What are the symptoms of H1N1?

The symptoms of H1N1 flu virus include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea.

Note that some people may be infected with the flu and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.

Who is in the “high-risk” group for H1N1 flu?

• Children younger than age 5, especially children younger than age 2
• People age 65 and older
• Pregnant women
• People who have
  • Cancer, blood disorders (including sickle cell disease), chronic lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disorders, liver disorders, neurological disorders, neuromuscular disorders, or weakened immune systems

Who should get the H1N1 vaccine?

Due to the short supply of vaccine at the current time, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that health care providers administer vaccine to the following five target groups until more vaccine becomes available:

• Pregnant women
• People who live with or provide care for infants younger than age 6 months
• Health care and emergency medical services personnel
• People age 6 months through 24 years of age
• Persons between 25 and 64 years old with health conditions which put them at a higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

Do I need to go to the emergency room if I am only a little sick?

No. The emergency room (ER) should only be used if you are very ill. If you exhibit any of the emergency warning signs of flu sickness, you should proceed to the ER immediately. If you get sick with flu symptoms and are at a high-risk of flu complications or you are concerned about your illness, call your health care provider for advice.

How does the H1N1 virus spread?

The spread of H1N1 influenza (“swine flu”) is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal influenza. This primarily occurs from person-to-person through coughing or sneezing. You can also become infected by touching a surface or object such as a doorknob and then touching your mouth or nose. In fact, flu viruses can survive on environmental surfaces and infect people for two to eight hours after being deposited on the surface.

You cannot contract H1N1 influenza by eating pork or pork products.

How long is someone with H1N1 contagious?

As a general rule, you can infect others with seasonal or H1N1 virus from one day before getting sick to five to seven days after your symptoms begin. For some people, especially children and people with weakened immune systems, this could be even longer.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you stay home for 24 hours after  your fever is gone (without the use of fever-reducing medicine) to help prevent the spread of the flu.

Is the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine safe?

The H1N1 vaccine has undergone all the safety testing and quality checks that are usually done for other vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expects the H1N1 influenza vaccine to have a similar safety profile as seasonal flu vaccines, which have a very good safety track record.

How will the H1N1 vaccine be monitored for safety?

The CDC and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) closely monitor the safety of all vaccines licensed for use in the United States in cooperation with state and local health departments, health care providers, manufacturers, and other partners.

Are there some people who should not receive the H1N1 vaccine?

Some people should not get a flu vaccine without first consulting a doctor. They include:

• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs
• People who have had a severe reaction to a seasonal influenza vaccination
• People who developed Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) within six weeks of getting a flu vaccine
• Children younger than 6 months of age
• People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated)

Should I get a H1N1 flu shot or nasal spray?

There are two kinds of H1N1 vaccine being produced: A “flu shot” that is given with a needle and a nasal spray flu vaccine. Although both are effective against preventing H1N1, different groups should receive the different vaccinations:

The flu shot vaccine is approved for:

• Children older than 6 months of age
• Healthy people
• Individuals with chronic medical conditions
• Pregnant women

The nasal spray flu vaccine is approved for healthy people between age 2 and 49 years of age who are not pregnant.

What are vaccine side effects?

The same side effects typically associated with the seasonal flu shot and the seasonal nasal spray vaccine are expected with the 2009 H1N1 flu shot and 2009 H1N1 nasal spray vaccine, including:

Flu shot: The viruses in the flu shot are killed (inactivated), so you cannot get the flu from a flu shot. Some minor side effects that could occur are soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site, low-grade fever, or aches.

If these problems occur, they begin soon after the shot, are usually mild, and usually last one to two days. Almost all people who receive influenza vaccine have no serious problems from it. However, on rare occasions, flu vaccination can cause serious problems such as severe allergic reactions.

Nasal spray: The viruses in the nasal-spray vaccine are weakened and do not cause the severe symptoms often associated with influenza illness.

In children, side effects from the nasal spray can include runny nose, wheezing, headache, vomiting, muscle aches, and fever. For adults, side effects from the nasal spray are generally mild and can include runny nose, headache, sore throat, and cough.

For more information on vaccine safety, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.