Fort Bend County
Office of Emergency Management

Fort Bend County North American Influenza - H1N1 "Swine Flu" Information

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Swine Flu Hotline

Call the H1N1 Hotline if you have flu-like symptoms:
1-888-777-5320 (State of Texas Swine Flu Call Center)

Updates from FBC OEM

 

• Flu still spreading in U.S., CDC says
• Swine Flu Continues To March Through Fort Bend County, With 107 Cases Now Confirmed
• List of Schools and Status (Closed/Open)
• Information for Health Care Providers
• Health officials asking public not to overwhelm hospital ERs
• How to put on and take off a N95 particle filtering mask
• Parents of closed schools should take precautions not to expose others to flu
• Beckendorff Junior High has closed
• Lamar Junior High School has closed
• H1N1 "Swine" Flu Community Mitigation Strategies

 

Updates from FBC HHS

 

• PH Informer Newsletter
• H1N1 Flu - Abbreviated Guidance.doc
• H1N1 Preparedness Webcast for Pregnant Women and New Mothers
• More thatn 1,200 kids going back to school in style
• Physician H1N1 Vaccine Registration Memo.doc

 

If an outbreak occurs, how can I protect myself and my family?

From the Fort Bend County Health and Human Services site. Be sure to check the Pandemic Flu Family Emergency Preparedness page for more information.

• Emergency Checklist for Pandemic Influenza [FBC HHS]
• Emergency Guide for Pandemic Influenza [FBC HHS]
• Emergency Contact List [FBC HHS]
• Emergency Family Health Form [FBC HHS]

What is North American Influenza - H1N1 "Swine Flu?"

North American Influenza - H1N1 "Swine Flu" is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930.

What are the symptoms of North American Influenza - H1N1 "Swine Flu" in humans?

The symptoms of H1N1 in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

How does H1N1 spread?

Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs. Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can also occur. This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

What should I do to keep from getting the flu?

First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
• If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Latest from the CDC Swine Flu site

 

• CDC 2009 H1N1 Vaccination Campaign Planning Checklist
  This document is intended for state and local planners. Its purpose is to outline the main 2009 influenza A (H1N1) monovalent vaccine (" 2009 H1N1 vaccine") planning actions. It is not meant to be exhaustive, and more detailed guidance is, or will be, available on specific topics. Within each state, the checklist should be tailored to distinguish between state and local responsibilities. []
• Vaccine Distribution Q&A
  The purpose of this document is to provide information on plans for distribution of 2009 H1N1 vaccine. []
• Weekly FluView Map and Surveillance Report for Week Ending August 22, 2009
  During week 32 (August 16-22, 2009), influenza activity remained stable in the United States; however, there were still higher levels of influenza-like illness than is normal for this time of year. []
• State/Jurisdiction Contact Information for Providers Interested in Providing H1N1 Vaccine
  Provides a state-by-state list of names, websites, phone numbers, and email addresses. []

 

UNOFFICIAL map of reported cases

View 2009 H1N1 Flu Outbreak Map in a larger map

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