Worth County Public Health

95 9th St N

Northwood, Iowa

641-324-1741

1-800-765-1388

H1N1 Influenza

 

What is H1N1 Influenza?

H1N1 novel influenza A (swine flu) virus is a unique strain of influenza virus that we have not seen

before. It is currently circulating in the U.S. and other parts of the world.

 

Signs and Symptoms

  • As with seasonal flu people can have a fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.
  • Some people also have diarrhea and vomiting.

 

What To Do

  • If you have the above symptoms, call your physician who will tell you what to do.
  • Do Not go to your doctors office, ER, or public health office. You run the risk of making others sick.

 

Vaccine

  • The vaccine is expected to start arriving the middle of October and we will receive partial shipments on a weekly basis.
  • There is no cost to receive the H1N1 vaccine.
  • For people 10 years of age and older, it appears at this time there will be 1 dose.
  • For those under the age of 9, it appears at this time that there will be 2 doses 21-28 days apart.

 

Priority Groups

  • The priority groups to begin with are as follows:
    • Pregnant women
    • Anyone living with or caring for children less than 6 months old (parents, siblings, daycare)
    • Health care providers and EMS that have direct contact with patients or infectious material
    • Children 6 months to 4 years
    • Children 5 – 18 years old with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza – related complications.
      • Chronic pulmonary  (including asthma)
      • Cardiovascular (except hypertension)
      • Renal
      • Hepatic
      • Cognitive
      • Neurologic/neuromuscular
      • Hematologic or metabolic disorders (includes diabetes)
      • Immunosuppression (includes by medication or HIV)
  • Once our supply is plentiful the priority group will change to:
    • Pregnant women
    • Anyone living with or caring for children less than 6 months old (parents, siblings, daycare)
    • All Health care providers and EMS
    • All persons 6 months to 24 years old
    • Persons 25 to 64 who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza- related complications
      • Chronic pulmonary  (including asthma)
      • Cardiovascular (except hypertension)
      • Renal
      • Hepatic
      • Cognitive
      • Neurologic/neuromuscular
      • Hematologic or metabolic disorders (includes diabetes)
      • Immunosuppression (includes by medication or HIV)
  • Depending on vaccine production, the population that can receive the vaccine will change.

 

Predictions for the U.S.

  • 30 – 50% of the population will get H1N1
  • 1.8 million hospitalizations
  • 30,000-90,000 deaths, mostly among children and young adults