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While most swine influenza viruses have been sus- ceptible to all four drugs, the most recent swine influenza viruses isolated from humans are resist- SSwine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs that doesn’t normally impact humans. However, it is contagious and is currently spreading from human to human. This typically occurs the same ant to amantadine and rimantadine. At this time, way as seasonal flu: by coming in contact with the CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or infected people who are coughing or sneezing.
zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respi- infection with swine influenza viruses.
ratory failure) and deaths have been reported Source: www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underly- Encourage members of your educational commu- nity to always seek emergency medical care if they experience any of the following warning signs: There is no vaccine available right now to protect In children, emergency warning signs that need For resources on the
Centers for Disease
Control and
Prevention’s (CDC)
Ounce of Prevention
Campaign go
■ Being so irritable that the child does not want www.cdc.gov/ounceof-
prevention/
■ Washing hands often with soap and water, ■ Trying to avoid close contact with sick people ■ If feeling ill, encourage and support students school and limit contact with others to keep There may not be a vaccine for swine flu, but there are medications to treat patients who fall ill.
There are four different antiviral drugs that are licensed in the U.S. for the treatment of influenza: the swine flu epidemic • a free resource from 125 Paterson . • Lit le Fal s, NJ 07424 With all the different kinds of influenza out there, Staying Informed
knowing what the differences are can be confus- To keep up to date on the
ing. The U.S. Department of Health and Human recent swine flu outbreak
Services offers these quick definitions of the most in the U.S.—including
where and how many cases
■ Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused
■ Pandemic flu is
have been identified—go to
by type A influenza that regularly causes out- the CDC’s website at:
breaks of influenza among pigs. Swine flu www.cdc.gov/swineflu/inve
viruses do not normally infect humans, howev- stigation.htm
er, human infections with swine flu do occur, and cases of human-to-human spread of swine Because there is little natural immunity, the dis- ease can spread easily from person to person.
■ Bird flu/Avian flu (AI) is caused by influenza
Currently, there is no pandemic flu.
viruses that occur naturally among wild birds.
■ Seasonal (or common) flu is a respiratory illness
causes few problems. Highly pathogenic H5N1 that can be transmitted person to person. Most is deadly to domestic fowl, can be transmitted people have some immunity, and a vaccine is The Big Question: Eating Pork?You might hear students and staff asking about the potential of contracting swine flu from eat- ing pork. Everyone should be assured that a person cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly han- dled and cooked pork products is safe.
Source: www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm the swine flu epidemic • a free resource from 125 Paterson . • Lit le Fal s, NJ 07424

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