iBLOGS.Archive

Guidelines about Influenza A H1N1

Posted by :  Gerry Laroza
Date Posted :  2009-06-10

Influenza A H1N1 is a respiratory disease caused by type A influenza virus which used to infect pigs. In March and early April 2009, cases of human infections with swine influenza A (H1N1) virus were first reported in South California and Texas.

Outbreaks in humans are now occurring from human-to-human transmission. When infected people cough or sneeze, infected droplets get on their hands, drop onto surfaces, or are dispersed into the air. Persons around them can be exposed. To prevent spread, people should cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing, and wash their hands regularly.

Early signs of influenza A(H1N1) are flu-like, including fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and runny nose, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea.

The WHO recommends the following for persons who have a history of travel and who get sick of flu or flu like symptoms:

a. Stay at home and keep away from work, school or crowds.
b. Rest and take plenty of fluids.
c. Cover nose and mouth while coughing and sneezing. If using tissue,dispose of them carefully. Wash hands immediately with soap and wateror alcohol based hand sanitizer.
d. If you do not have any tissue or handkerchief when you cough or sneeze,cover your mouth with the crook of your elbow.
e. Use a mask to help you contain the spread of droplets when you are around others.
f. Inform family and friends of your illness and try to avoid contact with other people.
g. If possible, contact a health professional before traveling to a health facility to discuss whether a medical examination is necessary.


All members of the community who get sick of flu or flu-like symptoms (feeling unwell, developing cough, sore throat and fever of 38 C or more) must contact their health service provider who will advise whether further medical examination is necessary. The Department of Health also recommends that persons who get sick in the next ten days following their arrival in the country seek medical consult early for prompt testing for Influenza A H1N1.

Lung Center of the Philippines along Quezon Avenue (9246101 and 9240707).
Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (8097599)
San Lazaro Hospital (7323776 to78).


To prevent the spread of H1N1 virus, the DOH recommends:

1. Wash your hands, wash your hands, and wash your hands! Hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after touching objects, surfaces or another person's hands can physically remove cold viruses.

2. When water isn?t available, use alcohol-based liquid hand sanitizers frequently especially when hand washing is really not possible. If using a gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. It does not require water to work, the alcohol in it will kill hand germs. But remember that not all germicidal lotions will adequately kill cold viruses.

3. If you sneeze or cough, cover your nose or mouth. Avoid rubbing or touching your eyes and nose. Cold and flu are often spread by hand-to-hand contact, so avoid directly facing an individual who is coughing and sneezing. ?If you do sneeze into your hands, make sure you clean them, and do this EVERY time you sneeze or cough.

4. Limit your exposure (even brief contact) to persons who have flu or flu like symptoms especially during the first several days of their flu symptoms. Avoid crowded places.

5. For individuals who are excessively stressed, some studies favor the use of daily vitamin C during the cold and flu season.

7. Eating a balanced diet and getting adequate sleep is a good first step in keeping immune system from getting overly stressed. When you are rested, you will be better prepared to fight off illness.

8. Remind your children to practice healthy habits. And of course that means lots of hand washing, covering their mouth when they cough or sneeze and using hand sanitizers when water isn?t available.

9. Routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched items like doorknobs, telephones, etc. Disinfecting actually destroys germs, it doesn't just clean surfaces. Follow instructions of disinfectants. Germs may live on countertops and surfaces for hours or even days.

*This information is also distributed via blueboard.lists of Ateneo de Manila University