H1N1 influenza, or "swine flu" FAQ
Safe practices
Why is hand-washing so important?
Hand washing is one of the easiest things we can do to stay healthy. We should all wash our hands after we use the restroom, before we eat, after touching objects that might be contaminated and when they are noticeably soiled. Hand washing works because the soap serves as an emulsifier, which helps break up dirt and remove germs. The mechanics of rubbing your hands together assists in the process and the running water washes away the contaminants. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or sanitizers should be used.
Who if anyone should wear a mask, and why or why not? What about gloves?
Masks and gloves provide extra layers of protection against a virus. Currently, neither are being recommended for the general public — it is more important that people are washing their hands frequently, covering their mouths when they sneeze or cough, and avoiding close contact with people who are ill. If you are the caregiver of someone with influenza, gloves and masks are extra steps that can be taken to protect yourself from transmission if you are picking up soiled tissues or in other close contact with germs.
How can we protect ourselves from swine flu?
Health officials' advice is to follow common-sense precautions: Wash your hands, stay home if you're sick and listen to your local health authorities. If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
There are simple things that people can do to protect themselves, like practicing better hygiene (wash hands frequently and cover mouth and nose when sneezing) and staying away from public places or traveling if they feel sick.
Is hand-washing enough, or should people use a paper towel to touch doorknobs or turn off water and soap spigots, too?
Hand washing is enough to get your hands clean but, unfortunately, not everyone washes their hands. To ensure your hands are germ-free you can take the extra step of using a paper towel to turn off the faucet or open the door.
Should people avoid shaking hands?
There is currently no need to avoid shaking hands as a general rule. However, if either you or the other person is ill, avoiding physical contact is recommended.
Should people clean their homes in a special way?
As always, people should disinfect common objects during regular cleaning. This includes counters, doorknobs, telephones, keyboards and other shared objects. Extra care should be taken to disinfect if a member of the household has been sick.
Should you avoid going to the mall or wear masks around town?
This is not necessary at this stage. People need to make prudent decisions based on the level of risk in their particular community. Listen to the advice of your local and state health officials and follow their recommendations.
Can you use dietary supplements such as Airborne or Zicam to avoid swine flu?
CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with this new influenza A (H1N1) virus. However, during the current outbreak, the priority use for antiviral drugs is to treat severe influenza illness.
What should individuals and communities be doing to prepare for a potential pandemic?
Check out the Preparing for Flu fact sheet for specific tips. [ADD LINK]
Follow the CDC Guidelines. Check out these helpful checklists and guidelines for businesses and communities in the event of a pandemic,
The CDC Hotline (1-800-CDC-INFO) is available in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For more information, visit CDC’s H1N1 flu page.
updated 05/06/09
Return to the APHA influenza resources for health professionals home page.
