H1N1 Flu Information for the General Public
H1N1 Flu Severity Remains Mild - 10/30/09
H1N1 flu activity is widespread across the state, is higher than normal for this time of year, and continues to increase in all five public health regions. However, there is no indication the H1N1 virus has changed or is more severe than in the spring, although hospitalizations are on the rise due to widespread illness. Since the spring, there have been 14 H1N1-related deaths in Wisconsin. The CDC indicates that most people with H1N1 flu have had mild illness and have not needed medical care or antiviral drugs and the same is true of seasonal flu. Most healthy individuals will recover from the H1N1 flu illness by staying home and getting the rest they need, while taking over-the-counter medications to help relieve their symptoms. It's also possible for healthy people to develop severe illness from the flu, and individuals should seek medical care right away if they experience any of these emergency warning signs:
In children
- 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
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
H1N1 Flu Information for the General Public
Wisconsin Pandemic Influenza Toolkit for Families - click here
How the Flu Travels - click here
Flu Symptom Self-Assessment (from the Mayo Clinic) - click here
- H1N1 Flu vs. Seasonal Flu Fact Sheet - click here
- Proper Handwashing Information- English
- Cover your Cough Posters in Different Languages (from the Minnesota Department of Health) - click here
H1N1 Flu - A Guide for Community and Faith-Based Organizations - click here