In the United States, the flu season is generally considered between October and May with the peak of the season falling between late December and March. This spring, a new influenza virus began causing illness in people and spreading around the world. Originally called “swine flu”because the virus genes were similar to some influenza viruses that infect pigs, the new virus has been named “novel H1N1.” Human infections with the new H1N1 virus are ongoing in the United States. Most people who have become ill with this new virus have recovered without requiring medical treatment. The disease can be deadly to people with a chronic illness such as chronic kidney disease (CKD) or chronic renal failure. As of August 2009, nearly 8,000 people were hospitalized due to the H1N1 virus and more than 500 deaths in the United Stated were associated with the virus. It is vital that precautions are taken to avoid contracting the disease.

Here is a list of suggestions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how you and your loved ones can avoid the swine flu virus:

• 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 hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, the CDC recommends 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 to keep from making others sick.

According to the CDC, the H1N1 virus is thought to spread the same way the seasonal flu is spread - from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. People may become infected by touching something on a surface or object – with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. This is why washing your hands with soap and water is important. It is also crucial to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Symptoms of the H1N1 virus include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Home dialysis patients should ask sick people to stay clear of them and not come into their home where they perform their dialysis treatment. In-center dialysis patients who suspect they may have the flu virus should call their dialysis unit before going to their next dialysis appointment. If someone in your household is sick or if you have any reason to believe you might have been exposed to the H1N1 virus, alert your unit. This is important because you can spread the flu before you show symptoms; the unit can then take precautions.

For more information on the seasonal flu virus and the H1N1 virus, visit the CDC Web site at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu or the Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) Web site at www.kcercoalition.com.

This article originally appeared in the November 2009 issue of At Home with AAKP.

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