What Can You Do?

Taking proactive steps can help you protect yourself and others from H1N1 influenza virus.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a short list of steps you can take to protect your health and the health of others:

• Cover nose and mouth with tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Wash your hands with soap and water, especially after a cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are effective as well.
• Avoid hand contact to your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Try to avoid close contact with those that are sick if possible.
• If you experience flu-like symptoms, you should stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone, except to obtain medical care or other necessities. Keep away from other people as much as possible to avoid passing the illness to them.

The CDC specifies six warning signs that should lead you to seek urgent medical attention, including:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
• Pain or pressure in chest or abdomen.
• Sudden dizziness.
• Confusion.
• Severe or persistent vomiting.
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough.

It's important to stay informed so you can make responsible decisions. Kentucky Health Alerts offers comprehensive H1N1 information, including outbreak updates for Kentucky. You can also visit the CDC website for more information regarding H1N1 influenza or seasonal influenza.