The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) and public health officials nationwide have been tracking and investigating cases of the new strain of influenza virus commonly referred to as “swine flu”. The purpose of the OSDH “swine flu” website is to provide fact sheets and current information about the disease, and convenient access to other resources for specific audiences including healthcare professionals; faculty and staff at schools, colleges & universities; childcare workers; business leaders; and travelers.
Howdo I prevent the spread of influenza? Above all, the most important message is to prevent the spread of all types of flu and respiratory illnesses. This includes:
•Staying home from work, school, and other public places if you are ill;
•Making “respiratory hygiene” a habit, including use of tissues to cover
coughs and sneezes, then disposing of them and performing hand
hygiene at once;
o When tissues are not readily available, use your sleeve, never your
hands;
•Frequent hand hygiene using soap and water, or alcohol-based products
such as hand gels when hands are not visibly soiled; and
•Getting the seasonal influenza vaccine and/or novel influenza A H1N1
vaccine if you are in a category of those recommended to receive it. For
more information about influenza vaccine, please visit the novel H1N1 vaccine section.
How do I care for a person with influenza? The symptoms of influenza include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Most people with influenza experience symptoms that are manageable with over-the-counter medications along with plenty of rest and fluids. Persons who have flu-like symptoms and have not improved using these treatments should contact their physician. Persons with health conditions that may be complicated by influenza should contact their physician at the onset of flu-like symptoms so that consideration can be given as to whether antiviral medications should be used. Persons experiencing symptoms of influenza should stay home until at least 24 hours after their fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine, even if they are taking antiviral medication. A fever is defined as having a temperature of 100° F or 37.8° C or greater.
For more information on caring for a person with influenza, please visit the in-home care section.
Who should be tested for influenza? Healthcare providers will often diagnose influenza based on the typical symptoms of fever, chills, headache, cough, and body aches. A rapid screening test for influenza may be performed at a physician’s clinic to confirm influenza as the diagnosis. Testing all individuals for swine-origin influenza A H1N1 is no longer recommended as recommendations for treatment with antiviral medications and measures to control spread to other individuals are the same for swine-origin influenza A H1N1 and other seasonal influenza strains.
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