Below we’ll explore different aspects of health for humans and animals. As the H1N1 virus continues to hold our attention, we want to remind you of the ways in which they can try to be safe.

Prevention of Human to Human Swine Flu Transmission
Influenza spreads between humans through coughing or sneezing and people touching something with the virus on it and then touching their own nose or mouth.

H1N1 cannot be spread by pork products, since the virus is not transmitted through food. The H1N1 in humans is most contagious during the first five days of the illness although some people, most commonly children, can remain contagious for up to ten days.

Diagnosis can be made by sending a specimen, collected during the first five days for analysis.

Recommendations to Prevent Spread of the Virus Among Humans Include:

• Using standard infection control against influenza. This includes frequent washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after being out in the public.
• Disinfecting household surfaces, this can be done effectively with a diluted chlorine bleach solution. Although the current trivalent influenza vaccine is unlikely to provide protection against the new 2009 H1N1 strain, vaccines against the new strain are being developed and should be ready soon.
• Anyone with flu-like symptoms such as sudden fever, cough or muscle aches should stay away from work or public transportation and should contact a doctor to be tested.
• Social distancing is another tactic. It means staying away from other people who might be infected and can include avoiding large gatherings, spreading out a little at work, or perhaps staying home and lying low if an infection is spreading in a community. Public health and other responsible authorities have action plans which may request or require social distancing actions depending on the severity of the outbreak.