Viruses Microbes

Friday, March 4, 2011

Prevent from Swine Flu

The tips to prevent from swine flu are as follows:
  • Frequent hand Washing
  • Covering coughs and sneezes
  • Avoidance of crowded setting when possible
  • Advising ill person 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 prabable swine influenza cases
  • Consider of facemasks (disposable, single use masks) for persons who enter crowded settings
  • Household close contacts (of confirmed, probable or suspected case) at high risk for complications of influenza:
- Cronic 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. Indications for antiviral chemoprophylaxis

  • 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 Chemoprophylaxis treatment 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 Dosing of Antiviral Zanawivir 10 mg (2 inhalations) once daily for adults and children  5 years old
Oseltamivir orally
Adult 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

Vaccination
- 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.