Resources

The recent outbreak of H1N1 Flu ("Swine Flu") has many feeling panicky about the situation. Our government has taken decisive and aggressive action, which can feel scary. Many people don't know what to believe; the media has so much information to report! We have listed some essential "H1N1 Flu Facts" that we hope will help people understand the situation and will aid in Taking the Panic out of Pandemic.

• The "H1N1" Flu is also known as "Swine Flu", "North American Influenza," and the "Mexican Flu."
• The H1N1 virus is airborne, and can be transmitted through the air by a cough or sneeze; it can also live on surfaces such as doorknobs, phones and tabletops for approximately 6-8 hours.
• H1N1 is a combination of a swine flu virus, a bird flu virus and a human flu virus.
• Humans do not have immunity for a swine or bird flu virus.
• H1N1 has a short incubation period. The incubation period could be up to a week, but symptoms may start showing up just a few days after coming into contact with the virus. A person can be contagious one day before symptoms start, and up to 7 days after first symptoms.
• Symptoms are the same as "normal" flu - high fever, runny nose, body aches, sore throat, headaches, cough and fatigue.
• A pandemic is an outbreak of disease that spreads throughout the world.
• The U.S. government is taking this outbreak extremely seriously, and is monitoring the situation very closely.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed 6 stages of pandemic alert; we are currently in stage 5, meaning there is human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region and there is pandemic potential. See Definition of Pandemic Phases for descriptions of each stage.
• No one knows if this outbreak of H1N1 will be mild, moderate or severe.
• The state of Virginia has a pandemic plan. The state's health department has opened a call center for Virginians to telephone with questions about the new virus. The number is 1.877.ASK.VDH3 (1.877.275.8343). Visit http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/ for more information.
• Prince William County has been preparing for a potential pandemic for several years.
• Contact your local health department to find out its plan for distributing antiviral medication in a severe pandemic crisis.
• Visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for up-to-date information about H1N1 in the United States: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/index.htm.
• Another flu resource is http://www.pandemicflu.gov. One-stop access to U.S. Government H1N1, avian and pandemic flu information.

See what you need to prepare a Flu Emergency Kit. For more information about what you can do see Prevention Tips - "CHIRP"