Key Facts on H1N1 Flu Virus

The H1N1 flu virus is a new strain of pandemic influenza which is different than the seasonal flu. People have no natural immunity to protect against this virus.  The H1N1 flu virus emerged in April 2009 and surveillance of its spread shows that it is affecting more young and healthy people than the regular seasonal flu, which normally affects seniors and young children. People with underlying medical conditions and pregnant women may be at a greater risk for severe illness.

What is it?

H1N1 Flu Virus has been reported around the world, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it a pandemic influenza virus. H1N1 is a strain of the influenza virus that in the past, usually only affected pigs. In Spring 2009, it emerged in people in North America. This is a new strain of influenza and because humans have little to no natural immunity to this virus, it can cause serious and widespread illness.

How is it spread?

The H1N1 flu virus is contagious and is spread the same way as regular seasonal influenza.  This happens when an infected person coughs or sneezes and their germs enter the nose, eyes, or throat of another person.  The germs can also rest on hard surfaces like counters and doorknobs, and can be picked up on hands and transmitted to the respiratory system when someone touches their mouth and/or nose.  It is not possible to catch it by eating pork or pork products or through blood transfusions.

Contagiousness

More investigation is needed on how long a person can be infectious (be able to spread the virus to others), but, it is believed that this period is for one day before the onset of symptoms and continues for approximately 7 days after symptoms have started.  

Symptoms

Almost always:

• Cough and fever

Common:

• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Decreased appetite
• Runny nose

Sometimes:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Prevention

The Public Health Agency advises Canadians to:

• Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer.
• Keep your hands away from your face.
• Cough and sneeze into your arm, not your hand. If you use a tissue, dispose of it as soon as possible and wash your hands.
• Get immunized.
• Keep common surface areas—for example, doorknobs, light switches, telephones and keyboards—clean and disinfected.
• Eat healthy foods and stay physically active to keep your immune system strong.
• Keep doing what you normally do, but if you get sick, stay home.
• Check www.fightflu.ca for more information.
• Check www.voyage.gc.ca for travel notices and advisories.

Be Prepared

Put together a home preparedness kit before anyone gets sick. When you are sick, you won't want to go out and get groceries or health supplies.
Here are some examples of household items that you may want to have in your home:

• Pain and fever medication, like Tylenol or Advil, to treat fever and headaches
• A thermometer
• Extra supplies of any essential medication, like insulin for diabetics
• Cleaning supplies, like household disinfectant,
• Soap and alcohol-based hand sanitizer to keep hands clean
• Non perishable food, like canned soup and fruits and vegetables and liquids, like water and juice, in case you can’t get to the grocery store,

Visit our H1N1 preparedness guide to learn more about how to protect yourself and your family.

Treatment

If you get flu-like symptoms and are otherwise healthy, you should stay home to recover. If your symptoms worsen or you experience difficulty breathing or serious shortness of breath, it is important to seek medical attention.
The following groups are not more likely to get the H1N1 virus. However, they are more at risk of developing complications if they do get sick:

• Children under five years of age (especially those less than two years old)
• Women who are pregnant
• People with chronic conditions

If you have flu symptoms and you have one of these risk factors, contact a health care provider as soon as possible — antiviral medications may be needed.

Antivirals

Antivirals are prescription medications used to treat viral illnesses, including the flu. If taken shortly after getting sick (within the first 24 to 48 hours), they can reduce flu symptoms, shorten the length of illness and may reduce serious complications. They are available in two forms: a pill (called oseltamivir or Tamiflu®) or an inhaler (called zanamivir or Relenza®).
Antivirals are recommended for the treatment of moderate to severe illness, and for people at risk of severe disease. Your doctor will decide if treatment is right for you.

Vaccination

Getting the H1N1 flu vaccine is the best way for Canadians to protect themselves and others from getting infected.

The government has purchased 50.4 million doses of H1N1 flu vaccine on behalf of the provinces, territories and federal populations. Most of the order is for adjuvanted vaccine; 1.8 million of the doses are for unadjuvanted vaccine.

The Government of Canada has a longstanding contract with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to maintain vaccine production capacity in Canada in order to meet Canada's pandemic vaccine needs promptly and effectively.

The order of unadjuvanted vaccine from GSK will be available by mid-November.

In order for pregnant women across the country to have access to the unadjuvanted vaccine as early as possible, the Government of Canada has purchased 200,000 doses of unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccine from CSL Australia, which is now being administered across the country.

For more information

H1N1 Flu Vaccine Information

Call the H1N1 flu hotline at 1 800 O-Canada