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2009 H1N1 Flu (swine flu)

 

At this time, H1N1 vaccine is not widely available for the general public in Westchester County. Small supplies of H1N1 vaccine are beginning to arrive to a limited number of health care providers so they can give it to their most at-risk patients.

In the coming weeks, vaccine will be available at many health care providers, pharmacies and health clinics. Please check back with your provider or pharmacist about availability.

If you or your child has the flu, it could be H1N1 influenza. To avoid spreading the flu if you have mild illness and if you have mild illness and no risk for complications, please stay at home until any fever is gone for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines. If you have mild illness and medical risk, call your doctor before going to the doctor’s office. If you are severely ill, go to the emergency room.

Most people do not need to a lab test to confirm H1N1 influenza. Testing for flu is necessary only when people are sick enough to be hospitalized.

Most people don't need antiviral medications (such as Tamiflu), which are not recommended except for people with the flu who are at higher risk from serious health problems from flu or who have severe illness, or for prevention only in people at risk for serious complications from the flu.

For more information about H1N1 and regular flu, please visit the links below.

 
Don't have a Doctor, view a list of Community Health Center near you
 
 

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

Westchester County Department of Health
Information line: 914-813-5000 (available 24/7)

New York State Department of Health
H1N1 Flu Hotline: 1-800-808-1987 (available 24/7)
NYSDOH website on H1N1 flu

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

800-232-4636 / 888-232-6348 TTY
CDC website on H1N1 flu

World Health Organization (WHO)
H1N1 2009
 

 
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Information for Individuals and Families
Hand washing is a simple habit that can help keep you and your family healthy.

Learn the benefits of good hand hygiene.
General Information (CDC)  
NEW H1N1 Vaccine Questions & Answers
Influenza H1N1(Gripe Porcina)
Regular flu facts and vaccine information    
Flu Facts (CDC)
Preventing the flu  (CDC)
Swine flu and you
What you should do about Swine Flu (NYC)
NEW Questions and Answers about 2009 H1N1 in pets (CDC)
NEW For Parents Who Have Children or Adolescents with High-Risk
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How to Sneeze (Video)
NEW Don't Get, Don't Spread Video (CDC)
CDC Chief Science Officer Dr. Anne Schuchat answers parents questions
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Elmo, from Sesame Street, offers flu prevention tips (Video)
Watch Dr. Clarke's winning PSA contest video on the flu
Parents and Caregivers (CDC)
Pregnant Women (CDC)
Adults with HIV Infection (CDC)
Updated Flu Frequently Asked Questions
Recomendaciones Sobre Influenza (Gripe) Porcina
Datos importantes sobre la influenza porcina (gripe porcina) (CDC)
Travelers' Health (CDC)
 
For School and Early Childhood Programs
You can take a flu test at your doctor’s office or at a hospital emergency room. This test CANNOT determine whether you have H1N1 (swine) flu. The test CAN determine whether the flu virus is present and whether the virus is type A, the most common type of flu virus, or type B.  So, if you test positive for the flu at your doctor’s office or at an emergency room, this only means you have the flu, which could be the seasonal flu. The Westchester County Health Department has only been screening cases of flu A for swine flu when a person appears to be part of a cluster of illness, mostly in schools and pre-schools, or is hospitalized with a flu-like illness. Many of those who appeared to be part of a cluster have been found to have had seasonal flu or no flu at all, and simply a virus.
Guidance for Assessment of Students Suspected of Having Influenza
    (May 26, 2009)
Child Care, Schools & Colleges CDC)
Latest Guidance for MDs, Schools and other Professionals
 
For Physicians and Health Care Providers
See Professionals Corner
 
For Employers
Employers and Businesses
Workplace HR Q & A
Preparing Workplaces for a Flu Pandemic
Flu advice for businesses
 
Flyers, Brochures and Fact Sheets
NEW H1N1 Vaccine Questions & Answers
Cover your cough fact sheets  (English) (Spanish)
Download the Health Alert H1N1 Flu poster (CDC)
CDC 2009 H1N1 Flu: Free brochures and flyers
NEW H1N1 "Take 3" brochure
2009 H1N1 Flu and You brochure