A: The H1N1 swine flu virus normally causes mild illness with cough in pigs. Natural changes to this virus have made it able to infect humans. In people, it usually causes symptoms like fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, body aches, fatigue and lack of appetite.

Some people also have diarrhea. Most people who catch H1N1 flu get better and do not become sick enough to need hospitalization. However, a few people get very sick.

People at higher risk of becoming very ill include pregnant women, those of Aboriginal descent, and those with chronic lung or heart disease, diabetes, or obesity.

A: Yes, H1N1 flu is circulating all over Canada and most of the rest of the world, including here.

A: Do everything you would normally do, including going to work and/or school and catching coughs and sneezes in your upper sleeve. Wear washable shirts and wash them daily, and wash or sanitize your hands often.

A:

If you feel very sick, are getting worse fast or are in one of the higher risk groups described above, phone HealthLink BC (Dial 811) for advice.

Otherwise: rest at home, cover coughs and sneezes, wash or sanitize your hands, and avoid others for 7 days after your symptoms started OR until your fever goes away, whichever happens LAST. Unless you are very sick, you do not need influenza testing.

If you need advice, call HealthLink BC (Dial 811).

A:

1. Tell children and staff members with cough, fever, vomiting, and/or diarrhea to stay home until they are better. For known or suspected H1N1 flu, they should stay home until 7 days after they started to get sick OR until they are better and any fever is gone, whichever happens LAST. (For norovirus, also called "winter vomiting disease", they should stay home until at least two days after getting all better.) Teach children and everyone else in the child care facility to cover coughs and sneezes with the upper arm. (A good teaching video aimed at adults can be seen at www.coughsafe.com.)


2. If tissues are used to catch coughs or sneezes or to blow the nose, the tissues and hand and possibly lower sleeve will be contaminated with virus. The used tissue should be put right away into a wastebasket that the children can’t reach into. Hands should then be washed right away, or, if this is not possible, then hand sanitizer should be used.


3. Wash or sanitize hands after using a tissue, after using the toilet, before eating or drinking, and before and after shaking hands or touching the eyes, nose, or mouth. Wash hands using warm water and regular (not antibacterial) soap. Use a paper towel to turn off the taps so that any virus that got onto the taps won’t get back onto your clean hands.


4. Hand sanitizer containing between 60-90% alcohol will work as long as you can’t see dirt on your hands. (Both ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol work against influenza, but only ethyl alcohol works against norovirus.) Keep all hand sanitizer away from small children. When needed, give a small child a squirt of hand sanitizer and supervise the child as s/he rubs it in.


5. Carry on with all regular cleaning and sanitization. No special disinfectant is required.


6. Get your H1N1 flu vaccination as soon as available.  Encourage your staff and parents to follow the recommendations of public health regarding flu vaccination for themselves and their family.  Children aged 6 months to under 5 years old are eligible to received vaccine now.  Pregnant women and people under the age of 65 with chronic diseases are also eligible to receive vaccine now.

A:

Child care facilities licensed under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act are required to report individual cases of flu that are confirmed by lab testing and to report outbreaks in the facility.   Your Licensing Officer is your direct link to public health.  You should contact your Licensing Officer when:

1. You receive a report that a child or staff member in your facility has been lab confirmed with flu; OR


2. You have three or more children and/or staff in a group ill or absent at the same time due to flu like symptoms.  

The Licensing Officer will ensure that you are provided with current information needed to help you prevent the flu virus from spreading in your facility.