Information on Prevention and chemo prophylaxis of swine flu/ influenza

1. Prevention of Swine Flu
In public interest by
Information sources-

2. • Frequent hand washing
• Covering coughs and sneezes
• Avoidance of crowded settings when possible
• advising ill persons to stay home (except to seek medical
care) and minimize contact with others in household
• voluntary home quarantine of members of households with
confirmed or probable swine influenza cases

4. * consider Facemasks (disposable, single use
masks) for persons who enter crowded settings
* consider Respirators (N95 or higher filtering
facepiece respirator) for persons who have
unavoidable close contact with infectious person
No clear scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of
facemasks and respirators in protecting against influenza

5. * household close contacts (of confirmed, probable, or
suspected case) at high-risk for complications of influenza
+ chronic medical conditions
+ aged ≥ 65 years
+ aged ≤ 5 years
+ pregnant women
* school children or children in daycare at high-risk for
complications of influenza (certain chronic medical
conditions) who had close contact (face-to-face) with
confirmed, probable, or suspected case

6. * Any healthcare worker at high-risk for complications of
influenza (persons with certain chronic medical conditions,
elderly) working in area with confirmed swine influenza A
(H1N1) cases, or who is caring for patients with any acute
febrile respiratory illness
* Non-high risk travelers to Mexico, first responders, or
border workers who are working in areas with confirmed
cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection

7. •Pre-exposure –
treat during exposure period and for 10 days after
last known exposure to ill confirmed case of swine
influenza A (H1N1) virus infection
•Post-exposure –
treat for 10 days after last known exposure to ill
confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus
infection

8. • Zanamivir
10 mg (2 inhalations) once daily for adults and
children ≥ 5 years old
• Oseltamivir orally
adults and children ≥ 13 years old - 75 mg once daily
children aged 1-12 years - dose based on weight
≤ 15 kg 30 mg once daily
15-23 kg 45 mg once daily
23-40 kg 60 mg once daily
> 40 kg 75 mg once daily

9. • No vaccine available to protect humans from
swine flu
• Vaccine for human seasonal influenza does not
protect against H1N1 swine flu viruses due to
antigenic differences, but may provide partial
protection against swine H3N2 virus

10. Compiled by-
Dr. Neelesh Bhandari
MD (Path), PGP Human Rights
Advisor (Medical Communications)
Mark IV Medical Communications.
http://tinyurl.com/drneelesh