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SPH Topics: FLU

H1N1 Swine Flu Information

The novel H1N1 strain of swine flu began being tracked internationally in April 2009. On April 26, a state of public health emergency was declared in the U.S. See news reports at right and these websites for updates:

Video

June 2009: ABC News asked SPH's Allison Aiello to provide shorts answers to common questions about H1N1, including:

flu videoVIDEO: Prepare, Don't Panic: SPH's Allison Aiello brings up up to date on why H1N1 is different enough to cause concern among public health officials worldwide, and what individuals can do. (May 4, UM News Service, 3 min).

Tips for Avoiding Spread of Flu

  • Wash your hands often.
  • Keep you hands away from your eyes, nose or mouth.
  • Maintain healthy habits – get ample sleep and exercise, drink fluids, eat well.
  • Avoid contact with people if you, or they, are sick; stay at home—from work, school or other public activities—when you are ill.
  • sneezeMaintain increased social distance, and shield others from your coughs and sneezes by using a tissue.

Currently, there's no vaccine for humans that prevents swine flu, though scientists are currently working on one. But there is a vaccine for pigs.

The CDC is working very closely with officials in states where human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) have been identified, as well as with health officials in Mexico, Canada and the World Health Organization. Investigation and response effort surrounding the outbreak of swine flu is ongoing. Swine flu symptoms are similar to the symptoms of normal seasonal flu--including fever, body aches, runny nose and sore throat, and sometimes nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

This page will be updated regularly as new information becomes available.

UM SPH Flu Experts, for Media

(For Media and Health Officials only; contact info):

  • Influenza: Monto, Boulton, Aiello, Montgomery, Koopman , Foxman
  • Disease transmission: Monto, Boulton, Aiello, Montgomery, Koopman, Wilson, Gerrard, Foxman
  • Non-pharmaceutical interventions (personal protective measures - mask and hand washing; social distancing - quarantine, closing of schools, travel limitations and closing of public health events): Monto, Aiello, Boulton
  • Antiviral resistance: Monto, Aiello, Koopman, Gerrard, Foxman
  • Quarantine: Monto, Aiello, Boulton, Montgomery, Jacobson (legal issues), Koopman (technical-transmission modeling)
  • Viruses: Monto, Aiello, Gerrard
  • Trauma: consequences of disaster: Galea

For SPH experts on many more topics, see the Experts List.

School of Public Health Contact Information

Terri Mellow, Director of Communications,
University of Michigan School of Public Health
109 S. Observatory St., 3542 SPH I
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029
Telephone: 734-764-8094; Fax: 734-763-5455; E-mail: twm@umich.edu

If you want to be added to regular distribution for news releases, contact Laura Bailey, 734-764-1552.

Background: With or without pandemic, influenza is a serious health threat. From the first effective influenza vaccine to the FluMist nasal spray vaccine, the University of Michigan has been at the forefront of efforts to combat this viral killer. SPH experts are staying on the forefront of the swine flu and avian flu watches worldwide. More information on UM flu resources is available through the university Health System and News Service. See also Michigan Department of Community Health.