H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) News and Resources Center

Meridian Health is monitoring the situation closely and following public health recommendations to ensure the health and safety of our patients, visitors, physicians, nurses, and team members. We are working closely with our local and state health agencies, and following the latest developments from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

As we ask during the regular flu season, if you are experiencing any respiratory illness, please refrain from visiting any patient in the hospital until you recover and feel well. We also advise our community to become familiar with the latest prevention and treatment information from the CDC and New Jersey Department of Health.

Hospital and Health Facility Visitation

As part of our comprehensive H1N1 influenza response in reducing our patient’s risk of exposure to the H1N1 influenza virus, Meridian Health is temporarily modifying hospital visitation guidelines to include recommendations to restrict visitors under the age of 18.

Since the beginning of the H1N1 influenza pandemic, our hospitals have been encouraging preventative measures such as frequent hand washing, and asking visitors to refrain from hospital visitation if they are experiencing any illness.

These additional age-specific guidelines are based on recommendations recently issued by the New Jersey Hospital Association, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, and the Centers for Disease Control, and follow similar approaches taken by hospitals across the nation.

Starting November 13 and for the duration of the flu season, Meridian will ask families and visitors to observe the following:

• Please do not bring children under the age of 18 to visit friends and loved ones in the hospital. No individuals under the age of 18 are recommended to visit the hospital unless they are a patient or in special circumstances that have been identified and approved by the hospital.



• Please do not visit friends or loved ones in the hospital if you are feeling ill. As we ask during regular flu season, please do not visit friends and loved ones at the hospital if you are experiencing respiratory illness or any flu-like symptoms such as a fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

We are also asking visitors to please:

• Limit their movement within the hospital
• Use waterless soap/hand sanitizer provided throughout the hospital when entering and exiting a patient's room and limit touching surfaces within the room.
• Follow our team’s guidance and instruction on the proper use of personal protective equipment, such as masks, prior to entering the room of a patient with respiratory illness.

Meridian highly values the importance of family and friends for a patient’s successful recovery, and therefore carefully considered the impact of any visitation restriction. However, the extraordinary nature of the current flu pandemic requires us to follow the latest public health recommendations and adjust our traditional family and patient-centered approach accordingly as part of our comprehensive flu response efforts. We appreciate our visitor’s cooperation and understanding as we work to best protect our patient’s safety during this challenging flu season.

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When to See Your Physician or Health Care Provider

• Most people get better without treatment and don’t need to seek medical help.



• If you experience flu symptoms and are in a high-risk category (a young child, pregnant, have certain underlying health conditions like asthma or diabetes or a weakened immune system, or are 65 years and older) consult with your health care provider.



• If you are pregnant and experience even mild symptoms, you should speak with your physician.

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When To Go To The ER

Anyone with the following emergency warning signs should seek urgent medical attention:

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

ADULTS

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

If you are pregnant and experience even mild symptoms, you should speak with your physician.

If you do need to visit the ER, you may be asked to wear a protective mask as a precautionary measure for the safety of other visitors and our staff.

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H1N1 Testing

State guidelines do not permit hospitals to perform outpatient H1N1 testing, even if patients have obtained a prescription by their physician. The vast majority of those who may experience flu-like symptoms do not require testing to confirm the H1N1 flu virus.

The New Jersey Public Health Lab is the only lab in the state authorized to perform H1N1 testing, which will only accept specimens for H1N1 testing for patients admitted into intensive care at our hospitals.

Anyone not in intensive care will not be tested for H1N1 per the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.

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H1N1 Essential Information

How To Prevent The Flu

• Get Vaccinated. Vaccination is the best protection against contracting the flu. You need two vaccines to be fully protected this year. The seasonal flu vaccine is different from the H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine. The CDC is encouraging people to get both vaccinations as soon as possible.

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Where Can I Get Vaccinated?

NJ State Vaccine Information: http://www.nj.gov/health/flu/h1n1.shtml
New Jersey H1N1 Vaccine Hotline: 1-866-321-9571
Available Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

CDC Vaccine Information: http://www.flu.gov/individualfamily/vaccination/index.html

• 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.



• Stay home if you are sick until at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100°F or 37.8°C) or signs of a fever (without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol^®). http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/exclusion.htm

Vaccine availability is constantly changing while manufacturers continue delivering shipments to state and local health departments for distribution. We advise you to call the New Jersey H1N1 Hotline to check availability, clinic locations, and answers to any of vaccine questions.

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Symptoms

You may have the flu if you have some or all of the following symptoms:

• fever (not everyone with the flu will have a fever)
• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuff nose
• body aches
• headache
• chills
• fatigue
• sometimes diarrhea and vomiting

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Caring For Yourself

If you are in a high-risk category (a young child, pregnant, have certain underlying health conditions like asthma or diabetes or a weakened immune system, or are 65 years and older), consult with your health care provider if you experience flu symptoms.

However, most people get better without treatment and don’t need to seek medical help.

• Stay home and away from other people as much as possible; cover your nose and mouth if you must be around other people (facemask or tissue).



• Unless you are in a high-risk category, take acetaminophen (Tylenol^®) or ibuprofen and drink plenty of fluids.



• Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever reducing medicine.

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What To Do If Your Child Gets Sick

• Call your doctor right away if your child gets sick. Antiviral medications used to treat H1N1 flu in some patients work best when started within the first 2 days (48 hours) of getting sick.



• The doctor may start your child on antiviral drugs even after 48 hours when symptoms began, especially if the child has been hospitalized or is at high risk for flu-related complications.



• Children younger than 5 years old and children with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma and diabetes, may be at higher risk for complications from flu. Check with your doctor about any special treatment requirements for them.



• Some over-the-counter medicines are approved for children to use to relieve flu symptoms.



• If your child has a fever, use fever-reducing medicines that your doctor recommends based on your child’s age.



• A fever is a temperature taken with a thermometer that is equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius). If you are not able to measure a temperature, the child might have a fever if he or she feels warm, has a flushed appearance, or is sweating or shivering.



• Keep your sick child home until at least 24 hours after the child no longer has a fever or signs of a fever (100°F or 37.8°C) (without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol^®. Read detailed information about how long to stay away from others.



• Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and drinks clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants, Pedialyte^®) to keep from being dehydrated.



• Keep your sick child in a separate room in the house as much as possible to limit contact with household members who are not sick.



• Consider having just one person be the main caregiver for the sick child.



• You can consider sending your child back to school after at least 24 hours has passed since his or her temperature returned to normal WITHOUT the use of medications.

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If You Are Pregnant

• If you are pregnant, you are at high risk of serious flu complications. If you experience even mild symptoms, you should speak with your physician.



• If you are pregnant, it is recommended by the CDC to get both a seasonal flu shot and a 2009 H1N1 flu shot when they are available in your community. Pregnant women should get flu shots; they should not get the nasal spray flu vaccine.



• If you develop flu symptoms (including some or all of the following: fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and tiredness), please call your health care provider.



• Most people with flu symptoms do not require testing for 2009 H1N1 because the test results usually do not change how you are treated.



• For pregnant women, early treatment with antiviral medicine is important and can make a big difference. (Treatment within 2 days of when symptoms start is best.)

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Who Is At High Risk?

People with certain health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and heart or kidney disease may face special medical challenges during flu season.

If you have one of these health conditions and you develop flu-like symptoms, contact your health care provider or seek medical care. Serious complications from the flu include pneumonia, ear and sinus infections, dehydration, or even death.

If you have a chronic medical condition, during a flu outbreak you should:

• Get a written record of the kind of chronic disease(s) you have and the treatment you are receiving. Keep this information with you at all times.



• Prepare a typed or printed list of all medications usually taken and the times of day they are taken. Also include necessary medical supplies or equipment such as syringes, strips, lancets if you have diabetes, or oxygen if you have COPD



• Keep the name, phone number, and office address of your doctor or health care provider with you at all times.



• If you use medications for your condition, continue taking those medications even if you become sick with the flu, unless your doctor or health care provider says otherwise



• Be alert to changes in your breathing, especially if you have heart failure, congestive heart disease or COPD. Promptly report changes to your doctor or health care provider.



• Inform family members or close friends of your medical condition.

If you have a chronic medical condition, do the following to prevent from getting sick:

• Get the Seasonal Flu Vaccine: The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the three most common flu viruses.



• Get the H1N1 (Swine) Flu Vaccine: Call the NJ H1N1 Vaccine hotline at 1-866-321-9571for more information on availability.



• Take everyday preventive actions.



• Wash your hands often with soap and water. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.



• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.



• Avoid close contact with sick people.

If you do get the flu:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze to keep from spreading flu viruses to others. 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.



• Stay home if you are sick until at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100°F or 37.8°C) or signs of a fever (without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol^®). Read detailed information about how long to stay away from others.

Take antiviral drugs if your doctor recommends them. Antiviral drugs may be especially important for people who are sick and have a health condition that places them at greater risk of flu complications. For maximum effectiveness, antiviral drugs should be taken as soon as possible after symptoms begin.

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Additional Resources

CDC Resources
CDC Flu.gov
CDC News Room

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
Latest news on H1N1 in our area, with tips on prevention and treatment, as well as latest information on vaccine availability.
http://www.state.nj.us/health/flu/h1n1.shtml

New Jersey H1N1 Hotline
Available Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
1-866-321-9571

H1N1 Flu Info Center Latest news and additional information on H1N1.
http://www.staywellcustomweb.com/swineflu/

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