H1N1 Flu

Sick child H1N1 flu information and prevention tips

To ensure our community remains safe and healthy and public services continue to be delivered in the event of H1N1 or other health concerns, the City is working closely with a team of partners, including Vancouver Coastal Health Globe, to provide you with up-to-date H1N1 flu information and prevention tips.

Select from the following options to get answers to your H1N1 questions:

  1. What is H1N1?
  2. What is the situation like now in Vancouver and the rest of BC?
  3. How can I avoid catching H1N1?
  4. What if I get sick?
  5. What if my child is ill?
  6. What is the City of Vancouver doing to ensure public services keep running?
  7. Can I get a vaccination against H1N1?
  8. Who are the City’s partners in managing this situation?

If you have any concerns about your health, or that of family, friends or coworkers, please contact your family doctor, or call HealthLink BC’s Nurse Line Globe by dialling 8-1-1 (for assistance for the deaf and hearing-impaired, dial 7-1-1).

What is H1N1?

H1N1 is a new strain of influenza virus that can cause flu and viral pneumonia in humans.

It’s transmitted from person to person through coughs and sneezes which move the germ into the air where it can be breathed in by other people. The virus can also be picked up from hard surfaces (like a doorknob or counter) that have been touched by someone who is infected. If another person touches that surface and then touches their nose, mouth or eyes, that person can become ill.

While H1N1 was initially known as the “Swine Flu”, it is important to note that you cannot get it by eating pork or by being around pigs.

Symptoms:

Symptoms of H1N1 are similar to those of regular seasonal flu and include:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Headache
  • General aches
  • Fatigue
  • Runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea

High Risk Groups:

  • Children under two-years-old
  • Women in their second and third trimesters of pregnancy and women who are four weeks post partum
  • First Nations
  • People with pre-existing chronic diseases including:
    • Asthma
    • Lung disease
    • Kidney disease
    • Cancer
    • Morbid obesity

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What is the situation like now in Vancouver and the rest of BC?

According to the Provincial Government’s weekly information bulletin Globe, there have been 32 new severe cases of H1N1 in BC since December 1, 2009.

There have been eight new H1N1-related deaths in BC since December 1, 2009.

In total, there have been 1,009 severe cases in BC. Two hundred and fifty-seven have been in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, including seven deaths. Most of BC's H1N1-related deaths involved underlying medical causes.

The majority of confirmed cases in BC have been mild to moderate. These patients have already recovered or are currently recovering.

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How can I avoid catching H1N1?

  1. Wash your hands thoroughly using soap and water before meals and after using the washroom. Be sure to wash for about the length of time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.
  2. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer. Make sure your hands are dry, remove jewellery and apply enough sanitizer to keep your hands moist for 15 seconds. Rub the sanitizer thoroughly over your hands and fingers. Keep rubbing until your hands are dry. Note: if there is dirt visible on hands, sanitizer may not be entirely effective.
  3. If you need to cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose using a tissue. Throw the tissue away immediately and wash your hands. If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve.
  4. If you have children, be sure to teach them the good hygiene practices listed above.
  5. At work and at home, be sure to keep common surfaces (like counters) clean and disinfected.
  6. Do not share or have common food in the workplace (e.g. candy, fruit or chips). If you have children, tell them not to share cups or eating utensils with other people.
  7. Practice a healthy lifestyle: eat healthy foods, get regular exercise, and get plenty of rest. A healthy body will help to keep disease away.
  8. If you do not have flu symptoms, do not wear face masks. Vancouver Coastal Health has informed the Vancouver School Board that masks are not a medically effective way to prevent the spread of H1N1. Health officials say masks can actually create other complications.
  9. Get an H1N1 vaccination.

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What if I get sick?

  • If you are showing symptoms of flu, stay home and follow normal flu procedures.
  • If you need information, contact your doctor, or call HealthLink BC’s Globe Nurse Line by dialling 8-1-1 (for assistance for the deaf and hearing-impaired, dial 7-1-1).
  • If your symptoms get worse, contact a doctor or call a neighbourhood walk-in medical clinic. Note: Health officials are asking people who think they have the flu to call the doctor’s office or medical clinic before going to those locations.

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What if my child is ill?

The Vancouver School Board has consulted with Vancouver Coastal Health to minimize potential risks of H1N1 among children.

Currently, health officials are recommending schools continue as normal with educational programs, school activities and field trips. Health officials are also recommending that people who have travelled to flu-affected areas and are well be allowed to participate in school activities.

Symptoms of H1N1 are similar to those of regular seasonal flu and include:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Headache
  • General aches
  • Fatigue
  • Runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Children who are ill should stay home from school.

They should drink plenty of liquid like juice or soups, and they should get rest.

For fever, sore throat, and muscle aches, you can use fever-reducing medicines that your doctor recommends based on your child’s age. Do not use aspirin with children or teenagers; it can cause Reye’s syndrome, a life-threatening illness.

You should take your child to emergency medical care if he/she experiences the following warning signs:

  • Fast breathing or trouble breathing
  • Skin colour becomes bluish or grey
  • Not drinking enough fluids
  • Not waking up or interacting
  • Being so irritable that she/he does not want to be held
  • Not urinating
  • No tears when crying
  • Their symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse coughing

Vancouver Coastal Health says students who have recovered from illness are not required to obtain a medical note before returning to school.

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What is the City of Vancouver doing to ensure public services keep running?

The City, working with several partner agencies, has created an Emergency Plan for Public Health to guide its actions in the event of a flu pandemic.

The goal of this plan is to ensure the City will be able to continue to provide emergency and regular municipal services while health issues are being dealt with.

Elements of the plan include:

  • Measures to keep City staff healthy so they will continue to be able to provide municipal services.
  • Regular announcements to keep the public informed.
  • The ability to close public buildings if necessary to prevent the spread of infection.
  • Assistance for Vancouver Coastal Health Globe in the form of extra locations for the care of people who are ill.
  • Working with Translink Globe and Coast Mountain Bus Company Globe to ensure transportation is available.
  • Coordinating volunteer support and the assistance of social services agencies.
  • Helping local businesses to continue to provide services to the community.
  • Bringing in assistance from outside agencies if necessary.

For more information about the City’s plan, contact City of Vancouver Corporate Communications at 604.871.6336

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Can I get a vaccination against H1N1?

All British Columbians who want to be immunized are now elegible to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine. To find out where you can get vaccinated, visit ImmunizeBC Globe or contact your family doctor or local public health unit.

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Who are the City’s partners in managing this situation?

The City is working with a number of organizations to ensure our community remains as healthy as possible and continues to provide municipal services to the public. They include:

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