What is the difference between seasonal flu and an H1N1 flu pandemic?
Pandemic flu:
- Symptoms are more severe and affect a wide swath of the population.
- Slow recovery time.
- Happens only two or three times a century. Pandemics tend to come in two or three waves with each wave lasting about two months.
Seasonal flu:
- Symptoms in general population are not severe, usually only seriously affects the very young, the very old or the critically ill.
- Most recover within a few weeks.
- Occurs annually, usually striking from November through April.
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What’s the best way to disinfect my home?
Flu viruses remain infectious for two to eight hours on soft surfaces. On non-porous surfaces, they can survive for a few days.
The virus can be destroyed with heat, chemical cleaners with chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, detergents, iodine-based antiseptics and alcohol-based cleaners.
Can I get a vaccine to protect me against H1N1?
GlaxoSmithKline is manufacturing 50.4 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine for Canadians.
The federal government will pay 60 percent of the $400 million cost, while the provinces and territories will cover the rest. The first supply of vaccine will likely be ready in mid-November.
Meanwhile, officials are working out which groups should receive the vaccine first in the event there is a shortfall of the vaccine at the beginning of the flu season. So far, priority groups include health-care workers, people with pre-existing chronic conditions, residents of remote communities and those under age 50 – a group hit unusually hard by the H1N1virus.
What flu signs require urgent medical attention?
In adults, emergency warning signs include:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
- Bluish or grey skin colour.
- Bloody sputum.
- Chest pains.
- Sudden dizziness or confusion.
- Severe or persistent vomiting.
- High fever lasting more than three days.
- Symptoms improve, then return with fever and worse cough.
- Low blood pressure.
In children, emergency warning signs include:
- Fast or laboured breathing.
- Bluish or grey skin colour.
- Poor fluid intake.
- Severe or persistent vomiting.
- Not waking or interacting with others.
- Doesn’t want to be held.
- Symptoms improve, then return with fever and worse cough.
Western Canadian deaths from H1N1 as of Sept. 8:
B.C. 4
Alta. 8
Sask. 4
Man. 7
CANADA 73
Web resources:
- Check www.fightflu.ca for more information.
- Check www.voyage.gc.ca for travel notices and advisories.
