What to do when one contacts swine flu
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
THE global outbreak of H1N1 influenza has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), but to date its impact has been relatively mild.
Every case of illness and every death matters, but so far, H1N1's toll, at least in Bangladesh, has been significantly milder than regular seasonal influenza. If someone who has been diagnosed with H1N1 influenza, as a swine flu survivor, I would like you to follow these recommendations:
1. Check your temperature every morning for the first seven-days after your contact. If your temperature rises above 37.5° C (99.5° F) call health professionals.
2. During the same seven-day period, if you develop a cough, achiness, fatigue, sore throat and/or feel feverish, follow the same procedure as above.
3. If the health service provider advises you to stay home, you should do the following: (a) stay at home and avoid contact with others until you no longer have symptoms; (b) wash your hands frequently; (c) cough and sneeze into tissues, or if no tissues are available, into your sleeve and not your hands.
4. If you have an underlying chronic medical condition or are pregnant and are unable to reach anyone, you should seek care at a local clinic or an emergency room.
5. Once you feel better, you can return to your normal activities. Please remember, though, if you had an infection other than H1N1 influenza (a cold, for instance, or a different kind of flu,) you are still at risk of H1N1 infection, so continue to take all necessary precautions.
Avik Sengupta
Biochemistry, McGill University,
Montreal, Canada
Every case of illness and every death matters, but so far, H1N1's toll, at least in Bangladesh, has been significantly milder than regular seasonal influenza. If someone who has been diagnosed with H1N1 influenza, as a swine flu survivor, I would like you to follow these recommendations:
1. Check your temperature every morning for the first seven-days after your contact. If your temperature rises above 37.5° C (99.5° F) call health professionals.
2. During the same seven-day period, if you develop a cough, achiness, fatigue, sore throat and/or feel feverish, follow the same procedure as above.
3. If the health service provider advises you to stay home, you should do the following: (a) stay at home and avoid contact with others until you no longer have symptoms; (b) wash your hands frequently; (c) cough and sneeze into tissues, or if no tissues are available, into your sleeve and not your hands.
4. If you have an underlying chronic medical condition or are pregnant and are unable to reach anyone, you should seek care at a local clinic or an emergency room.
5. Once you feel better, you can return to your normal activities. Please remember, though, if you had an infection other than H1N1 influenza (a cold, for instance, or a different kind of flu,) you are still at risk of H1N1 infection, so continue to take all necessary precautions.
Avik Sengupta
Biochemistry, McGill University,
Montreal, Canada