Flu Information

2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus

What is Novel Influenza A (H1N1)?
Novel H1N1 (swine flu) is a new influenza (flu) virus that was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. The new virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal flu viruses spread. A flu pandemic occurs when a new influenza A virus emerges for which there is little or no immunity in the human population; the virus causes serious illness and spreads easily from person-to-person worldwide. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that a global pandemic of H1N1 flu is underway.

How does H1N1 and other flu viruses spread?
Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with flu. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something – such as a surface or object – with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

What are the signs and symptoms of the flu virus?
The symptoms of flu virus include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Many people who have been infected with the H1N1 virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Severe illnesses and death have occurred as a result of illness associated with influenza viruses.

What is the Public Health Department doing?
The Imperial County Public Health Department coordinated a number of vaccination clinics in Imperial County in the fall with the assistance of partner agencies. In addition, information on flu prevention to local school, clinics and the public has been made available. The Public Health Department conducts year-round monitoring of influenza-like illness at sentinel clinic sites in the county. A surveillance system is also in place at both local hospitals to monitor severe influenza-like illness among hospitalized patients. This provides health-care providers with up-to-date information about the type of viruses that are circulating in our community to assist with treatment decisions.

View map below of all the H1N1 vaccination clinics conducted in Imperial County. Click on marker to view address and number of vaccines given at each site.

View H1N1 Vaccine Distribution in IC in a larger map