Frequently Asked Questions about H1N1 flu outbreak

Published April 28, 2009

AIR FORCE DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON --
Q. Have any AFDW Airmen or other patients been infected?
A. To date, there have been no confirmed cases of H1N1 flu outbreak in any Airmen or in any patients at Malcolm Grow Medical Center, or on Andrews Air Force Base or Bolling Air Force Base.

Q. What is the AFDW doing as far as education and prevention?
A. AFDW is working closely with the rest of the Department of Defense and with Military District of Washington to provide a coordinated response to this outbreak.

Q. What plans do hospitals have in case of a breakout?
A. Military and civilian hospitals have emergency response plans for mass casualty situations and epidemics. The military health system developed these plans to deal with emerging diseases, such as pandemic influenza, and are coordinated with the civilian system to ensure close cooperation with the civil authorities.

Q. Will the flu shot provided in Fall 2008 protect people from strain of influenza?
A. This Swine Influenza strain is different than the human strains that were used in creating the vaccine in 2008. Therefore, it is unlikely to offer any protection against this new strain. The vaccine will protect against the commonly occurring strains of human influenza.

Q. Who is most vulnerable to infection or death?
A. Influenza typically is most dangerous for the very old or very young. According to the World Health Organization Web Site, the majority of these cases have occurred in otherwise healthy young adults. As more is learned about this particular outbreak, there will be more information on who is most vulnerable to this infection.

Q. Is this an epidemic or pandemic and what is the difference?
A. An outbreak is when there is an increase in the number of cases of a disease above the baseline levels. When there are a large number of cases that constitutes an epidemic. When there are multiple sites around the world of large numbers of cases that is a pandemic. The CDC is currently calling this an epidemic, but both military and civilian experts around the world are monitoring this closely.

Q. Why do 40 infections constitute an emergency or an epidemic?
A. The Department of Health and Human Services issued a nationwide public health emergency declaration in response to recent human infections with a newly discovered H1N1 virus. The formal declaration of a Public Health Emergency (PHE) is a tool that facilitates HHS' preparation and mobilization for disasters and emergencies. For example, PHEs were recently declared for flooding in North Dakota, the Inauguration, and several 2008 hurricanes.

Q. Are deployed service members in danger of infection; what preventive measures are in place across DoD?
A. Based on the most recent information, deployed service members are at no increased risk of infection.

Q. What can I do to keep from getting this flu and spreading it?
A. All Airmen are encouraged to follow the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on what can be done to stay healthy. These recommendations are:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.

If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.