As stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): “More communities are being affected by 2009 H1N1 influenza in fall/winter 2009-2010 than were in spring/summer 2009.” 2009 H1N1 influenza – commonly known as the swine flu – has been designated a global pandemic by both the CDC and the World Health Organization. Stopping its spread has become a chief goal of medical organizations; one recommendation is the use of HEPA filters.

Swine Flu Symptoms and Duration

The CDC states that swine flu symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, body aches, fatigue, chills, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Between 10 and 50% of cases may not include fever, which can make diagnosis from symptoms difficult. The virus incubates between 1 and 4 days, 2 days on average. People start being contagious the day before the flu’s onset and it may last from 5 to 7 days. Some people – especially children and those with compromised immune symptoms – may be contagious for longer than that. Generally, the higher the fever, the more contagious the person is. Thus, one ill person can infect other members of his or her household for more than a week, which makes managing the spread of the virus quite important.

How Swine Flu Spreads

The swine flu spreads from person-to-person, most often through airborne droplets expelled when the infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets travel only short distances before falling onto surfaces – generally between 3 and 6 feet. At greater than 5 microns in size, on average most droplets are comparatively large. The biggest threat of exposure to the virus is through the direct inhalation of these droplets. This occurs when uninfected people maintain close quarters with infected individuals. The virus may also be transmitted by touching surfaces on which droplets have settled and then touching the eyes, nose, or mouth. Transmission by sub-micron droplets, also known as droplet nuclei, has not been ruled out. Sub-micron droplets may stay suspended in the air for longer periods and may also travel further.

CDC Recommendations

In April 2009, the CDC issued its report, “Interim Guidance for Infection Control for Care of Patients with Confirmed or Suspected Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection in a Healthcare Setting.” This document set out guidelines for healthcare professionals. Recommendations included the use of masks, separating those with respiratory symptoms, and droplet control measures. In the latter case, healthcare professionals were advised to use N-95 or above respirators.

The CDC advised that patients with suspected or confirmed cases should be housed in airborne infection isolation rooms – single-patient rooms that reduce the spread and escape of infectious agents. These rooms are at negative pressure relative to surrounding areas and have between 6 and 12 air changes an hour. Air flowing from isolation rooms is either ejected outside or filtered with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters before any recirculation. The CDC also recommends utilizing portable HEPA filtration devices to further reduce the concentration of infectious particles.

IQAir Purifiers in Healthcare Settings

IQAir produces air purifiers that satisfy these CDC recommendations for healthcare settings, including the required filtration efficiency and number of air changes. They also offer accessories that can create negative-pressure systems. Medical institutions around the world already use IQAir purifiers to control airborne infections. The Hong Kong Hospital Authority designated IQAir as the only provider of mobile air filtration systems for the rooms of SARS patients, protecting patients, their visitors, and staff. More than 150 healthcare centers in Hong Kong are outfitted with IQAir filtration systems, which are used to control the spread of infectious diseases like SARS, MRSA, tuberculosis, and the avian flu.

Personal HEPA Air Purifiers

Since the CDC recommends using portable HEPA filtration systems to control the spread of the swine flu in hospitals, such devices may also have uses in people’s homes. Individual HEPA air purifiers are available to the general public. Though studies have yet to determine the benefits of using HEPA filters to control the spread of the virus outside of healthcare settings, they may still be helpful for those who want to control household airborne contaminants. HEPA filters remove 99.97% of airborne particles .3 microns in diameter; some even trap particles smaller than .3 microns. Given the wide use of IQAir portable air filtration systems to reduce the spread of viruses, those concerned with the spread of the swine flu should consider a personal IQAir air purifier for their homes.

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