CSU, Chico | Student Health Service | Announcements | H1N1 Flu (Swine) Information

H1N1 Flu (Swine) Information

Student Health Service

Updated 03/08/10

Butte County Public Health Update

Locally

- no new cases of patients hospitalized with pan H1N1 reported have been reported since early January.  

Statewide

- Northern CA has seen an increase in hospitalizations from flu & pneumonia

- Outpatient influenza levels are low as are lab detections of influenza

- RSV detections still high but trending downward

- Of those that tested positive for respiratory viruses other than flu or RSV, 48% were human metapneumovirus and 37% were rhinovirus.

- 3 lab specimens tested positive for flu B in the last reporting week; all subtyped influenza A were pan H1N1 (2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus

Nationally

- Overall influenza activity remains low - most states are at sporadic activity

- outpatient visits for influenza like illness remain below expected levels for this time of year

- influenza B viruses co-circulated at low levels with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses. All subtyped influenza A viruses reported to CDC this week were 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses.

- Since Aug 30, 265 children have died from lab confirmed pan H1N1 or type A, subtype not determined (329 since April 26, 2009).  This is 2 to over 3 times greater than the number of pediatric deaths in the previous 3 years.

2010-2011 vaccine recommendations

- WHO and FDA recommend that the vaccine for the 2010/2011 season contain A/California/7/2009-like (2009 H1N1), A/Perth/16/2009-like (H3N2), and B/Brisbane/60/2008-like (B/Victoria lineage) viruses. A seasonal influenza A (H1N1) component is not included in the 2010-11 formulation and the A (H3N2) component has been changed from the 2009-10 Northern Hemisphere vaccine formulation. This recommendation was based on surveillance data related to epidemiology and antigenic characteristics, serological responses to 2009-10 trivalent seasonal and 2009 H1N1 monovalent vaccines, and the availability of candidate strains and reagents.


Update from Center for Disease Control:

Flu Activity: FluView reports that for the week of January 31 - February 6, 2010, flu activity in the United States remained about the same as during the previous week. Flu activity is relatively low at this time, with most flu continuing to be caused by 2009 H1N1. Flu activity, caused by either 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu viruses, may rise and fall, but it is expected to continue for several more months.

Vaccination: CDC recommends influenza vaccination as the first and most important step in protecting against the flu. CDC is now encouraging everyone to get vaccinated against 2009 H1N1, including people 65 years and older. While less likely to get sick with 2009 H1N1 than younger people, people 65 and older are at high risk of serious complications if they do get sick. Vaccination of people with certain health conditions also is important because they also are at higher risk of serious flu-related complications. Health conditions that increase the risk of being hospitalized from 2009 H1N1 include lung disease like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, heart, or neurologic disease, and pregnancy. 

The Student Health Center has received an official communication from Butte County Public Health that we can now vaccinate Students/Staff/Faculty outside CDC’s initial priority group.

Free H1N1 flu shots are now available for Students/Staff/Faculty at the Health Center from during the hours listed below.  No appointment necessary, however, please observe the immunization hours below:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 8-11 a.m. & 1-4 p.m.

Wednesday from 9:15-11 a.m. & 1-4 p.m.

If you belong to the CDC priority group listed below, we urge you to obtain your vaccination as soon as possible:

  • people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months
  • healthcare workers
  • persons ages 24 years and below
  • people from ages 25-64 who have chronic health disorders that put them at high risk for complications of the flu such as asthma, other chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders such as diabetes; and those with immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by HIV).

If you have had 2009 H1N1 flu, as confirmed by an RT-PCR test, you should have some immunity against 2009 H1N1 flu and can choose not to get the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. However, vaccination of a person with some existing immunity to the 2009 H1N1 virus will not be harmful.

For pregnant women, we have not yet received our order for “mercury-free” H1N1 vaccine but please continue to watch for our future announcement.  We will post it once we receive it. 

To read more information about the H1N1 vaccine, please go to this website:  http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm


According to Butte County Public Health, people over the age of 65 are not prioritized for pandemic H1N1 vaccine because very few people in that age group have come down with the new flu. It is thought that older people may have some partial immunity to this virus.

Please continue to practice prevention as stated below:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 4 main ways you may keep from getting sick with the flu:
1.    Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. To see more details click here.
2.    Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.  If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder; not into your hands. To see more detials click here.
3.    Stay home or at your place of residence if you are sick for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen). Staying away from others while sick can prevent others from getting sick too. Ask a roommate, friend, or family member to check up on you and to bring you food and supplies if needed. To see a comparison of Common Cold and Influenza Symptoms see the table below.
4.    Talk to your health care provider to find out if you should be vaccinated for seasonal flu and/or 2009 H1N1 flu. Information about 2009 H1N1 flu vaccination can be found at: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination. Information about seasonal flu vaccine can be found at: www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm

HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COLD AND A FLU :

SYMPTOM COLD FLU
Fever Rare Usual; high (100-102 F)
Headache Rare Common
General Aches, Pains Slight Usual; often severe
Fatigue, Weakness Sometimes Usual; up to 2-3 weeks
Extreme Exhaustion Never Usual, at beginning
Stuffy Nose Common Sometimes
Sneezing Usual Sometimes
Sore Throat Common Sometimes
Chest Discomfort, Cough Mild-Moderate hacking cough Common, can be severe
Treatment Antihistamines, Decongestant Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory meds Antiviral medicines- See your doctor
Prevention Wash hands often. Avoid close contact- anyone with a cold Annual vaccination; antiviral medicines- See your doctor
Complications Sinus congestion, Middle ear infection, Asthma Bronchitis, Pneumonia; Can be life threatening

What to Do If You Get Flu-Like Symptoms

1. California Department of Public Health: 

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/default.aspx

2. Centers for Disease Control: 

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1/

3. World Health Organization: 

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html

4. Butte County Public Health

http://www.buttecounty.net/publichealth/

5. Good Health Habits for Preventing Seasonal Flu

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits/index.htm

6. H1N1 Influenza Vaccine and Pregnant Women

http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/vaccination/pregnant_qa.htm