Frequently Asked Questions
What is swine flu?
Otherwise known as Pandemic H1N1 (2009), swine flu is a virus which first emerged in Mexico in March of this year and spread worldwide rapidly in the following weeks after which the World Health Organisation declared it to be a pandemic, the first since 1968.
Is it contagious?
Very. It spreads easily from person to person through droplets in coughs and sneezes and can also be passed from surfaces like door handles and hand rails.
Is it very dangerous?
Medical experts can not say for certain at this stage. People have died - at the time of writing two people have died in the Republic - but for most people the symptoms have not been severe and the illness has been mild and self-limiting. The virus has caused severe illness in a minority of people.
How long can the virus live on surfaces?
It can live on hard surfaces such as door handles and counter tops for up to 24 hours, and soft ones for around 20 minutes.
What is the incubation period for the virus?
The length of time between infection and appearance of symptoms does vary and can be as long as seven days. It is, however, most likely to be between two and five days although because the virus is not yet fully understood medical experts have not been able to say exactly how long the incubation period would be.
When are people at their most infectious?
Soon after symptoms have developed. As they subside, people become less infectious and when symptoms have gone completely, people are no longer infectious.
What are its symptoms?
The symptoms are like those of normal seasonal flu and include: fever that begins very suddenly, severe fatigue, a cough, a sore throat, a runny nose, headache and muscle aches. Some people have vomiting and diarrhoea. While it is usually a mild disease some people may develop complications such as pneumonia.
What do I do if I develop symptoms?
If you get sick with a flu-like illness phone the Flu Information Line on Freephone 1800 94 11 00, available 24 hrs a day. Generally speaking people recover at home within a few days without needing anti-viral medicine or medical care.
How long do the symptoms expected last?
It depends, both on the treatment and on the person with the illness. Most cases reported in Ireland to date have been relatively mild and people have started to recover within a week. If symptoms do not lift or worsen after a week (five days for children) contact your doctor.
Who is most at risk of developing complications from the virus?
Those most at risk from becoming seriously ill with swine flu are people with:
- chronic (long-term) lung disease, including people who have had drug treatment asthma in the past three years,
- chronic heart disease,
- chronic kidney disease,
- chronic liver disease,
- chronic neurological disease
- suppressed immune systems (whether caused by disease or treatment),
- diabetes,
- pregnant women,
- people who are chronically obese
- people aged 65 or older, and
- young children under five.
Who will receive anti-viral treatment, where is it available and how much does it cost?
Patients who appear to have severe symptoms, patients who are in defined high risk groups and all suspected cases who have a household contact who is in a very high risk category The anti-viral medicines for this flu are free of charge to all.
Can you catch swine flu twice?
In the early stages of the virus, there were reports of people holding swine flu parties so they could catch it early and develop immunity, something which medical experts cautions against. While you will not be able to get exactly the same strain twice, it is possible to contract the illness again if the virus mutates as your immune system may not recognise the new strain. You may, however, have some protection as a result of having had a similar virus previously.
Is there a vaccine?
No. At the time of writing (august 28th) there is no vaccine but the first 30,000 doses of pandemic flu vaccine for swine flu are expected to arrive in the State within days. They will be supplied by the pharmaceutical firm Baxter, while supplies from GlaxoSmithKline are expected to arrive around the end of next month. The vaccines cannot be used until they are licensed, which is expected to take a number of weeks.
Will the vaccine be safe?
The HSE and Department of Health have assured the public that the licensed vaccines are held to a very high standard of safety. All possible precautions will be taken to ensure safety of new Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 vaccines.
Who will be a priority for vaccination with the H1N1 swine flu vaccine?
- People aged between six months and 65 years in the seasonal flu vaccine at-risk groups.
- Pregnant women, subject to licensing. The European Medicines Agency, who license the vaccine, will indicate whether it can be given to all pregnant women or whether it should only be offered at certain stages of pregnancy.
- People who live with those whose immune systems are compromised, such as cancer patients or people with HIV/AIDS.
- People aged 65 and over in the seasonal flu vaccine at-risk groups.
- Frontline health and social care workers will also be offered the vaccine.
If I get the virus, when should I go back to school or work?
The recommendation is that people who have contracted the illness and recovered should return to work after seven days.
Do the public need to wear face masks?
Not at large. The virus is spread by people touching infected surfaces or by someone coughing or sneezing at very close range - less than one metre. So unless you are standing very close to someone with the virus, wearing a facemask will not make a difference to how it is spread.
If a caregiver needs to have contact with a sick person they should spend the least amount of time possible in close contact and wear a facemask when entering the sick room. Avoid being face-to-face with the sick person. When holding small children with the virus, place their chin on your shoulder so that they will not cough in your face. Clean hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub frequently.
Are alcohol handrubs better than soap and water?
No. Both are important to minimise the risk of spreading swine flu, as they both deactivate the flu virus. Alcohol handrub can only be used on visibly clean hands.
Should we expect a more severe second wave of the pandemic in the winter?
Probably. Based on what happened during previous flu pandemics, the strain will spread more widely in the autumn or winter and it is possible it will mutate into a stronger strain.
