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Background on Pandemic Influenza:
Bakersfield College's Incident Command System team activated early Tuesday, April 28, 2009 to discuss response scenarios should a case of H1N1 Virus be diagnosed among the Bakersfield College population. We continue to closely monitor the situation and have increased our preparation efforts as of an afternoon meeting on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 in response to the World Health Organization's elevation of their threat level to 5. As you have likely heard by now, there has been a recent declaration of an international public health emergency due to the outbreak of a new strain of H1N1 Virus, which appears to have originated in Mexico and continues to spread among humans across the globe. While the number of cases in the United States is less than 100, the number of cases in California is only 14 (as of April 29, 2009) and no cases have been reported in Kern County, we continue to monitor the situation.
Because we take this threat seriously and because it is important for us to be both knowledgeable and prepared, the Incident Command System team want you to be aware of this situation as it pertains to our employees and students at Bakersfield College.
Additional
Information on the
H1N1 Virus may be found on the Following Websites:
U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention FAQ?s
California Department of Public
Health
County of
Kern Department of Public Health Services
In order to keep you informed and stay on top of information, the Incident Command System team will:
continue to closely monitor the situation with health officials nationally, statewide and locally
include updates on this website
notify you through BCAlert of closures or evacuations
To stay healthy, staff and students can:
Seek medical care if you are severely ill or exhibit flu symptoms.
If you are ill, please stay home so that you can get well and avoid infecting co-workers. Do not go to work, school or travel. Your own health and the health of others are important.
Avoid contact with ill persons.
When you cough or sneeze, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve (if you do not have a tissue).
Throw used tissues in a trash can.
After you cough or sneeze, wash your hands with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand gel.
If you're worried about the flurry of news on H1N1 Virus pandemics, epidemics, and public health emergencies, here are some key facts provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help you understand how H1N1 Virus is spread and what you can do to help prevent infection. Current updates on the spread of H1N1 Virus are available at the CDC's H1N1 Virus Web site.
What is H1N1 Virus?
H1N1 Virus is a respiratory disease normally found in pigs and caused by type A influenza viruses. While outbreaks of this type of flu are most common in pigs, human cases of H1N1 Virus do happen. In the past, reports of human H1N1 Virus have been rare?approximately one infection every one to two years in the United States. From December 2005 through February 2009, only 12 cases of human infection were documented.
How is it spread?
Humans with direct exposure to pigs are those most commonly infected with H1N1 Virus. Human-to-human spread of H1N1 Virus have been documented; however, it's not known how easily the spread occurs. Just as the common flu is passed along, H1N1 Virus is thought to be spread by coughing, sneezing, or touching something that has the live virus on it. If infected, a person may be able to infect another person one day before symptoms develop; therefore, a person is able to pass the flu on before they know they are sick. Infected individuals may spread the virus for seven or more days after becoming sick. Those with H1N1 Virus should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are showing symptoms, and up to seven days or longer from the onset of their illness. Children might be contagious for longer periods of time.
Can I catch H1N1 Virus from eating pork?
No. The CDC says that H1N1 Viruses are not transmitted by food. Properly cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160?F kills all bacteria and viruses.
What are the symptoms of H1N1 Virus?
Symptoms of H1N1 Virus are similar to those of a regular flu: fever and chills, sore throat, cough, headache, body aches, and fatigue. Diarrhea and vomiting can also be present. Without a specific lab test, it is impossible to know whether you may be suffering from H1N1 Virus or another flu strain, or a different disease entirely.
What precautionary measures should I take?
The same everyday precautions that you take to prevent other contagious viruses should be used to protect yourself against H1N1 Virus. "The best current advice is for individuals to practice good hand hygiene. Periodic hand washing with soap and water, or the use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when hand washing is not possible, is a good preventive measure. Also, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, as germs can more easily gain entrance into your body through those areas," suggests Rob Danoff, D.O., an MSN health expert. Covering your mouth with a disposable tissue when you cough and sneeze is also a good practice. The CDC recommends avoiding contact with sick people and keeping your own good health in check with adequate sleep, exercise, and a nutritious diet.
What should you do if you think you are sick with H1N1 Virus?
Contact your health care professional, inform them of your symptoms, and ask whether you should be tested for H1N1 Virus. Be prepared to give details on how long you've been feeling ill and about any recent travels. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed. If you feel sick, but are not sure what illness you may have, stay home until you have been diagnosed properly to avoid spreading any infection.
Watch for these symptoms in children. Seek emergency medical care if your child experiences any of the following warning signs:
Fever with a rash
Dehydration
Fast breathing
Bluish skin coloration
Slow to wake or sluggish interaction
Flu-like symptoms improve, but then return and cough worsens
Severe irritability
For adults, emergency medical care is needed if you experience these warning signs:
Difficulty breathing
Dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting
Pain or pressure in the chest or stomach
Remember that the symptoms for H1N1 Virus are almost identical to those you might experience with the regular flu. Only your doctor can give you the correct diagnosis.
Are there medicines effective in treating H1N1 Virus in humans?
The current strain of the H1N1 Virus appears to respond to the use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu), or zanamivir (Relenza) for those infected. For treatment, these antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within two days of the appearance of symptoms), and for that reason, it's important to notify your health care provider right away if your symptoms are severe.
Is there a vaccine available to protect against H1N1 Virus?
No, there is no vaccine to protect humans from this new strain of H1N1 Virus. Steps have been taken to start developing one, though the process is complex and can take months.
Would a recent vaccination for the seasonal flu help protect against H1N1 Virus?
The CDC reports that those individuals who received the seasonal flu vaccine do not have added protection against the H1N1 Virus. The human H1N1 viruses are very different from the H1N1 viruses responsible for the recent outbreaks of H1N1 Virus. Therefore, a seasonal flu vaccine would not protect against the H1N1 Virus.