Health Links

Please Note: The links on this page take you outside the Mason General Hospital Website, and Mason General Hospital cannot be responsible for the content or freshness of data there contained.

Swine Flu (H1N1): What you need to know

Mason General Hospital and clinics are working closely with local and state health officials to provide you with up to date, accurate Swine Flu (H1N1) information. You can be assured that our staff is prepared and on alert.

What is swine flu?

• Influenza A viruses causes illness in humans and many animals.
• Some influenza A viruses are adapted to pigs and cause respiratory illness in them, and so have been called “swine flu” or H1N1.
• Human symptoms are similar to the symptoms of regular human influenza that happens every year. Those include fever, cough and sore throat. In addition, fatigue, lack of appetite, runny nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea have been reported.
• The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has determined that the swine flu virus causing mild illness in some states is the same strain as the virus causing an outbreak of respiratory illness among humans in some areas of Mexico.

Individuals are advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness.

Useful H1N1 Links

• Basic Information about Swine Flu H1N1 Click here
• Good Health Habits Can Help Stop Germs Click here
• CDC Swine Flu Pandemic Info Click here
• WA State DOH Swine Flu Facts - Spanish | English
• MGH Patient, Family, and Visitor Swine Flu Information Click here

If you would like to talk with a health care professional regarding your concerns on H1N1, please feel free to contact the hospital at (360) 426-1611, in Allyn (360) 275-8614.

Pandemic Outbreak or Avian Flu:

Avian influenza is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These influenza viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually donot get sick from them. However, avian influenza is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them.

Usually, “avian influenza virus” refers to influenza A viruses found chiefly in birds, but infections with these viruses can occur in humans.

Visit the following links to learn more about avian influenza:

• new scientist
• US Drug Administration
• www.pandemicflu.gov
• www.doh.wa.gov/topics/antibiotics/MRSA.htm

Healthlinks:

ALS (Information related to the care of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's Disease)

• http://www.alsa.org (ALS Association)

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: Information related to the care of Alzheimers and other neurological disorders

• http://www.alz.org (Alzheimer's Association)
• http://www.theribbon.com/gatherplace (The Gathering Place)
• http://www.caregiving-solutions.com

ARTHRITIS: Information related to the care of Osteoarthritis

• http://www.arthritis.org (Arthritis Foundation)

ASTHMA: Information related to the care of Asthma and other lung disorders.

• http://www.lungusa.org (American Lung Association)

CANCER: Information related to the care of various cancers and related disorders.

• http://www.cancer.org (American Cancer Society)
• http://www.nci.nih.gov (National Cancer Institute)

DENTAL HEALTH: Information related to the care of dental disorders

• http://www.agd.org/consumer/index.html (Academy of General Dentistry)
• http://www.ada.org/public/index.asp (American Dental Association)

DIABETES: Information related to the care of diabetes including reducing risk factors, the newest insulins and dietary guidelines.

• http://www.diabetes.org (American Diabetes Association)
• http://www.jdrf.org (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International)

DRUG INFORMATION:Answers to your questions related to prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

• http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/default.htm (Food and Drug Administration of the US)

EPILEPSY: Information related to the care of Epilepsy and other neurological disorders.

• http://www.efa.org (Epilepsy Foundation of America)

FLU NEWS: Information and resources include flu-related updates, fact sheets, patient education materials, posters and more (including translated materials)

• http://www.doh.wa.gov/FluNews/
• newly revised and expanded Pandemic Influenza Web site is now up at: www.doh.wa.gov/panflu. The site includes an overview of the Department of Health's pandemic flu plan.

GLAUCOMA: Information related to the care of Glaucoma and other visual disturbances.

• http://www.glaucoma.org (Glaucoma Research Foundation)

HEART DISEASE: Information related to the care of heart disease including risk reduction, recognition of symptoms and current treatments

• http://www.americanheart.org (American Heart Association)
• http://www.mendedhearts.org (Mended Hearts)

HIV/AIDS: Information related to the care of HIV infections including risk reduction.

• http://www.aids.org (AIDS.org)

LEUKEMIA: Information related to the care of various forms of leukemias.

• http://www.leukemia.org (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society)

MEDICAL INFORMATION, MEDICAL DICTIONARY, HEALTH TOPICS:

• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus (US Government Health Information Resource)

MS (Information related to the care of MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS):

• http://www.nmss.org (National MS Society)
• http://www.msworld.org (MS World)

NUTRITION HEALTH: Information related to diet, exercise and good preventative health strategies.

• http://www.eatright.org (Amercian Dietetic Association)

INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Information related to the care of various infectious diseases such as influenza, pneumonia, AIDs, etc...

• http://www.health.gov (US Public Health)

LUNG DISORDERS: Information related to the care of Asthma, COPD...

• http://www.lungusa.org (American Lung Association)

PAIN: Information related to the care of acute and chronic pain.

• http://www.painfoundation.org (American Pain Foundation)
• http://www.ampainsoc.org (American Pain Society)

PARKINSON'S DISEASE: Information related to the care of Parkinson's and other neurological disorders.

• http://www.parkinson.org (National Parkinson's Foundation)
• http://www.michaeljfox.org (Michael J. Fox Foundation)

SPANISH HEALTH INFORMATION:

• http://www.healthfinder.gov/espanol (Healthfinder)

SPINAL CORD INJURY: Information related to the care of spinal cord injuries and other forms of neurological trauma.

• http://www.spinalcord.org (National Spinal Cord Injury Association)

STROKE: Information related to the care of stroke, from prevention strategies and symptom recognition to the most current treatments available. 

• http://www.strokeassociation.org (American Stroke Association)

GENERAL HEALTH INFORMATION "Search Engine":

• http://www.health.gov/nhic/newsrch.htm (National Health Information Center)

If you need further assistance, have health related questions or are unable to find a suitable health information resource please call 360-427-3609 or e-mail Tom DiDonna, RN tdidonna@masongeneral.com