Swine Flu Self-Protection

Most Importantly, contact your regular health care provider

Personal Actions

1. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the 
trash after you use it.

2. Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an 
alcohol-based hand rub.

3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.

4. Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

5. If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommends that you 
stay 
home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone, except to get medical care or for other 
necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Keep 
away from others as much as possible. This is to keep from making others sick.

6. While sick, limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.


1. Some people who get seasonal or 2009/2010 H1N1 flu will be recommended by their doctor to be 
treated with antiviral drugs.

2. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) that fight 
against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body.

3. Antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also 
prevent serious flu complications.

4. Antiviral drugs are not sold over-the-counter. You must get them from your health care 
provider.

5. Antiviral are different from antibiotics.

6. Antiviral drugs are recommended especially for people who are very sick (hospitalized) or 
people who are sick with flu-like symptoms and who are at increased risk of serious flu 
complications, such as pregnant women, young children, people 65 and older, and people 
with chronic health conditions.

7. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started within the first 2 days of symptoms.



Immunization


Check with your health care provider for possible immunization.