Swine flu has now been confirmed in Georgia. In order to help educate area residents about the symptoms of swine flu and ways to prevent the spread of the virus, Floyd's Infection Prevention team has compiled this set of frequently asked questions.

What is swine flu?
How do I prevent catching swine flu?
Will my flu shot protect me against swine flu?
How serious is a swine flu infection?
What is a pandemic?
What are the symptoms of swine flu?
When should I seek treatment?
Where should I seek treatment?
How does swine flu spread?
Is it safe to eat or prepare pork?
Are medicines available to treat swine flu?
How long is a person with swine flu contagious?
Where should I go for more information?

What is swine flu?
Swine flu (H1N1) is a respiratory disease caused by an influenza virus that regularly occurs in pigs. People do not usually contract infections from animals, but it can and has happened.

How do I prevent catching swine flu?
There are some very simple steps you can take to reduce your risk of contracting the virus:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw the tissue away. If no tissue is available, cough into the bend of your elbow – not your hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. You may also use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth – these are places where germs are most likely to enter the body.
• Try to avoid close contact with people who are ill and showing flu-like symptoms, such as a fever, cough and sore throat.
• Practicing good health habits – such as receiving plenty of sleep, being physically active, managing stress, drinking plenty of fluids and maintaining a healthy diet – can keep your immune system strong and better protect you against infection.
• If you do develop symptoms of influenza, it is important that you stay home from work or school and limit your contact with others to prevent them from becoming infected.

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Will my flu shot protect me against swine flu?
The simple answer is, we don’t know. This strain of swine flu is a different virus from the seasonal flu virus and no research has yet been done to determine if the vaccine many people received against the seasonal flu is also effective against this influenza virus. High-risk populations, including the elderly, the very young and people with established respiratory disorders should have already received their seasonal flu immunization. If not, contact your primary care provider and ask about the availability of the vaccine, which tends to run in very short supply at the close of traditional flu season.

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How serious is a swine flu infection?
Just as with seasonal flu, swine flu infections in humans can cause symptoms that range from quite mild to very severe. So far, the cases that have occurred in the United States have not appeared very severe – but the majority of them have occurred in traditionally healthy populations, in individuals who were neither very young nor elderly. Historically, severe illnesses, such as pneumonia and respiratory failure, and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. As with seasonal flu, underlying chronic medical conditions may also worsen.

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What is a pandemic?
“Pandemic” is a technical term used by the medical community to describe an epidemic over a wide geographic area that affects a large proportion of the population. The World Health Organization (WHO) is an international public health agency that monitors and responds to issues concerning public health around the world. The WHO has termed the current outbreak of swine flu cases a pandemic.

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What are the symptoms of swine flu?
The symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of the seasonal flu that many people may have already received a vaccination (See also "Will my flu shot protect me against swine flu?").

The symptoms of swine flu and seasonal flu include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Body aches
• Headache
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Possibly gastrointestinal problems, including vomiting and diarrhea

Before seeking treatment or testing, remember, if you are not experiencing these symptoms, you likely do not have swine flu and do not need to seek testing or medical treatment for swine flu. Further criteria to consider before seeking treatment include:

• A documented fever of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit and a cough or sore throat in the past five days
• Close contact with a person who has a confirmed case of swine flu (not seasonal flu) within the past seven days, or
• Travel in the past seven days to a community either within the United States or internationally where there are one or more confirmed cases of swine flu or

Also be advised that if you do not meet these criteria for possibly being infected with swine flu, you may expose yourself to the virus by unnecessarily going to places where people are likely to gather, including hospital emergency departments, physician practices, clinics, etc.

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When should I seek treatment?
There is no reason to suspect that you may have swine flu unless you meet the above referenced criteria. If you meet these criteria or are experiencing general flu-like symptoms and are in a high-risk population (children under 5, adults over 50 and individuals with compromised immune systems or a chronic disease), it may be advisable to begin taking precautions to reduce transmitting the virus to others and contact a healthcare professional to inquire about testing and treatment.

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Where should I seek treatment?
The first place to turn for testing and treatment is your primary healthcare provider. If you do not have a primary care physician, view our Primary Care physicians in your area. You may also visit a local immediate or urgent care practice, including one of Floyd's Urgent Care facilities.

Only if you are experiencing the following symptoms is it necessary to go to a hospital emergency department:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

For additional information on swine flu call 1.888.899.9788.

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How does swine flu spread?
Swine flu appears to spread the same way that the seasonal flu spreads. Viruses such as the flu are spread from person to person through the coughing or sneezing of people with the flu. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

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Is it safe to eat or prepare pork?
It is perfectly safe to eat pork and to continue handling pork using standard techniques to prevent spoilage and undercooking.

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Are medicines available to treat swine flu?
Yes. Certain antiviral drugs, available by prescription only, help prevent flu viruses from reproducing inside your body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidelines specifying that the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamirvir are effective in the treatment of swine flu.

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How long is a person with swine flu contagious?
People with swine flu should be considered contagious for as long as they are showing symptoms of swine flu and for up to seven days following the onset of symptoms. Children – especially younger children – may be contagious for longer periods.

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Where should I go for more information?
There are several helpful Web sites that can provide more information on swine flu:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) swine flu page
Includes latest information on confirmed swine flu cases, information on limiting the spread of swine flu and reducing your risk of exposure

World Health Organization (WHO) swine flu page
Includes international information on swine flu developments, including occurrences in various nations

Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Public Health swine flu page
This information is being disseminated by the state for the benefit of Georgia citizens

Floyd Medical Center H1N1 (swine flu) page
A Floyd web site designed to provide helpful information on the swine flu to the communities Floyd serves

The state has also established two helpful swine flu hotlines to answer more questions on the swine flu:

• Inside metro Atlanta: 770.830.2828
• Toll-free: 1.888.899.9788