Mendocino County Sheriff's Office

H1N1 Influenza
Frequently Asked Questions

This information can also be found HHSA's website along with some very informative external links. Please visit their site at http://www.co.mendocino.ca.us/hhsa/chs/h1n1influenza.htm for the latest information, including the number of cases in Mendocino County.

1. What should I do if I think I have H1N1 influenza ?

If you feel unwell, have high fever, cough and/or sore throat:

Stay at home and keep away from work, school or crowds as much as possible.
Rest and take plenty of fluids.
Cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when coughing and sneezing and dispose of the used tissues properly.
Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly, especially after coughing or sneezing.
Inform family and friends about your illness and seek help for household chores that require contact with other people such as shopping.
You may return to work or school after you have been fever free for 24 hours.

If your symptoms persist for more than seven days or get worse:

Contact your doctor or health care provider before traveling to see them and report your symptoms. Explain why you think you have H1N1 influenza (for example, if you have recently traveled to a country where there is a H1N1 influenza outbreak in humans). Follow the advice given to you for care.
If it is not possible to contact your health care provider in advance, communicate your suspicion of having H1N1 influenza immediately upon arrival at the health care facility.
Take care to cover your nose and mouth during travel.

2. Should I be tested for H1N1 Influenza?

Only hospitalized patients and fatalities are currently tested for the H1N1 influenza virus. If you believe you have the H1N1 novel virus, refer to question 1 above. Many people have had the H1N1 virus and recovered without any medical attention after exhibiting mild to moderate symptoms. Because influenza-like illness is so common, testing all potential cases for H1N1 is not possible.

3. Is it safe to eat pork and pork products?

Yes. H1N1 influenza has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly handled and prepared pork (pig meat) or other products derived from pigs. The H1N1 influenza virus is killed by cooking temperatures of 160°F/70°C, corresponding to the general guidance for the preparation of pork and other meat.

4. Are antiviral medications, such as Tamiflu, needed for recovering from influenza H1N1?

Most people in the United States are recovering from influenzas without the use of antivirals.

5. How can I protect myself from getting H1N1 influenza from infected people?

In the past, human infection with H1N1 influenza was generally mild but is known to have caused severe illness such as pneumonia. For the current outbreaks in the United States and Mexico however, the clinical pictures have been different.

To protect yourself, practice general preventive measures for influenza:

Avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have fever and cough.
Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly.
Practice good health habits including adequate sleep, eating nutritious food, and keeping physically active.

If there is an ill person at home:

Try to provide the ill person a separate section in the house. If this is not possible, keep the patient at least 1 meter in distance from others.
Cover mouth and nose when caring for the ill person. Masks can be bought commercially or made using the readily available materials as long as they are disposed of or cleaned properly.
Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly after each contact with the ill person.
Try to improve the air flow in the area where the ill person stays. Use doors and windows to take advantage of breezes.
Keep the environment clean with readily available household cleaning agents.