Prevention of Swine Flu

In public interest by

Information sources-

• Frequent hand washing

• Covering coughs and sneezes

• Avoidance of crowded settings when possible

• advising ill persons to stay home (except to seek medical care) and minimize contact with others in household

• voluntary home quarantine of members of households with confirmed or probable swine influenza cases

* consider Facemasks (disposable, single use masks) for persons who enter crowded settings

* consider Respirators (N95 or higher filtering facepiece respirator) for persons who have unavoidable close contact with infectious person

No clear scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of facemasks and respirators in protecting against influenza

* household close contacts (of confirmed, probable, or suspected case) at high-risk for complications of influenza + chronic medical conditions + aged ≥ 65 years + aged ≤ 5 years + pregnant women

* school children or children in daycare at high-risk for complications of influenza (certain chronic medical conditions) who had close contact (face-to-face) with confirmed, probable, or suspected case

* Any healthcare worker at high-risk for complications of influenza (persons with certain chronic medical conditions, elderly) working in area with confirmed swine influenza A (H1N1) cases, or who is caring for patients with any acute febrile respiratory illness

* Non-high risk travelers to Mexico, first responders, or border workers who are working in areas with confirmed cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection

•Pre-exposure – treat during exposure period and for 10 days after last known exposure to ill confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection

•Post-exposure – treat for 10 days after last known exposure to ill confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection

• Zanamivir 10 mg (2 inhalations) once daily for adults and

children ≥ 5 years old

• Oseltamivir orally adults and children ≥ 13 years old - 75 mg once daily children aged 1-12 years - dose based on weight

≤ 15 kg 30 mg once daily 15-23 kg 45 mg once daily 23-40 kg 60 mg once daily > 40 kg 75 mg once daily

• No vaccine available to protect humans from swine flu

• Vaccine for human seasonal influenza does not protect against H1N1 swine flu viruses due to antigenic differences, but may provide partial protection against swine H3N2 virus

Compiled by-Dr. Neelesh BhandariMD (Path), PGP Human RightsAdvisor (Medical Communications) Mark IV Medical Communications.

http://tinyurl.com/drneelesh

http://www.markivmedical.com/