Message from the Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department:

H1N1 Influenza Virus (formally known as the "swine flu") is a viral infection of the respiratory tract much like regular human influenza or seasonal flu. The H1N1 virus affects all age groups like the seasonal influenza. Symptoms start suddenly with fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting. The H1N1 virus is spread from person to person by droplets from the nose, throat and mouth through sneezing, coughing and speaking. You cannot become infected by eating pork or pork products.

Health officials urge all persons with mild flu-like illness to stay home. Children and adolescents with fever should not go to day care or school. Adults with fever should not go to work until their fever has gone away for 24 hours (without use of fever reducing medicine). Individuals with severe illness, such as difficulty breathing, should contact their health care provider. Schools, businesses and other organizations are urged to plan for the flu.

To decrease chances of getting, or spreading the flu, the department recommends taking these steps to avoid the flu.

Again, this is a rapidly evolving situation and the Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department is asking people to be alert for changes in our guidance.