing this group protects the high-risk patients with whom they may have contact.
Children five to 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions are more
likely to get infections than older age groups because they do not have a natural
immunity. This means they are more likely to have severe complications from H1N1.
Adults up to age 64 with chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems
are also likely to have severe complications if they develop H1N1, so they are also
in the priority group.
Children less than 18 years old (but over six months) are in the priority group
because they have no natural immunity to H1N1 and are most likely to get the infection.
Young adults between 18 and 24 years old are in the priority group because they,
too, have no natural immunity. Most children and young adults are also in schools
where they interact with large numbers of their peers, making them more likely to
spread H1N1 to others.
Current studies indicate that the risk for infection among persons age 65 or
older is less than the risk for younger age groups. For more information about
H1N1 in seniors, please visit the
senior citizen page.
For More Information:
Vaccinations
A vaccine against novel H1N1 flu has been produced and is available
as an option for the prevention of the new H1N1 flu. A vaccine against
seasonal flu is available each fall and winter. Both vaccinations are available
in shot and nasal forms.
View the Flu Shot Clinic schedule here.
Vaccination Information Sheets
- Seasonal Flu Vaccination Information Sheets:
- H1N1 Flu Vaccination Information Sheets:
H1N1 Vaccinations
When H1N1 vaccinations are available in Johnston County, special clinics will
likely be set up to distribute the vaccination. The clinics will last several weeks
and will be held in multiple locations that are easily accessible to residents.
http://www.johnstonnc.com/flu
will be updated as Johnston County receives more information about vaccinations.
Important document:
2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine - Inactivated - What you need to know
Seasonal Flu Vaccination
Vaccination is the best way to prevent the seasonal flu. Almost everyone can
benefit from the seasonal flu vaccination. Seasonal influenza (flu) is caused by a
virus that invades the nose, throat and lungs. It can be easily spread from one
person to another through the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs or talks.
Flu can also be spread when a person touches a surface that has influenza virus on it
(doorknobs, hands, computer key boards, etc.) then touches their nose or mouth.
Seasonal flu is very different from a cold. It is much more serious. For some people,
infection with flu can lead to complications that range from sinus and ear infections
to bronchitis and pneumonia. Flu can make chronic medical conditions worse. Flu is a
major cause of illness and death, leading to an average of about 36,000 deaths and
200,000 hospitalizations in the United States yearly. Learn more about seasonal
flu vaccination.
People who should get the seasonal flu
vaccine every year are:
- Children from 6 months to up to their 19th birthday
- Pregnant women
- People 50 years of age and older
- People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
- People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
- Household contacts and caregivers of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
- Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
- Healthcare workers
- Children aged 6 months through 8 years old who are getting their first flu vaccine will need to get a booster shot one month after their first shot.
It takes about 2 weeks to be protected against seasonal flu after getting the
vaccine. In the U.S., influenza usually occurs from November to March, though this
can vary from year to year. The best time to get seasonal flu shots is in October
and November, although vaccination can continue into the seasonal flu season. There
are two types of seasonal flu vaccines - the flu shot and the nasal spray vaccine.
About the Seasonal Flu Shots
The flu shot is made from inactivated (killed) virus. The seasonal flu shot is made
from the three strains of flu virus identified by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration as those most likely to cause flu that season. The flu shot
must be repeated every year because new flu viruses circulate each flu season.
The flu shot cannot cause flu illness.
Nasal spray vaccine
There is a shot-free option to protect against the seasonal flu. FluMist
is a vaccine that is sprayed into the nostrils. It can be given to healthy
individuals from ages 2-49. FluMist is made from live, attenuated (weakened)
virus that helps the body develop antibodies that fight the seasonal flu. The
strains of virus used in FluMist are the same as those used in the seasonal flu
shot. The nasal spray vaccine cannot cause flu illness.
Antiviral Drugs
There are drugs that can be used to fight the viruses that cause the seasonal
flu. These drugs can make the symptoms of seasonal flu less severe and shorten the
time of illness. Treatment with these drugs must begin early in the illness to be
effective. Antiviral drugs are prescribed by a doctor. Immunization against seasonal
flu is still the best prevention. More information about antiviral drugs.
Hand washing
Hand washing is one of the best things people can do to prevent the spread of flu
and many other communicable illnesses.
Rinsing hands under water is not enough to get them clean. Use soap and water to
rub the all surfaces of the hands (backs of hands, palms, under and around fingernails,
in between fingers, and wrists) for 15 seconds. Time and friction are the key ingredients
to effectively remove dirt and germs from the hands. Rinse hands well and use a paper
towel to dry. Turn off the faucet with the paper towel.
The times hands are washed are as important as how hands are washed. It is
important to wash hands:
- After using the bathroom
- After coughing, sneezing or blowing the nose
- Before starting food preparation and at key times during food preparation (for example, after handling raw meat or eggs)
- After changing a diaper or helping a child use the toilet
- After working outside
- After handling pets and their waste
- After handling money
- Whenever hands look, smell or feel dirty.
- It is especially important to wash hands well when you are sick or are caring for someone who is sick.
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