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ATTENTION IRONWORKERS:
OUR FRIENDS AT KAISER PERMANENTE HAVE MADE A SPECIAL PAGE WITH INFORMATION JUST FOR THE CALIFORNIA FIELD IRONWORKERS. PLEASE CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK AND CHECK IT OUT!
http://my.kp.org/ca/cafiw/
Stay informed visit the Kaiser website. Learn and get information regarding your health and the health of your family. https://www.kaiserpermanente.org/
The following information was provided by our friends at Kaiser.
Para informacion en español lea hacia abajo en la pagina
You may have heard about the swine flu (H1N1) outbreak. Kaiser Permanente physicians and infection control staff are working closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
and local public health officials to ensure that we are responding to the outbreak effectively.
The CDC recommends the following precautionary measures:
- 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 hand cleaners are also effective.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you get sick, the CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Get answers to questions about symptoms, treatment, and your coverage.
How is Kaiser Permanente responding to the swine flu outbreak?
For more information about swine flu (H1N1) in English and other languages, go to the CDC Web site.
Frequently asked questions:
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Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.
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Are there human infections with swine flu in the U.S.?
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In late March and early April 2009, cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses were first reported in Southern California and near San Antonio, Texas. Other U.S. states have reported cases of swine flu infection in humans and cases have been reported internationally as well. An updated case count of confirmed swine flu infections in the United States is kept at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC and local and state health agencies are working together to investigate this situation.
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Is this swine flu virus contagious?
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The CDC has determined that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it not known how easily the virus spreads between people.
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What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
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The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.
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How does swine flu spread?
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Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
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How can someone with the flu infect someone else?
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Infected people may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to seven or more days after becoming sick. This means you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.
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What should I do to keep from getting the flu?
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First and most importantly: Wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not to touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
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Are there medicines to treat swine flu?
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Yes. Your Kaiser Permanente physician will consult with a local infectious disease expert to determine when these medicines are needed for treatment or prevention of swine flu.
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How long can an infected person spread swine flu to others?
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People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possibly for up to seven days following illness onset. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.
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What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?
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Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. Germs can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches their own eyes, mouth, or nose before washing their hands.
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How long can viruses live outside the body?
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We know that some viruses and bacteria can live two hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent hand washing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.
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What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
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There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
- 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 hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you get sick with influenza, the CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
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What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?
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If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.
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What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?
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Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. When you wash your hands with soap and warm water, wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.
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What should I do if I get sick?
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If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified, and you become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact your health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.
If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.
In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include the following:
- fast breathing or trouble breathing
- bluish 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 the following:
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- sudden dizziness
- confusion
- severe or persistent vomiting
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Can I get swine influenza from eating or preparing pork?
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No. Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe. |
INFORMACION EN ESPAÑOL TOCANTE LA INFLUENZA PORCINA (H1N1)
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¿Qué es la influenza porcina?
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La influenza porcina (gripe porcina) es una enfermedad respiratoria de los cerdos, causada por la influenza tipo A, que con frecuencia provoca brotes de influenza en estos animales. Aunque los virus de la influenza porcina no suelen infectar a los humanos, se ha reportado que las personas se pueden enfermar de gripe porcina. Antes de este reciente brote de influenza porcina, la mayoría de las personas que se enfermaban con este virus habían tenido contacto cercano con cerdos. Ahora hay casos en los que una persona con gripe porcina puede contagiar a otras personas con esta enfermedad.
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¿Hay personas infectadas con gripe porcina en los EE. UU.?
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A finales de marzo y principios de abril del 2009, se informó sobre la aparición de casos de gripe porcina en humanos en los EE. UU. y a nivel internacional. Los primeros casos en los EE.UU. fueron reportados en California y Texas. Los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC) y las agencias de salud estatales y locales están trabajando conjuntamente en la investigación de esta situación. Para más detalles visite el sitio web del CDC en español..
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¿Se contagia fácilmente la gripe porcina?
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En la actualidad, el virus de la influenza porcina se está transmitiendo de persona a persona. Por ahora, no se sabe qué tan fácilmente se transmite este virus de una persona a otra.
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¿Cuáles son los signos y síntomas de la gripe porcina en la gente?
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Los síntomas de la influenza porcina son parecidos a los síntomas de la influenza o gripe estacional, tales como fiebre, tos, dolor de garganta, cuerpo adolorido, dolor de cabeza, escalofríos y cansancio. Algunas personas también pueden tener diarrea y vómitos. En años anteriores, algunas personas con gripe porcina sufrían enfermedades graves (neumonía e insuficiencia respiratoria) o morían. Tal como ocurre con la influenza o gripe estacional, la gripe porcina también puede empeorar afecciones médicas ya existentes. |
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¿Cómo se contrae la gripe porcina?
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Usted puede contraer la gripe porcina de dos maneras:
- Por el contacto con cerdos infectados o por el contacto con una superficie contaminada. Por ejemplo, por tocar algo que tenga el virus de la influenza y luego llevarse las manos a la boca o nariz.
- A través del contacto con una persona que tenga gripe porcina. Es probable que la transmisión de la gripe porcina entre las personas ocurra de la misma forma en que se transmite la gripe estacional.
- Se cree que los nuevos virus de la influenza porcina y los de la gripe estacional se transmiten de persona a persona cuando una persona infectada tose o estornuda.
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¿Existen medicamentos para tratar la gripe porcina?
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Sí. Su médico de Kaiser Permanente consultará con los expertos locales de enfermedades infecciosas para determinar en qué momento serán necesarios estos medicamentos para la prevención o tratamiento de la gripe porcina.
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¿Por cuánto tiempo puede una persona infectada transmitir la gripe porcina a otras personas?
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Las personas infectadas con gripe porcina pueden transmitirle la enfermedad a otras personas desde 1 día antes de presentar síntomas (es decir, antes de saberse enfermas), mientras tengan los síntomas (fiebre, tos, dolor de garganta, cuerpo adolorido, dolor de cabeza, escalofríos y cansancio, y en algunos casos náuseas, diarrea y vómitos), y posiblemente hasta 7 días después del inicio de la enfermedad. Los niños, sobre todo los más pequeños, pueden ser contagiosos por un periodo más largo.
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¿Qué puedo hacer para no enfermarme de gripe porcina?
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En este momento no hay una vacuna contra la gripe porcina. Pero hay medidas que usted puede tomar para ayudar a prevenir la propagación de gérmenes que provocan enfermedades respiratorias tales como la gripe porcina y la gripe estacional.
Siga estas medidas a diario para proteger su salud:
- Primero y antes que nada, lávese las manos frecuentemente con agua y jabón, sobre todo después de toser o estornudar. Lavarse las manos con un gel desinfectante a base de alcohol también es eficaz para el cuidado de la salud.
- Cúbrase la boca y la nariz con un pañuelo desechable al toser o estornudar. Tire el pañuelo a la basura después de usarlo.
- Evite tocarse los ojos, la nariz o la boca porque así se propagan los gérmenes.
- Evite el contacto cercano con personas enfermas o superficies contaminadas.
- Si usted se enferma, los CDC recomiendan que se quede en casa y que no vaya al trabajo ni a la escuela. Evite el contacto cercano con otras personas para evitar contagiarlas.
- Trate de mantenerse en un buen estado de salud. Duerma lo suficiente, manténgase activo físicamente, controle su nivel estrés, tome suficientes líquidos y coma alimentos nutritivos.
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Subir
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¿Qué debo hacer si me enfermo?
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Comuníquese con su médico o profesional médico si usted vive en un lugar donde se hayan identificado casos de gripe porcina en humanos y presenta síntomas parecidos a los de la gripe. Su proveedor de atención médica decidirá si hace falta realizarle la prueba de la gripe o si es necesario aplicar algún tratamiento. Si está enfermo, debe quedarse en casa y evitar el contacto con otras personas tanto como sea posible para evitar contagiar a otras personas. Si se enferma y presenta alguno de los siguientes síntomas o señales de peligro, busque atención médica de inmediato.
En los niños, las señales de una emergencia que requiere atención médica inmediata son:
- Respiración agitada o dificultad para respirar.
- Color azulado en la piel.
- Que el niño no esté tomando suficientes líquidos.
- Que el niño no quiera despertarse ni compartir con los demás.
- Que el niño esté tan molesto que no quiera que lo carguen.
- Si los síntomas parecidos a los de la gripe mejoran pero luego regresan con fiebre y una tos que empeora.
- Fiebre con sarpullido.
En los adultos, las señales de una emergencia que requiere atención médica inmediata son:
- Dificultad para respirar o quedarse sin aliento.
- Dolor o presión en el pecho o el abdomen.
- Mareos repentinos.
- Confusión.
- Vómitos fuertes o constantes.
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¿Me puede dar gripe porcina por comer o cocinar carne de cerdo?
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No. El virus de la influenza porcina no se encuentra en los alimentos. Usted no puede contraer gripe porcina por comer carne de cerdo o sus productos derivados. No hay riesgo alguno si come carne de cerdo y/o sus derivados que han sido manipulados, preparados y cocinados de manera adecuada.
- Visite nuestro sitio web en kp.org/espanol para acceder a las enciclopedias de salud y medicamentos, programas interactivos, clases de salud y más.
- Consulte su copia de La salud en casa: guía práctica de Healthwise y Kaiser Permanente.
- Comuníquese con el Departamento o Centro de Educación de la Salud de Kaiser Permanente para obtener información sobre salud, programas u otros recursos.
