Influenza A (H1N1) is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease that can spread from person to person, posing a serious threat to people’s physical and mental health. In this regard, we need to fully improve the awareness of influenza A (H1N1), strengthen preventive measures.
First, the correct understanding of influenza A (H1N1).
1, the pathogen.
The flu is a new respiratory infectious disease, the pathogen for the new influenza A (H1N1) virus. Viral genes contain swine flu, avian influenza and human influenza three influenza virus gene fragments. The World Health Organization initially called this type of influenza “human swine flu”, and then renamed it “influenza A H1N1”.
2, clinical performance.
Influenza A (H1N1) clinical performance and seasonal influenza similar, including fever, cough, sore throat, muscle and joint pain, headache, chills, fatigue, loss of appetite, fatigue, red eyes, chest and abdomen with pain and other symptoms, but also diarrhea, vomiting. In a very small number of patients, the disease can progress rapidly, with sudden high fever, body temperature over 39℃, and even secondary severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary hemorrhage, pleural effusion, complete blood cytopenia and renal failure.
3. No need to panic about influenza A.
Up to now, the threat of influenza A to human health does not exceed that of the common seasonal cold. And the virus has not undergone a sharp mutation. To deal with influenza A H1N1 need to maintain a correct understanding and a healthy mindset, pay close attention to the epidemic information released by the relevant departments to avoid unnecessary panic.
4, humans are generally susceptible to influenza A (H1N1):
Humans are generally susceptible to influenza A (H1N1). Most patients are between the ages of 25 and 45 years old. Usually through the infected person coughing or sneezing when close droplets or aerosol transmission through the respiratory tract, but also through the oral cavity, nasal cavity, eyes and other places mucous membrane direct or indirect contact transmission. Contact with respiratory secretions, body fluids and objects contaminated with the virus may also cause transmission. The incubation period is generally about 1 to 7 days, which is longer than the incubation period of influenza and avian influenza.
5. Greater threat to specific groups of people.
Influenza A is a relatively greater threat to certain specific groups of people, such as children under 2 years old, pregnant women, and people with asthma or diabetes or heart disease. Teenagers and younger adults are also relatively susceptible to influenza A.
Second, the preventive measures for influenza A (H1N1).
1, as little as possible to go to some crowded public places.
Because the more dense the crowd, the higher the chance of virus transmission will occur, such as large shopping malls, sports stadiums, stations, etc.; away from influenza A-prone areas.
2. Avoid contact with patients with flu-like symptoms or pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses.
If others sneeze or cough, avoid them as much as possible; if you sneeze or cough, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue; do not spit anywhere, if you want to spit, wrap the secretions and dispose of them in a covered garbage bin to avoid the spread of the virus to the maximum extent possible.
3, pay attention to personal hygiene.
As the influenza A (H1N1) virus in the air can survive for more than 2 hours, if contacted by the influenza A (H1N1) virus contaminated desktop, chairs, clothing and other items, did not wash their eyes, nasal cavity, or mouth, may also be infected. Be diligent in changing clothes, shower often, dry clothes, bedding, do not spit, personal hygiene products should not be mixed.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Try to use warm water when washing your hands, rinse your hands with running water, and make your wrists, palms and fingers fully wet; put on soap or hand sanitizer, apply it evenly, rub out the foam, let your wrists, finger roots, back of the hand nest, palm sides, thumbs, finger nails, etc. are covered, and then rub these parts repeatedly for no less than 20 seconds. Finally rinse off with running water until there is no more soap lather on your hands.
4, strengthen the body resistance.
Pay attention to rest, do a good job to keep warm, balanced diet, reasonable nutrition, appropriate to increase outdoor activities and exercise, keep enough sleep, reduce their own stress, strengthen the body resistance. Have a regular life. Sleeping and resting well, living a regular life and keeping sufficient sleep are quite important to improve one’s resistance. To reasonably arrange work and rest, to achieve a regular life, work and rest, regardless of study or other activities to make the body overworked, will inevitably lead to a decline in the ability to resist disease, susceptible to viral infections.
5, keep the air in the living space fresh.
Indoor ventilation often open windows, to air convection, each time should be more than an hour, to enhance the air flow in the living space, to keep the air fresh, avoid going to the air is dirty, many people closed space. Regularly open the windows and doors for natural ventilation, can effectively reduce the number of microorganisms in the indoor air, improve indoor air quality; air conditioning dust in a timely manner to clean up.
6, the correct wearing of masks.
If necessary, only wear a high filtering mask to effectively prevent influenza A (H1N1). If wearing a mask, it must be used and disposed of correctly to ensure its effectiveness and avoid increased risk of transmission due to incorrect use of masks. Correct practices: Cover mouth and nose carefully with a mask and tie it securely, minimizing the gap between the face and mask; replace the mask with a new clean and dry mask after it becomes damp or wet; do not reuse disposable masks, and disposable masks should be discarded after each use and disposed of immediately after removal. After touching the used mask, wash your hands with soap and water or use alcohol hand sanitizer.
7. Be aware of public health and safety.
If flu-like symptoms appear, do not buy and take certain medicines without permission, do not abuse antibiotics, do not go to public places, and reduce contact with other people to avoid infecting others. And contact health care workers immediately to report your symptoms and explain why you think you have influenza A (H1N1); take necessary isolation measures when seeking medical attention, such as wearing a mask or something else to cover your mouth and nose.
If you do not contact your health care provider in advance, when arriving at the hospital to seek a diagnosis, be sure to inform the receiving doctor of your suspicion of influenza A (H1N1) infection as soon as possible.
8.Inject influenza A vaccine.
Vaccination is an effective means of preventing and controlling influenza A (H1N1). In the case of vaccine shortage to give priority to the six key groups of people vaccinated, namely, no vaccination against influenza A (H1N1) students and staff of primary and secondary schools; front-line medical, public health professionals; railroads, civil aviation, transportation, quarantine and other positions of public service personnel; important national public institutions civil servants; chronic respiratory or cardiovascular system disease personnel.
9, strengthen hospital infection control measures.
Medical personnel to follow the technical guidelines for influenza A (H1N1) hospital infection control to do a good job of personal protection, strengthen hand hygiene, the use of rapid hand disinfectant for hand disinfection, the recommended seven-step hand washing; fever clinics and infectious disease departments and other key departments of medical personnel should wear overalls, isolation clothing, wearing work caps and surgical masks, latex gloves and wearing goggles when necessary, medical protective masks can be continuously applied In case of contamination or humidity, the mask should be replaced in time; indoor ventilation should be strengthened in key departments such as fever clinics and infectious disease departments, and air should be exchanged at least once every 5 minutes; for suspected or confirmed patients, early detection, early diagnosis, early reporting, early isolation, early treatment and surgical masks should be worn; blood, body fluids, secretions and excretions of all patients are considered infectious and must be effectively isolated.