H1N1 Flu and General Flu

H1N1 -- At risk groups are:

• Small children and
• Young adults up to age 35-40

Have a Flu Buddy.

• Make arrangements with family or friends to call them if you are too sick to care for yourself but not sick enough to go to the Emergency Room.
• Need someone to go to the store for you.
• Someone to be sure you are hydrated and eating.
• Your Flu Buddy needs to wear a mask around you and be absolutely sure to wash their hands. Gloves would be best.

General Information:

• Oregon has had 105 hospitalizations of H1N1 flu resulting in 12 deaths
• The US has had 9000 hospitalizations resulting in 555 deaths (.06% of those hospitalized died)

Get Your Flu Shot -- No Excuses

• You CAN NOT get sick from a flu shot. The vaccine is killed -- dead; it can’t infect you.
• You may feel a general achiness and have a low grade temperature (100 – 101). This is your immune system working to protect you.
• If you are allergic to the preservative they make vaccines without preservative.

The Flu is NOT a Cold is:

• Slow onset. Feeling generally icky
• Scratchy throat
• Runny nose
• Low grade temperature under 101

The Flu Is:

• One day you are feeling fine but the next day you feel horrible.
• High temperature 102 or higher.
• Coughing
• Possible vomiting and diarrhea (only 25% of H1N1 patient present with these symptoms).