h1n1 information

Yesterday at work we had a seminar about the H1N1 virus. Considering the fact that we work in a school with children, it's especially important that teachers and staff are aware, educated, and ready to teach the students once they return to school. I'm having a hard time with this because I'm already a germophobic. However, I'm trying to be cool, calm, collected, and educated. Allow me to share some things I learned about H1N1:

An image of the H1N1 virus

• H1N1 is a new influenza virus, it is different from the seasonal influenza virus


• H1N1 can be spread from person to person through coughs and sneezes of infected people, people may also get sick by touching something with the virus on it (such as a door knob, etc.) and then touching their mouth/nose.


• Infected people can infect others before they show symptoms


• People at higher risk include; young children under 5 (especially those under 2), pregnant women, people over 65, and people with pre-existing medical conditions/illnesses

Prevention is key. Here are the ways we can protect ourselves:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing and/or coughing, throw the tissue into the garbage immediately after you use it, preferably in a garbage can that has a lid


• If you don't have a tissue available, sneeze/cough into your elbow, do not cover your mouth with your hand (this will avoid risk of hand contamination)


• Wash hands, A LOT. Use water and soap and wash for 20 seconds.


• If you are unable to wash your hands, use an alcohol based sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol


• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, this is how germs spread.


• Avoid contact with sick people


• If you are sick, stay home. Do not go to work, school, or public places.

Emergency Warning Signs in Children:

• fast or trouble breathing


• bluish skin color


• not drinking enough fluids


• being irritable to the point of not wanting to be held


• flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough


• fever with rash

In adults:

• difficulty breathing/shortness of breath


• pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
  
• sudden dizziness


• confusion


• severe or persistent vomiting

What our schools are doing here in Saudi (according to the Ministry of Health):

• educate teachers who will then educate the students about H1N1


• supply hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the school


• supply trash cans with lids in classrooms and throughout the school


• create a waiting room for sick students to go to in case of fever/illness where they'll be registered and checked (in the event of actual illness, they will wait until parents come to pick them up)


• report any suspicions of infected students to the Ministry of Health


• if 10% of students in any one given school are infected, that school will close until further notice

There is a vaccine available and there is talk of children being given this vaccine in school (with parent's permission). I personally am torn about this vaccine. I don't feel comfortable with the short amount of study time on this vaccine. As someone who doesn't even get the regular flu shot, it's hard to think about a vaccine that hasn't been given much time to be tested. I hate medicine, I rarely even take Tylenol for headaches. So this is a tough one for me. I want my family to be protected, but I worry about possible side effects.

What's your take on this issue? If you'll have the opportunity to receive a vaccine for the H1N1 virus, will you take it? If you have children, will you allow them to receive the vaccine at school?

P.S. For more information click here

All images via cdc.gov/h1n1flu