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GENERAL INFORMATION
All levels of government (federal, provincial and local) are currently responding to the H1N1 flu virus pandemic. This website provides general information on influenza, pandemic influenza, the H1N1 flu virus pandemic, what individuals and families can do to stay healthy, and what Region of Waterloo Public Health, in cooperation with its community partners, is doing to respond to the H1N1 flu virus pandemic.
This website also contains information for the businesses and community agencies, and healthcare providers.
A specific page dedicated to links and resources is also provided.
Most of the pages on the website are organized in question and answer format. Clicking on the question will direct you to the answer.
General Information on the H1N1 flu virus
What is the H1N1 flu virus
How does the H1N1 flu virus spread
Are there cases of H1N1 flu virus in Waterloo Region
Who is at risk for getting H1N1
Are pregnant women and individuals with pre-existing chronic diseases at higher risk
How long can someone with the flu infect someone else
Is it possible to get H1N1 by preparing or eating pork
What can I do to protect myself from getting sick with the H1N1 flu virus
How do I keep surfaces clean to prevent the spread of influenza
When should someone wash their hands
For information on how to stay healthy, what to do if you or a loved one is ill, if schools will be closed, vaccines and other medications please visit our Staying Healthy at Home, Work, School and in the Community webpage.
General information on influenza and pandemic influenza
What is influenza?
What is an influenza pandemic?
How is influenza different from an influenza pandemic?
How does influenza (including pandemic influenza) spread?
How long will a pandemic event last?
What is being done to reduce the impact of a pandemic?
WHO Pandemic Periods and Phases
Fact Sheets
Click here for fact sheets, resources and links.
Members of the community who have questions or want more information can call Region of Waterloo Public Health at 519-883-2000, or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. Individuals can also email Region of Waterloo Public Health directly; please click here.
The H1N1 flu virus is a respiratory illness that causes symptoms similar to those of regular seasonal flu. Symptoms for the H1N1 virus include symptoms with fever and cough and one or more of the following: sore throat, muscle aches, joint pain, or weakness. In children under 5, gastrointestinal symptoms may also be present and fever may not be prominent.
How does the H1N1 flu virus spread?
The H1N1 flu virus is spread in the same way that seasonal flu spreads — mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing. When you cough or sneeze, you spray tiny droplets that can move up to two metres (six feet) through the air and land on other people or surfaces. These droplets contain millions of germs and are the cause of infections such as colds and the 'flu'.
People become infected when they breathe in the germs, or when their hands come into contact with germs that are on surfaces (such as toys, utensils, handrails). The flu virus can live on different surfaces for up to 48 hours. If you touch something after someone has coughed on it and rub your eyes, nose, or mouth you can infect yourself.
Are there cases of H1N1 flu virus in Waterloo Region?
Cases of H1N1 Flu Virus have been reported in Waterloo. Region of Waterloo Public Health is producing and posting a weekly flu bulletin that includes the number laboratory confirmed influenza cases (H1N1 and seasonal), and the number of individuals hospitalized and deaths due to the H1N1 flu virus. These are posted to this website each Wednesday.
Click here to see the flu bulletins
Note: Only individuals who are very ill and hospitalized are being tested by laboratories at this time. Therefore, the number of individuals who have been ill with H1N1 is likely higher than the number of laboratory confirmed cases.
Who is at risk?
Everyone is at risk of getting influenza. To date, most cases have been reported in young children, adolescents and young adults. Relatively few individuals 60 years of age or older have been infected.
Are pregnant women and individuals with pre-existing chronic diseases at higher risk?
Pregnant women and individuals with pre-existing chronic diseases are not at an increased risk of becoming infected with the H1N1 flu virus. However, these groups appear to be at an increased risk of more severe illness if they get sick. Therefore, it is particularly important for these groups to wash their hands frequently and contact their healthcare provider as soon as possible if they become ill with symptoms of influenza.
How long can someone with the flu infect someone else?
People with the flu may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick. Individuals who are sick are most infectious at the start of symptoms. Once you are well again, it is rare to pass the infection to others.
Is it possible to get H1N1 by preparing or eating pork?
No. The flu virus is not found in pork products that we consume. Make sure pork is cooked through, not pink in the middle, to avoid other infections like bacteria.
What can I do to protect myself from getting sick with the H1N1 flu virus?
People can lower their risk by practicing the usual, preventative practices against a range of illnesses, that is:
- Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze by using a tissue or coughing into your sleeve or upper arm (or into the "crook of your elbow"). Throw the tissue in the garbage after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand rub/sanitizer (ABHR) with 60 to 90 per cent alcohol is also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread easily that way.
- Keep commonly touched surfaces clean and disinfected.
- If you get sick, Public Health recommends that you stay home from work or school until you no longer have a fever and are feeling well. You should also limit contact with others during this time to keep from infecting them.
- If your symptoms worsen, contact your healthcare provider (doctor).
- Get the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines (when available).
How do I keep surfaces clean to prevent the spread of influenza?
Common household disinfectants will kill the virus on household items and surfaces. Mixing one teaspoon of bleach with two cups of water makes a solution that will kill the virus.
When should someone wash their hands?
- After coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose
- After using the bathroom
- After shaking hands
- Before and after eating and/or preparing food
- When you come into contact with someone who is sick
- Before and after using shared equipment such as computers, toys, etc.
Influenza (commonly known as 'the flu') is a contagious virus that circulates on a seasonal basis, usually from October to April, causing outbreaks of respiratory illness. People who get the flu may experience several symptoms including: fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, physical exhaustion, cough, sore throat and runny or stuffy nose.
Most healthy individuals are able to recover from the flu, but certain segments of the population, like the elderly and medically vulnerable (individuals more likely to become ill because of other complications), may experience further complications. In some cases the flu can be fatal.
What is an influenza pandemic?
An influenza pandemic (or 'pandemic') occurs when a strain of the flu virus changes in composition, becomes highly contagious, spreads easily from person to person and moves quickly around the world. Because the population is not immune to the new virus, it will affect more people and cause higher rates of illness.
There were three pandemics in the 20th century. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the first influenza pandemic of the 21st century — the H1N1 flu virus pandemic — on June 11, 2009. It is not possible to stop the spread of a pandemic once it starts, but it may be possible to slow its spread and minimize the impact.
How is influenza different from an influenza pandemic?
| INFLUENZA | PANDEMIC INFLUENZA |
| Severe in the very old and the very young | May be severe in any age groups |
| Seasonal - occurs in the winter | Can occur at any time of the year |
| Normal flu mortality (deaths) - 4,000 to 8,000 year in Canada | Higher levels of mortality (deaths), depending on the severity of the virus |
| Illness usually lasts 1 to 2 weeks | Patients may be sicker for a longer period of time |
| Usually just one wave of illness per season | More than one wave of illness |
| Vaccine available before each season based on common circulating strain | Vaccine may not be available for four to six months after the start of a pandemic |
| Circulates on a seasonal basis | Spreads rapidly throughout the world |
| Viruses change slightly throughout the season | New circulating virus; population has little or no immunity |
How does influenza (including pandemic influenza) spread?
All strains of influenza spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing. When you cough or sneeze, you spray tiny droplets that can move up to two metres (six feet) through the air and land on other people or surfaces. These droplets contain millions of germs and are the cause of infections such as colds and the 'flu'.
People become infected when they breathe in the germs, or when their hands come into contact with germs that are on surfaces (such as toys, utensils, handrails). The flu virus can live on different surfaces for up to 48 hours. If you touch something after someone has coughed on it and rub your eyes, nose, or mouth you can infect yourself.
For information on how to reduce your risk of infection, please see our Staying Healthy at Home, Work, School and in the Community webpage.
How long will a pandemic event last?
As it is impossible to know what an influenza pandemic event might look like, certain assumptions need to be made. Pandemics typically occur in waves. The first wave is expected to last six to eight weeks and the second wave may follow six to nine months later; the level of illness in the second wave may or may not be more severe than the first. There may also be a third wave. When a pandemic occurs, communities can expect to deal with its effects for up to 12 to 18 months.
What is being done to reduce the impact of a pandemic?
All levels of government are currently making plans to reduce the impact of a pandemic. Please see Waterloo Region's Pandemic Plan for more information.
If you require additional information or have a question that is not addressed on this website, please click here.
WHO Pandemic Periods and Phases
INTERPANDEMIC PERIOD
- Phase 1 - No new influenza virus subtypes have been detected in humans. An influenza virus subtype that has caused human infection may be present in animals. If present in animals, the risk of human infection is considered to be low.
- Phase 2 - No new influenza virus subtypes have been detected in humans. However, a circulating animal influenza virus subtype poses a substantial risk of human disease.
PANDEMIC ALERT PERIOD
- Phase 3 - Human infection(s) with a new subtype, but no human-to-human spread, or at most rare instances of spread to a close contact.
- Phase 4 - Small cluster(s) with limited human-to-human transmission but spread is highly localized, suggesting that the virus is not well adapted to humans.
- Phase 5 - Larger cluster(s) but human-to-human spread still localized, suggesting that the virus is becoming increasingly better adapted to humans, but may not yet be fully transmissible (substantial pandemic risk).
PANDEMIC PERIOD
- Phase 6 - Increased and sustained transmission in general population.
POST-PANDEMIC PERIOD
- Recovery - Return to interpandemic period.
