Rockford, IL - The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford is partnering with the Winnebago and Boone County Health Departments, as well as the area hospitals, schools and physician’s offices in emergency planning and distribution of information regarding the H1N1, or Swine flu, influenza.
Symptoms of this virus are similar to the symptoms of seasonal influenza, including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, stuffy or runny nose, headache, chills and fatigue. In some cases there may be vomiting and diarrhea.
Incubation period for adults is one to seven days from exposure.
Communicability is from one day prior to seven days after illness, and may be longer in children.
Good health habits can stop germs. We recommend:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay home from work, shopping or school.
- Wash hands frequently.
- Sneeze and cough into a tissue and wash hands. If no tissue is available, cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm.
- Avoid touching hands to your nose, eyes and mouth.
- If you need medical care, please call your health care provider first. Do not go to the provider’s office, urgent care or emergency room without calling first. They could have special instructions as to which entrances they prefer you use, as to expose the least amount of people to germs.
Remember, your seasonal flu shot this year will not protect you from this strain of flu, and, you cannot get this flu from eating pork or pork products.
For more information, please check the following web sites: