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MIT Flu Central - Flu FAQ

(updated Oct. 23, 2009)

PREVENTION

Illness

Vaccinations

 

PREVENTION

• What is the incubation period for the H1N1 virus?
• How can I keep from getting sick?
• How should we clean workspaces if someone in our area becomes sick with flu-like symptoms?

What is the incubation period for the H1N1 virus?
The “incubation period” for an illness refers to the period between the time an individual becomes infected with the illness and the time they begin showing symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that it’s between one and four days. The CDC considers people infected with H1N1 influenza to be infectious—able to transmit the infection to other people—one day before they begin showing symptoms.

How can I keep from getting sick?
Members of the MIT community are urged to follow the same strategies they would ordinarily use to protect themselves and others during a normal cold and flu season:

• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Cover coughs and sneezes
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Stay home if you are feeling sick

How should we clean workspaces if someone in our area becomes sick with flu-like symptoms?
You should follow the same infection-control practices you would use during the normal cold and flu season. To prevent the spread of illness, disinfect commonly touched hard surfaces in the workplace, including counter tops, door knobs, telephones, copy machines, work stations, and bathroom surfaces by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label. Studies have shown that the virus does not remain infectious on environmental surfaces for more than eight hours. Frequent hand washing is the best way to avoid infection from contaminated surfaces.

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ILLNESS

• What are the symptoms of H1N1 influenza (“swine flu”) and how serious is it?
• What should I do if I have influenza symptoms?
• When should I see a medical provider?
• Who is at higher risk for developing serious complications from H1N1 influenza?
• Does MIT Medical have enough Tamiflu? What if the situation worsens and more people become seriously ill from H1N1?
• If a member of my family is sick with the flu, do I need to stay home from work?

What are the symptoms of H1N1 influenza (“swine flu”) and how serious is it?
Symptoms of H1N1 influenza are similar to the symptoms of seasonal influenza—fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people have also reported diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Like seasonal influenza, symptoms of H1N1 can range from very mild to quite severe. To date, however, most cases in the U.S. appear to be no more medically serious than the annual seasonal influenza that moves through our community every winter.

What should I do if I have influenza symptoms?
If you have a fever and a cough or sore throat, stay home and rest. MIT Medical and other U.S. health care providers are no longer performing routine flu tests on patients with influenza symptoms. If you are an MIT student, call MIT Medical to notify them of your illness and to get advice on treatment.

Most patients experience a moderate respiratory illness and recover completely without medical intervention. Antiviral drugs including Tamiflu and Relenza are recommended only in severe cases or in patients with medical conditions that put them at risk for serious complications from the flu.

To avoid spreading the illness to others, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health recommends that individuals who become sick with the flu should avoid close contact with other people until 24 hours after a fever has resolved and body temperature has remained normal without the use of fever-reducing drugs such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Human Resources at MIT has additional information on Institute current leave and payment policies, and the policies that will be in effect in the case of more widespread illness or another emergency.

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When should I see a medical provider?
Generally, you do not need to be seen for flu-like symptoms unless you are pregnant or have an underlying medical condition that puts you at higher risk for developing serious complications from the flu (see Who is at higher risk for developing serious complications from H1N1 influenza?), or unless your symptoms are serious. In adults, this means:

• difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• pain or pressure in the abdomen
• sudden dizziness or confusion
• yellow or green discharge from the nose or produced with a cough
• severe or persistent vomiting

In children. serious symptoms include:

• fast breathing or trouble breathing
• bluish skin color
• not drinking enough fluids
• not waking up or not interacting
• irritability to the point of not wanting to be held
• flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Who is at higher risk for developing serious complications from H1N1 influenza?
The people who are at higher risk of serious complications from H1N1 influenza are the same individuals who are at higher risk for developing serious complications from seasonal influenza. These include:

• pregnant women
• people older than 65 or younger than 2
• people with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease
• people whose immune systems are suppressed due to medications or medical conditions

Although individuals older than 65 are at increased risk of developing complications from all flu viruses, they are considered to be at comparatively low risk of actually contracting H1N1. CDC researchers have found that many older adults appear to have some degree of preexisting immunity to the H1N1 flu strain. They have theorized that this may be due to past exposure to a related virus.

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Does MIT Medical have enough Tamiflu? What if the situation worsens and more people become seriously ill from H1N1?
MIT Medical has adequate supplies of Tamiflu and Relenza (the other antiviral drug that can be used for treating the H1N1 flu) for patients with severe illnesses or with medical conditions that put them at risk for serious complications from the flu. These are the only groups of patients for whom antiviral treatment is recommended.

As part of emergency preparedness planning, MIT also has sufficient stores to deal with a surge of more severe flu cases. The state and federal governments also maintain large stockpiles of Tamiflu, and MIT Medical can tap these resources if we need additional doses.

If a member of my family is sick with the flu, do I need to stay home from work?
No, you should stay home only if you also have a fever and a cough or sore throat. If you do become ill, you should stay home until 24 hours after a fever has resolved and body temperature has remained normal without the use of fever-reducing drugs such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Human Resources at MIT can provide additional information on the Institute's policies regarding time off to care for a sick family member.

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VACCINATIONS

• How many flu vaccinations will I need this year?
• How do I get vaccinated against seasonal flu?
• How do I get the H1N1 flu vaccine?
• I've already had the flu; do I still need to get an H1N1 vaccination when it becomes available?
• Who will get the H1N1 vaccine first?
• Will the H1N1 vaccine be safe?
• Should I get the vaccine to prevent pneumonia?

How many flu vaccinations will I need this year?
You will need two different vaccinations: seasonal influenza (one dose) and H1N1 (one dose for those 10 years and older; two doses for those under 10). More research may change the recommendations. We’ll keep the MIT Medical website up to date with the latest information

How do I get vaccinated against seasonal flu?
Due to a statewide shortage of seasonal flu vaccine, MIT Medical has stopped accepting new appointments for seasonal flu vaccinations, except for patients in high-risk categories. See our vaccination page for more information and other ways to obtain a seasonal flu vaccination.

How do I get the H1N1 flu vaccine?
MIT Medical has started receiving shipments of H1N1 vaccine and has begun administering it to individuals in federally prioritized groups (see Who will get the H1N1 vaccine first?). Initially the H1N1 vaccine will be available in limited quantities, but over a period of months, we expect to receive enough vaccine for everyone in the community. See our vaccination page for more information.

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I've already had the flu; do I still need to get an H1N1 vaccination when it becomes available?
Yes, because since most people who have had ILI (influenza-like illness) have not had a flu test that would confirm they actually had the H1N1 strain—or that they were even sick with influenza. In fact, among the first 20 people with ILI who were tested at MIT Medical, only four came back positive for influenza; most of the other 16 people had other viral illnesses that just looked like flu. Also, the rapid flu test can't distinguish the seasonal flu from H1N1 flu, so even a positive result doesn't mean that the person is ill with H1N1 flu. In any case, even if you've already had the H1N1 flu, there's no harm in getting the vaccine anyway.

Who will get the H1N1 vaccine first?
While there should not be any shortage of H1N1 vaccine, the federal government, which is providing the H1N1 vaccine free of charge, is requiring those who administer the vaccine to follow CDC guidelines regarding priority groups for vaccination. People will be vaccinated in this order:

• Health care providers, people who care for children younger than six months of age, and pregnant women.
• Those aged six months to 24 years, and those who are 25-64 and who are at higher risk for complications of H1N1 due to chronic health conditions (for example, heart disease, asthma or other lung condition, diabetes) or compromised immune systems.
• Other adults who are 25-64.
• People older than 64. Current studies indicate that the risk for H1N1 infection among persons aged 65 or older is less than the risk for younger age groups.

Will the H1N1 vaccine be safe?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the H1N1 vaccine should be as safe as the seasonal flu vaccine. Vaccine manufacturers use a similar process each year to produce a seasonal flu vaccine that is effective against the flu variants, or “strains,” that are expected to be active during that year’s flu season. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is treating the H1N1 vaccine as a “strain change”—just as they would treat a new seasonal flu vaccine—which means they will register the vaccine without extensive clinical trials.

Every year, the seasonal flu vaccine produces mild side effects in approximately 5 to 10 percent of people (most commonly, soreness at the site of the vaccination). An extremely small number of people experience a more adverse allergic reaction. The FDA expects similar outcomes with the H1N1 vaccine. In general, however, most experts believe that the risk from H1N1 itself is greater than any potential risks from a vaccine, particularly for the most vulnerable groups.

Should I get a vaccination to prevent pneumonia?
Since one of the most severe complications of influenza is the increased risk of developing bacterial pneumonia—especially with the pneumococcus bacteria—pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumovax) is recommended for some people, including:

• Adults aged 65 or older
• Smokers
• People with underlying medical problems such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, and several other conditions.

For more information, see Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine: What You Need to Know (PDF).

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