What You Need to Know About The Swine Flu
Local Contact Information
Address: Rhode Island Department of Health, 3 Capitol Hill, Providence, RI 02908
E-mail: library@doh.state.ri.us
By phone: For general questions: (401) 222-8022, Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; For clinical case management: (401) 222-2577
About the Flu
Flu refers to illnesses caused by a number of different influenza viruses. Flu can cause a range of symptoms and effects, from mild to lethal.
Two strains of flu, seasonal flu and the H1N1 (Swine) flu, are currently circulating in the United States. A third, highly lethal H5N1 (Bird) flu is being closely tracked overseas.
Most healthy people recover from the flu without problems, but certain people are at high risk for serious complications.
Extensive efforts are underway to track and monitor the spread of all flu viruses. In the U.S., epidemiologists at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are working with states to collect, compile and analyze reports of flu outbreaks. More on the current situation.
Flu symptoms may include fever, coughing, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches, body aches, chills and fatigue. In H1N1 flu infection, vomiting and diarrhea may also occur.
Annual outbreaks of the seasonal flu usually occur during the late fall through early spring. Most people have natural immunity, and a seasonal flu vaccine is available. In a typical year, approximately 5 to 20 percent of the population gets the seasonal flu and approximately 36,000 flu-related deaths are reported.
This year, the H1N1 flu virus may cause a more dangerous flu season with a lot more people getting sick, being hospitalized and dying than during a regular flu season. H1N1 is a new virus first seen in the United States. It is contagious and spreads from person to person. Like seasonal flu, illness in people with H1N1 can vary from mild to severe.
A flu pandemic occurs when a new influenza A virus emerges for which there is little or no immunity in the human population; the virus causes serious illness and spreads easily from person-to-person worldwide. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization 
(WHO) declared that a global pandemic of H1N1 flu is underway.
H5N1 (Bird) flu is an influenza A virus subtype that is highly contagious among birds. Rare human infections with the H5N1 (Bird) flu virus have occurred. The majority of confirmed cases have occurred in Asia, Africa, the Pacific, Europe and the Near East. Currently, the United States has no confirmed human H5N1 (Bird) flu infections, but H5N1 (Bird) flu remains a serious concern with the potential to cause a deadly pandemic. (source: Flu.gov)
Preventing the Spread of the Flu
Vaccines are one of the best ways to prevent the flu and avoid spreading it to people at high risk. Good health habits can prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like the flu. Flu viruses spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes near another person. They may also spread when people touch something covered with infected droplets and then touch their eyes, mouth, or nose. Here are things you can do to prevent the spread of flu:
- Wash your hands often throughout the day. Use warm water and soap. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand gel.
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow. Flu is spread through coughing or sneezing on other people or into your hands. Cover your cough and sneezes to prevent others from getting sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Stay home if you are sick. If you have flu-like symptoms (fever plus cough or fever plus sore throat), stay home from work, school, or childcare until you have been fever-free (temperature less than 100 ° F or 37.8 ° C) for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
- Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious foods.
People who have the flu can spread it to other people 1 day before they become sick and up to 7 days after they develop symptoms.
Keep It Clean
Flu virus can live outside the body for up to 2 hours. These germs spread when someone sneezes or coughs and touches something that contaminates a surface. You can prevent or contain the spread of these germs by following these tips:
- Keep surfaces (especially bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, and toys for children) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.
- Throw away tissues and other items used by the sick person. Wash your hands after touching used tissues or other trash.
- Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick do not need to be cleaned separately. These items should not be shared without washing them thoroughly first.
- Wash linens (bed sheets and towels) in regualr laundry detergent. Dry on the hottest setting the fabric can tolerate. Avoid “hugging” dirty laundry before washing it to prevent spreading the germs. Clean your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand gel after handling dirty laundry.
School Vaccinations
The Rhode Island Department of Health expects to begin offering H1N1 influenza vaccinations to students in schools in early November. The H1N1 Vaccine Information Statement (English | Spanish), vaccine consent form (English | Spanish), and accompanying letter (English | Spanish) sent to parents the week of October 19 are available in both English and Spanish. Two-thirds of the letters were mailed to parents with addresses provided by the public school systems. The rest are being distributed through the schools. Children cannot receive this free vaccination in a school without a signed and dated consent form. For school-aged children who do not get this vaccination in school, it will not likely be available in physicians’ offices or in other clinics until late December. School district superintendents or school principals will contact parents with more information about clinics. (more)
See below for the local school vaccination clinic schedule. For a full state-wide schedule click here.
Local School Vaccination Clinics
Newport school vaccination schedule
Newport 11/6/2009 Dr. M. H. Sullivan School
Newport 11/19/2009 Coggeshall School
Newport 11/30/2009 Frank E. Thompson Middle School
Newport 12/7/2009 Cranston – Calvert School
Newport 12/9/2009 William J. Underwood School
Newport 12/9/2009 St. Joseph of Cluny Sisters’ School
Newport 12/10/2009 Rogers High School
Newport 12/10/2009 St. Michael’s Country Day School
Middletown School Vaccination Schedule
Middletown 11/4/2009 Aquidneck School
Middletown 11/18/2009 All Saints Academy
Middletown 11/23/2009 Joseph H. Gaudet School
Middletown 11/30/2009 Middletown High School
Middletown 12/2/2009 Forest Avenue School
Middletown 12/2/2009 St. George’s School
Middletown 12/7/2009 Valley Community School
Jamestown school vaccination schedule
Jamestown 11/3/2009 Jamestown School-Melrose
Jamestown 11/16/2009 Jamestown School-Lawn
Portsmouth school vaccination schedule
Portsmouth 11/3/2009 The Pennfield School
Portsmouth 11/19/2009 Melville Elementary School
Portsmouth 11/19/2009 St. Philomena School
Portsmouth 12/1/2009 Portsmouth High School
Portsmouth 12/1/2009 Portsmouth Abbey School – Self – Direct Ship
Portsmouth 12/1/2009 Aquidneck Island Christian Academy
Portsmouth 12/3/2009 Howard Hathaway School
Portsmouth 12/10/2009 Elmhurst School
Portsmouth 12/15/2009 Portsmouth Middle School
When to Seek Medical Care
Most people who get the flu will have mild illness and will recover without needing medical care or antiviral drugs. Consider calling your doctor for advice if you get sick with flu-like symptoms and…
- You are at high risk of flu-related complications.
- You have any questions or concerns about your illness.
Your doctor can advise you over the phone if you need to come in for an appointment or start taking antiviral drugs. Calling first may let you avoid an unnecessary visit and will help keep doctors’ offices from becoming overwhelmed. It will also reduce the number of people who spread the flu to others in waiting rooms. People who do not need to be seen by a doctor can be treated for the flu at home.
Flu Information for Parents and Caregivers
Many children who get the flu will have mild symptoms and recover within a few days. However, children younger than 5 years old have a high risk of complications like ear infections and pneumonia from the flu. Children with certain medical conditions like asthma may also get very sick. The CDC recommends the seasonal flu vaccine for all children ages 6 months through 18 years.
Emergency Warning Signs
Children
- Fast breathing or trouble breathing
- Bluish color on skin or around mouth and lips
- Dehydration (no tears, dried lips and mouth, not drinking enough fluids)
- Not waking up or not interacting
- Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and a worse cough
- Fever with a rash
Adults
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
Seasonal Flu Vaccinations
Who Should Get Vaccinated
Anyone who wants to reduce his or her chances of getting seasonal flu. It is recommended particularly for:
- Children and teens 6 months to 19 years old
- Pregnant women
- People age 50 or older
- Nursing or group home residents
- Persons with heart, lung or kidney disease, diabetes, asthma, anemia, blood disorders, or weakened immune systems
- People who live with or care for those at high risk of flu-related complications
When to get Vaccinated
Seasonal flu vaccination should begin in September or as soon as vaccine is available and continue throughout the flu season. While flu outbreaks can happen as early as October, seasonal flu activity usually peaks in the winter.
What to Expect After Immunization
Most people do not experience serious side effects after receiving flu vaccines. Side effects from the flu shot may include soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given, low fever, or aches for a day or two. For individuals vaccinated with the nasal-spray flu vaccine (FluMist), side effects may also include runny nose, wheezing, headache, and vomiting. You cannot get the flu from a flu vaccine.
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Newport, RI
