Swine Flu Information

What is swine influenza (flu)?
Swine flu is a respiratory infection caused by a virus that usually is found in pigs.

What are the symptoms of swine flu?
The symptoms are similar to having regular flu, which include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Sometimes people have a runny nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. These symptoms can be mild or severe.

How does swine flu spread among humans?
Swine flu spreads mainly through coughing and sneezing or by contaminated hands that touch the mouth or nose. Symptoms usually start 1 to 3 days after contact with an ill person.

How long can an infected person spread swine flu to others?
People are contagious 1 day before their symptoms begin and up to 1 week afterward. Children may be able to spread the virus longer.

Who is at risk for swine flu?
Anyone is at risk for getting swine flu if they have contact with an infected person. You cannot get swine flu from eating pork or pork products.

How can I protect myself from swine flu?
The best ways to protect yourself from getting or spreading swine flu are:

1. Ask everyone around you to cover his/her mouth and nose when he/she coughs and sneezes.
2. Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer, especially after you cough or sneeze.
3. Try to avoid being around sick people.
4. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
5. If you become ill, you should stay away from others.

Is there a vaccine for swine flu?
No, there is not a vaccine for swine flu at this time.

What should I do if I have flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough and/or sore throat?

1. Stay home for at least 7 days. If symptoms last longer, then stay home for one to two days after your symptoms end.
2. Wash your hands frequently.
3. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
4. Drink plenty of fluids, rest, and avoid smoking.
5. Do not go to the hospital for mild illness. Testing and treatment are not recommended for everyone. Please talk with your health care provider.
6. Seek medical care immediately, if you or your child has severe symptoms (examples include, but are not limited to: difficulty breathing, not waking up, bluish skin color, confusion).

Can I visit a friend/family member in the hospital if I have flu-like symptoms?
No. If you are sick, limit your contact with other people.

Additional Resources:

• Information about Swine Flu - call 311.

• If you or a family member feel stressed or overwhelmed you can get help by calling a professional mental health provider. You can also call LifeNet, a 24 hr 7 day a week crisis hot line. LifeNet is staffed by mental-health professionals who speak a variety of languages. Please see numbers below:

1. English call: 800-LIFENET (800-534-3638)
2. Spanish call: 877 AYUDESE (877-298-3373)
3. Cantonese/ Mandarin call: 877-990-8585
4. Deaf/Hearing Impaired (TTY): 212-982-5284 or www.mhaofnyc.org
5.  

• http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/

• http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/cd/cd-swineflu.shtml

HIV Information:

To help reduce your risk of becoming infected with HIV one should:

• Use latex or polyurethane condoms during every act of sex including during oral sex 
• Use male or female condoms along with your chosen contraceptive 
• Limit the number of your sex partners 
• Avoid having sex with partners who have risky behaviors (including other sex partners) 
• Get tested for HIV with your partner to ensure that you are both uninfected 
• Avoid using skin-piercing instruments that have not been disinfected 
• Avoid sharing needles, IV drugs, and drug paraphernalia *Practice universal precautions at all times (for health care workers) 
• How to Prevent HIV Infection
• Speak openly with partners about safer sex techniques and HIV status. 
• If you don't know your status, get an HIV test to protect yourself and others. 
• Get tested with your partner as a way of saying "you care and want both of you to stay healthy." 
• Use a latex condom with each oral, anal or vaginal sexual encounter. Those with latex allergies should use latex-free condoms. 
• Do not share needles or syringes if you inject drugs. If you do inject drugs, seek professional help to kick your habit. 
• HIV infected pregnant women should get into regular prenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care. HIV infected women should not breast feed. 

HIV Signs and Symptoms

• Often people who are HIV infected have few or no symptoms. Other times, symptoms of HIV are confused with other illnesses such as the flu. If a person were to have symptoms they would include: 
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, groin or under the arms 
• Diarrhea 
• Unexplained weight loss 
• Fatigue 
• Fever, chills or sweats (especially at night) 
• Visual changes 
• Frequent pneumonia's or shortness of breath 
• Rash Flu-like symptoms 

HIV Statistics 

• For African American men who have sex with men HIV prevalence is estimated at 55% overall (SFDPH 2001a). Among anonymous testers, prevalence was 9.7% (SFDPHb). Another study found a 29% prevalence (Catina et al 2001). Collectively, this data suggests that African Americans have the highest prevalence of any MSM population. 
• The HIV/AIDS infection rate among Black men is 6 times that of white men and the rate among Black women is 16 times that of white women 
• The number of men with AIDS per 100,000 population includes: 
  • Blacks - 125 
  • Hispanics - 58 
  • Whites - 18 
  • American Indian/Alaska native - 16 
  • Asian/Pacific Islander - 9 
  • The number of women with AIDS per 100,000 population includes: 
  • Blacks -50 
  • Hispanics -17 
  • American Indian/Alaska native - 4 
  • Whites - 2 
  • Asian/Pacific Islander - 1 
• AIDS now accounts for 1 in 3 deaths among Black men aged 25 to 44
• More children with AIDS are Black than all other race and ethnic groups combined
• Every day in the U.S. about 100 people of color become infected with HIV 
• More than two-thirds of all women in the U.S. who are infected with the AIDS virus are Black 
• Blacks represent 57% of all new AIDS cases in the United States, though comprising only 13% of the population 
• AIDS is the leading cause of death of Blacks, age 25-44 
• AIDS is the leading cause of death for Black women 

Other Health Related Sites

1. Aid Atlanta, Inc  http://www.aidatlanta.org/ 
2. National Black Justice Coalition  http://www.nbjcoalition.org/  
3. National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day  http://www.blackaidsday.org/  
4. Black AIDS Institute  http://www.blackaids.org   
5. My Brothaz Home  http://www.mybrothazhome.org 
6. The Know is Spreading  http://www.spreadtheknow.com/ 
7. Know HIV/AIDS  http://www.knowhivaids.org/  
8. People of Color in  Crisis  http://www.pocc.org/index.html 
9. Be Your Dawgs Best Friend  http://www.beyourdawgsbestfriend.com/ 
10. Gay Men's Health  Crisis   http://www.gmhc.org/index.html 
11. National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs    http://www.ncavp.org/ 
12. We Are Part of You  http://www.wearepartofyou.org/index.html 
13. Housing Works Inc.  http://www.housingworks.org 
14. UNDER THE STAR! INTERNATIONAL, INC   http://www.underthestar.org