Novel H1N1, which has been referred to as "swine flu," first appeared in the U.S. in April 2009. A month later, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic, the first global flu epidemic in 41 years.
U.S. health officials have warned of a resurgence of the virus in the fall, and the most vulnerable populations could be children and teenagers.
"We do not know exactly how this virus will present during the fall flu season. But our surveillance efforts have led scientists to believe the impact of this virus could worsen in the fall or earlier, when schools start to open," said Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of Health and Human Services.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers guidelines for some 55 million students who attend public and private schools across the country, and 7 million staff who work there.
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- 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.
- 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.
HEALTH RESOURCES:In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
- Fast breathing or trouble breathing
- Blue-like skin color
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Not waking up or not interacting
- Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
- Fever with a rash
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
(Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention)
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- CDC Travel Recommendations
- State Department - Foreign Travel
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