Pandemic (H1N1) 2009

The Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 is a strain of influenza A which can be transmitted from person to person. New strains of seasonal influenza A circulate every year in flu season.

At this time, the Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus is not circulating in Alberta.

Vaccination/Prevention

H1N1 Vaccine is no longer available for general public or high risk Albertans, unless planning to travel outside of Canada.  The H1N1 Vaccine is still available for unimmunized travellers. 

It is very important for citizens to continue to follow good hand hygiene practices to reduce the spread of illness.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza infection and include:

• Adult: acute onset of new cough or change in existing cough, plus one or more of the following: 
                      o fever (> 38C on arrival or by history) 
                      o sore throat 
                      o joint pain 
                      o muscle aches 
                      o severe exhaustion
• Pediatric: acute onset of any of the following symptoms: 
                      o runny nose 
                      o cough 
                      o sneezing 
                      o with or without fever

Some people with Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 have also reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea in addition to a cough and fever symptoms. The vast majority of cases have recovered completely.

Surveillance

As of April 9, 2010, there have been 1,278 hospitalized confirmed cases of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus to date (since April 2009) in Alberta. For more information visit: http://www.health.alberta.ca/health-info/influenza-H1N1-cases.html