Swine Flu Awareness Campaign

How long can an infected person spread the swine flu virus to others?

People with H1N1 (swine) influenza virus infection can be potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to 7 days following illness onset. Children, however, might continue to spread the virus up to 10 days or longer.

Do cloth masks help?

Cloth masks can at best prevent large numbers of virus from entering your body. However, in isolation they cannot be depended upon as a means of prevention against swine flu.

So how do we know if the symptoms are ordinary flu or swine flu?

It is pretty much impossible to tell from the symptoms themselves whether the symptoms are that of swine flu or that of any ordinary flu. Doctors advice further investigations, even after symptoms, only if you have been in the close proximity of another person with infected with swine flu.

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include breathing fast or trouble breathing, bluish skin color, not drinking enough fluids/eating food, being irritable and if the child does not want to be held, fever with a rash, flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worsened cough,

What to do if a child gets sick?

Are there medicines to treat this flu?

Yes. Necessary medicines in sufficient quantity are available.

It is strongly advisable not to take medicines like Tami flu without  confirmation of swine flu, as it will lower one’s immunity and increase the virus’s resistance to the medication.

The drug for the treatment is only available through the public health system and its retail sale is banned as indiscriminate use may lead to development of resistance to the virus.