This is part 2 of the series “Living with H1N1 in Singapore”. If you have missed Part 1 , you can read it here. In this post, we are going to share with you some myths and facts that you should be aware of.
Myth: My child just came back from a holiday. The school has told me that he can only come to school a week later. I have decided to take him for another short trip.
Fact: No! The reason the school has given that instruction to you is because the school wants to minimize the risk of community contact for from anyone who has traveled overseas. Your child should stay at home if possible and, if he starts showing symptoms of the H1N1 virus, he should be taken to see a doctor and kept away from others.
Myth: I have a running nose and a cough, but I do not have a fever. I am safe from the H1N1 virus.
Fact: False! Only half of the people infected with the H1N1 virus have a high fever of 37.8 deg Celsius and above. One in 10 does not have any fever at all and a third have only a mild fever. The symptoms do not differ from the general flu symptoms. They include a fever, sore throat , cough , runny nose, muscle ache , headache , fatigue and lack of appetite. But one does not have to exhibit all the symptoms before he is confirmed to have been infected with the virus
Myth: Once I have recovered from the flu, I will no longer be infectious.
Fact: Probably! While there are no statistically proven studies to validate this , on average patients will stop being infectious after seven days, although some might remain infectious for up to a fortnight.
Myth: I can get H1N1 twice.
Fact: No! Once you are infected with the H1N1 virus, you will gain life long immunity. This is, however, true only if the virus does not change. If the virus mutates, you might still have acquired some immunity, so if you catch it again, your illness might not be as severe.
Myth: As long as I do not stand in front of a person who sneezes or coughs, I will not catch the flu virus.
Fact: Wrong! The virus can remain alive on surfaces for several hours. If a person infected with the virus has the virus on his finger and touches a door knob, and if you, in turn, touch the door knob with your hand, the virus will stick to your hand and you will potentially get infected, if you rub your nose or touch your eyes.
Myth: I will be safe if I am 1 metre away from the person sneezing.
Fact: False! If you are in an air-conditioned environment, or in front of a fan, the virus may still be able to reach you. However, the virus droplets will fall to the floor, and do not remain suspended in the air.
Myth: I just need to use hand sanitizer before meals, and my hands should be disinfected.
Fact: It depends! The more often you use the sanitizer, the cleaner your hands are. But that does not mean you have to use it every minute! The rule of thumb is to use a sanitizer when you feel your hands have been exposed to a questionable surface and you cannot wash your hands. Examples of such surfaces includes lift buttons, trolley handles, and escalator handles.
Myth: I am on Home quarantine, My family members must also be quarantined with me.
Fact: You should try to wear a mask at home if you need to be in a common area of the house near other people. Try to cover your nose / mouth when you need to sneeze or cough. You should ask your family members to wash their hands regularly. If you want to be safe, wear a mask and ask your family members to wear masks too. As long as your family members take the necessary hygiene precautions, and they feel well, they do not have to exercise self-quarantine.
Myth: I should call 993 when I think I have the H1N1 virus
Fact: Not really! With the country gearing up in case the pandemic breaks out in the local community, a list of PPCs ( Pandemic Preparedness Clinics ) are being formed as part of the revised flu response framework. These clinics are trained with the right protocols and practices to tackle the pandemic. In addition, they will also be stocked up with at least a weeks supply of Personal Protection Equipment, and ensure that their clinics are setup to separate flu and fever cases from other patients.
They are identified with this logo.
To find your nearest PPC please go to http://www.street-directory.com/hpb.ppc/
Myth: I should stay away from my friends who are sneezing or having flu like symptoms
Fact: Half correct! Besides staying away, you should advice them to go and see the doctor. If they do not have a mask on, tell them to put one on and refer them to http://singaporetop10.multiclickz.com/10-h1n1-counter-measures-for-singaporeans/ so that they know what the need to know and do.
