Answers to Common Questions About Swine Flu

April 27, 2009

Frequently Asked Questions About Swine Flu

• What is swine flu?
• How does swine flu spread?
• Can I get swine flu from eating pork or other pig products?
• How dangerous is this form of swine flu?
• What are the symptoms of swine flu?
• Should people with flu-like symptoms seek medical help?
• Is there a treatment for swine flu?
• How can I avoid getting swine flu?
• Do I need to wear a facemask to avoid getting swine flu?
• What steps should health professionals take?
• What if a patient with swine flu comes to the hospital?
• Is this outbreak a pandemic?
• How can I learn more about swine flu?

Q: What is swine flu?
A: Like many forms of influenza, swine flu is transmitted among people and animals -- in this case, the virus has elements linked to people, birds and pigs. The link to animals is not unusual, but this particular strain appears to be new.

Q: How does swine flu spread?
A: Coughing and sneezing can spread infectious droplets, as with most varieties of flu. You can catch flu by being near someone who’s sneezing or coughing, or by touching a surface with droplets and then touching your mouth or nose.

Q: Can I get swine flu from eating pork or other pig products?
A: No. Swine flu spreads via droplets, not inside food. Properly prepared pork products should be safe to eat.

Q: How dangerous is this form of swine flu?
A: So far swine flu has not been linked with fatalities in the U.S. The virus has caused deaths in Mexico, but investigators still are working to assess the severity of the disease there.

Q: What are the symptoms of swine flu?
A: This variety seems to have many of the same symptoms as classic flu -- headache, fever, sore throat, muscle soreness and cough. Children with the virus may develop vomiting.

Q: Should people with flu-like symptoms seek medical help?
A: Not all people with flu require urgent medical attention, but if you’re uncertain check with your doctor. In children, warning signs of a possible emergency include: fast breathing, bluish skin color, not enough drinking of fluids, failure to wake up, extreme irritability, and fever with rash. In adults, the warning signs include: shortness of breath, pain in the chest or abdomen, dizziness, confusion, and severe or persistent vomiting.

Q: Is there a treatment for swine flu?
A: Yes. Laboratory tests indicate that this variety of swine influenza A (H1N1) can be treated with oseltamivir (also called Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza). These anti-viral drugs can be used to treat or prevent swine flu in high-risk groups, such as elderly people with known exposure to swine flu. But early cases indicate that the disease often can be treated like a normal flu case -- stay home and avoid contact with others. Patients should consult with a doctor to determine the best course of treatment.

Q: How can I avoid getting swine flu?
A: Old-fashioned methods often work best: Wash your hands regularly, avoid touching your hands to your mouth, eyes or nose, avoid close contact with people known to have flu, and for everyone’s sake cover your mouth when you sneeze.

Q: Do I need to wear a facemask to avoid getting swine flu?
A: No. The evidence is inconclusive on whether facemasks help ordinary people avoid getting the virus in public places. In areas of infection, facemasks alone are inadequate to protect people from swine flu.

Q: What steps should health professionals take?
A: Hospital staff who work in triage or the front desk should ask patients with severe respiratory illness whether they have traveled to areas affected by swine flu, or if they have had close contact with people known to have the disease. Anyone showing signs of respiratory illness should be provided with a facemask.

Q: What if a patient with swine flu comes to the hospital?
A: The University of Chicago Medical Center is disseminating procedures to be used with patients suspected of having swine flu. Such patients will be placed in a negative pressure room if available, to avoid spread of the virus outside the room. Clinicians providing direct care to such a patient should wear gowns, gloves and fit-tested respirators.

Q: Is this outbreak a pandemic?
A: No one knows yet. A flu pandemic occurs when a new variety strikes many countries around the same time. As a precaution, the federal government is responding to this outbreak as if it will become a pandemic. For example, the government is distributing millions of doses of anti-viral medication, focusing on states with known cases.

Q: How can I learn more about swine flu?
A: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide credible information about swine flu. Visit the CDC's up-to-date swine flu Web site for more information.