Aloha … from BethUnderstanding the H1N1 flu virus,
and your and your family’s risks
Update: H1N1 flu vaccine is now widely available for all, including those over age 65! Call your health care provider's office to make an appointment. Numbers are listed at the bottom of this page.
H1N1 flu has affected our region and H1N1 vaccine supplies are finally catching up with demand. All are encouraged to get the vaccine, especially those in higher risk groups, including:
- Pregnant women
- Anyone who lives with or provides care for infants younger than 6 months of age (i.e. parents, siblings and day care providers)
- Health care workers and emergency medical services personnel
- People age 6 months to 24 years
- Anyone age 25 to 64 who has a medical condition that puts them at higher risk for influenza-related complications
In addition to getting your vaccination, it is also important for you to be knowledgeable and prepared should you or a loved one contract the illness.
Gifford has designed this page to help you to do just that. Important resources for you also include both the Vermont Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC has two easy-to-use, information-packed Web sites, www.flu.govwww.flu.gov, and the H1N1 specific site, www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/. (These are links. Click on them to go to the CDC pages.)
Attention visitorsGifford Medical Center is committed to providing the best patient experience possible. The support of family and friends often contributes to the healing process. If you are ill, we always ask that you not visit in order to minimize risk to all of our patients, who may be in a vulnerable state. In light of the present increase in flu activity and the delay in vaccine availability, we are asking potential visitors to please be especially thoughtful in this regard. If you are ill with respiratory symptoms and need to seek medical care, we ask that you put on a mask, which is available at entryways and registration desks, to decrease the spread of infection. |
About H1N1
Who’s at risk?
Among those at greater risk for contracting H1N1 are:
- Children and young adults, pregnant women, health care workers and people caring for children;
- Those who have chronic pulmonary (including those with a history of asthma),
cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular or metabolic disorders; and - Those who are immunosuppressed, including those on certain medications or who have AIDS.
The over-65 population is at lesser risk.
Symptoms
Symptoms include what you would see with the seasonal flu:
- Cough;
- Runny nose;
- Body aches;
- Sore throat;
- Fever; and
- Sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.
Transmission
H1N1 is transmitted two to three times more easily than seasonal flu.
Contagion
An individual with H1N1 can spread the disease from about one day before developing symptoms until 24 hours after the fever has ended.
Prevention
There are several steps you can take to help prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu.
These are not unlike seasonal flu prevention and include:
- Cover your cough. Use a tissue or cough into your sleeve if a tissue is not available because the virus is spread by droplets, which can land on surfaces and remain alive for two hours;
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or a hand sanitizer;
- Keep your hands away from your face; and
- Disinfect phones, door knobs and other surfaces commonly touched.
What to do if you become ill
If you have no underlying medical conditions and develop symptoms of influenza:
- Get adequate rest and hydration and use medication (acetaminophen or ibuprofen) to relieve symptoms;
- Stay home for 24 hours after your fever is gone (without the use of medications to reduce fever);
- If you have to go out, wear a mask over your mouth and nose; and
- If you have questions or need advice, call your primary care provider.
If you have an underlying medical condition, including asthma:
- Call your primary care provider soon after symptoms begin. You may be a candidate for treatment with an antiviral medication, which is most effective within the first 48 hours of the appearance of symptoms.
What if a family member becomes ill?
If a family member becomes ill, you likely have already been exposed to the illness since individuals are contagious for about a day before becoming ill, but you can:
- Minimize the likelihood of contracting the virus by washing your hands frequently and not sharing eating or drinking utensils;
- Maintain a distance of three feet from the person who is ill, if possible; and
- Individuals with underlying conditions whose family member becomes ill should contact their primary care provider to discuss the advisability of taking medication to further decrease the likelihood of contracting the virus.
What you can do now
- Stay informed.
- Educate yourself about prevention.
- If you become ill, plan to stay home, away from work and other public places until you have been free of fever for 24 hours.
- Consider purchasing care items such as hand sanitizer, a thermometer and ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help treat symptoms should you become ill.
- Don’t worry more than you need to. The vast majority of individuals who contract H1N1 deal with the virus well – much like the seasonal flu.
Gifford has established a flu phone number. Call the flu line at the hospital at (802) 728-2600 to hear the latest on flu vaccine availability and more. Call your provider’s office for care.
Gifford Medical Center (802) 728-7000 Pediatrics (802) 728-2420 Family Medicine (802) 728-2445 Internal Medicine (802) 728-2428 Ob/Gyn and Midwifery (802) 728-2401 Bethel Health Center (802) 234-9913 Chelsea Health Center (802) 685-4400 Gifford Health Center at Berlin (802) 229-2325 Rochester Health Center (802) 767-3704 Sharon Health Center (802) 763-8000