What can I do to assure myself from communicable affliction A(H1N1)?

The capital avenue of manual of the fresh affliction A(H1N1) virus seems to be agnate to melancholia influenza, via aerosol that are expelled by speaking, sneezing or coughing. You can anticipate accepting adulterated by alienated abutting acquaintance with bodies who appearance influenza-like affection (trying to advance a ambit of about 1 accent if possible) and demography the afterward measures:

avoid affecting your aperture and nose;

clean easily thoroughly with soap and water, or absolve them with an alcohol-based duke rub on a approved base (especially if affecting the aperture and nose, or surfaces that are potentially contaminated);

avoid abutting acquaintance with bodies who ability be ill;

reduce the time spent in awash settings if possible;

improve airflow in your alive amplitude by aperture windows;

practise acceptable bloom habits including able sleep, bistro alimental food, and befitting physically active.

What about application a mask? What does WHO recommend?

If you are not ailing you do not accept to abrasion a mask.

If you are caring for a ailing person, you can abrasion a affectation back you are in abutting acquaintance with the ill being and actuate of it anon afterwards contact, and absolve your easily thoroughly afterwards.When and how to use a mask?


If you are ailing and charge biking or be about others, awning your aperture and nose.

Using a affectation accurately in all situations is essential. Incorrect use absolutely increases the adventitious of overextension infection.

How do I apperceive if I accept affliction A(H1N1)?

You will not be able to acquaint the aberration amid melancholia flu and affliction A(H1N1) afterwards medical help. Typical affection to watch for are agnate to melancholia bacilli and accommodate fever, cough, headache, anatomy aches, abscessed throat and aqueous nose. Alone your medical practitioner and bounded bloom ascendancy can affirm a case of affliction A(H1N1).

What should I do if I anticipate I accept the illness?

If you feel unwell, accept aerial fever, ahem or abscessed throat:

stay at home and accumulate abroad from work, academy or crowds;

rest and booty affluence of fluids;

cover your adenoids and aperture back coughing and sneezing and, if application tissues, accomplish abiding you actuate of them carefully. Clean your easily anon afterwards with soap and baptize or absolve them with an alcohol-based duke rub;

if you do not accept a tissue abutting by back you ahem or sneeze, awning your aperture as abundant as accessible with the cheat of your elbow;

use a affectation to advice you accommodate the advance of aerosol back you are about others, but be abiding to do so correctly;

inform ancestors and accompany about your affliction and try to abstain acquaintance with added people;

If possible, acquaintance a bloom able afore traveling to a bloom ability to altercate whether a medical assay is necessary.

Should I booty an antiviral now aloof in case I bolt the fresh virus?

No. You should alone booty an antiviral, such as oseltamivir or zanamivir, if your bloom affliction provider advises you to do so. Individuals should not shop for medicines to anticipate or action this fresh affliction afterwards a prescription, and they should exercise attention in affairs antivirals over the Internet.

Warning on acquirement of antivirals afterwards a decree [pdf 35kb]

What about breastfeeding? Should I stop if I am ill?

No, not unless your bloom affliction provider advises it. Studies on added affliction infections appearance that breastfeeding is best acceptable careful for babies - it passes on accessible affectionate immunities and lowers the accident of respiratory disease. Breastfeeding provides the best all-embracing diet for babies and increases their aegis factors to action illness.

When should addition seek medical care?

A being should seek medical affliction if they acquaintance conciseness of animation or adversity breathing, or if a agitation continues added than three days. For parents with a adolescent adolescent who is ill, seek medical affliction if a adolescent has fast or affected breathing, continuing agitation or amusement (seizures).

Supportive affliction at home - resting, bubbler affluence of fluids and application a affliction analgesic for aches - is able for accretion in best cases. (A non-aspirin affliction analgesic should be acclimated by accouchement and adolescent adults because of the accident of Reye's syndrome.)

Should I go to assignment if I accept the flu but am activity OK?

No. Whether you accept affliction A(H1N1) or a melancholia influenza, you should break home and abroad from assignment through the continuance of your symptoms. This is a anticipation that can assure your assignment colleagues and others.

Can I travel?

If you are activity unwell or accept affection of influenza, you should not travel. If you accept any doubts about your health, you should analysis with your bloom affliction provider.