previnições of H1N1

1. What is influenza A (H1N1)?







It is an acute respiratory illness (flu), caused by influenza A (H1N1). This new subtype of influenza and the common cold is spread from person to person primarily through coughing or sneezing and contact with respiratory secretions of infected people.






2. What are the symptoms that define a suspected case of influenza A (H1N1)?






High fever abruptly (greater than 38 degrees C) and cough may be accompanied by any of the following symptoms: headache, muscle aches and joint pain, difficulty breathing;






And having made these symptoms until 10 days after leaving countries that reported cases with influenza A (H1N1);






OR have had close contact over the past 10 days with a person classified as a suspected case of human infection with new subtype of influenza.






Note: Close contact: a person who cares, talk or had direct contact with respiratory secretions or body fluids of a confirmed case.






3. How long, from the transmission, symptoms appear?






Symptoms can start within 3 to 7 days after contact with this new virus subtype and transmission occurs mainly indoors.






4. There is a vaccine that can protect the human population against this disease?






No. There is no vaccine against this new subtype of influenza virus. There is ongoing research, but there is no provision for the development of this vaccine.






5. The common flu vaccine protects against influenza A (H1N1)?






There is, so far, no evidence that the flu vaccine protects against common influenza virus A (H1N1).






6. There is treatment for influenza A (H1N1) in Brazil?






Yes, the Ministry of Health adopted a protocol for treatment, using an antiviral drug (oseltamivir phosphate) will be used only in patients who meet the indication described in the protocol. The drug is indicated to be taken for up to 48 hours from the onset of symptoms. WARNING: No one should take the drug without medical indication. Self-medication can mask symptoms and delay diagnosis and lead to resistance to the virus.






7. Brazil has a stock of medicine for treatment of patients?






Yes, the Ministry of Health has a strategic stock sufficient to deal with cases of influenza A (H1N1). Out of the box, there are 6250 adults and 6250 treatments for children who are being sent to the states according to need. Moreover, the Brazilian government has put up in barrels, the raw material for 9 million treatments. The crude product is ready to be processed into capsules. The beginning of the processing will be appointed by the Ministry of Health, as required.






8. It is safe to eat pork and products?






No. Although the popular name of the disease refers to pigs, there is no evidence that this new virus subtype is related to transmission by ingestion of these animals. Therefore, there is no risk in consumption of products of porcine origin.






9. As Brazil is preparing for a pandemic of influenza A (H1N1)?






Brazil is well prepared for a possible pandemic. This is because the Brazilian government had already begun to structure your network for influenza surveillance for nine years (in 2000). Because of the fight against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) between 2002 and 2003 and since then the threat of a possible bird flu pandemic in 2003, the Brazilian government formed a technical committee for the elaboration of preparedness plan for the Brazilian coping with a pandemic influenza and began preparing for the hospitals of reference. This plan is ready for more than two years and began to be put into practice at the time Brazil was notify the WHO of cases of Influenza A (H1N1) on 25 April. Brazil has 54 referral centers in Brazil, prepared for dealing with potential patients. These units fall into the parameters required by WHO for the treatment of this disease, with an area free to contact isolation, personal protective equipment for monitoring, testing and treatment of cases. The structuring of surveillance also made great progress in preparing for such emergencies, especially the establishment of the Network CIEVS, which has units in 22 states and municipal capitals, with the ability to detect and respond quickly to such emergencies.






10. In which cases is recommended to use protective masks?






The personal protective equipment such as masks should be used by people who have symptoms and the professionals involved in your care and inspection of means of transport in which they found themselves. The alert level international number 5, the WHO does not recommend the use of masks by healthy people.






11. What people can do to prevent influenza?






Some examples of preventive care and disease control of airborne transmission are:






• Wash hands with soap and water (after coughing or sneezing, after using the toilet, before eating, before touching eyes, mouth and nose).


• Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth after contact with surfaces.


• Use disposable tissue.


• Protect with handkerchiefs to their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing.


• Advise the patient to avoid leaving the house while you are breast disease transmission (up to 5 five days after the onset of symptoms).






• Avoid urban and indoor (must be kept ventilated environments).


It is important that the home environment is airy and receive sunlight, as this helps eliminate the possible agents of respiratory infections.






• Restricting the desktop to prevent its spread.


• Healthy habits such as balanced diet, fluid intake and physical activity.
 
 
Source: ANVISA and Health Surveillance Secretariat of the Ministry of Health is also available at www.saude.gov.br.