With 12 deaths in the state resulting from swine flu, the spread of the virus, also known as H1N1, has increased rapidly nationwide and in Richmond County.

To better inform the public and answer any burning questions, Sandhills Regional Medical Center hosted a “Lunch and Learn” program Thursday afternoon at the hospital.

About 25 people attended the 12 p.m. program and many had questions regarding the virus and the vaccine.

“Is this something we’ll have to do annually?”

“If we get the shot is there a guarantee we won’t get sick?”

“Is this going to be a year-round issue?”

Those are just some of the questions participants asked County Health Department Director Tommy Jarrell and Sandhills Regional’s Infection Control Nurse Kitt Goodwin during Thursday’s program.

Goodwin said the H1N1 flu shot will not be an annual shot because the Centers for Disease Control is trying to implement parts of the H1N1 vaccine into the regular seasonal flu vaccine. And just because someone gets the H1N1 vaccine does not mean they won’t get sick, she said.

“No there’s no guarantee because it depends on when you get the shot and your immune system,” Goodwin said. “It takes two weeks for your body to develop antibodies. The longer you wait to get the shot the more of a chance you have to get sick.”

And as for H1N1 being a year-round concern, the answer is yes, because it’s unclear how the virus will manifest, but the CDC and Health Departments are staying on top of any changes and advancements with the virus, officials said.

Jarrell said with any pandemic there are always peaks and right now we may be in a lull, with a peak coming up during the holiday season.

H1N1 in a fast spreading virus because it spreads through a cough or a sneeze. If you develop a fever, cough, sore throat, headaches, body aches, fatigue, chills, stuffy nose, or particularly diarrhea and vomiting, you may have the virus so it’s important to stay home and get your fever down. Also, get to a doctor.

Jarrell said doctor’s offices aren’t testing for H1N1 because the test is a blood test and has to be sent off to a lab for results, so when a patient comes in with the above symptoms, they are given a regular flu test and if it shows up positive, they are treated as if they have swine flu because the regular flu season hasn’t kicked in yet.

“There’s no magical treatment for the flu,” Jarrell said. “ You need to get the fever down and rest, it just takes time, about three to five days.”

The flu has been treated typically with Tamiflu but people are developing a resistance now so they’re being treated for the fever instead, Jarrell said.

Jarrell said if someone has a fever higher than 100 degrees, they should stay home from work, church, etc., and said it won’t be safe for them to go back out until 24 hours after they’ve stopped taking medication for the fever and maintained a normal temperature.

“We’ve had people in the county who have really fought this,” Goodwin said. “And it’s hard for us because they’re younger and perfectly healthy, it just takes hold really quickly.”

There are two types of the H1N1 vaccine that will be available — a live vaccine, which is the nose swab and a “dead” vaccine, which is administered through a shot in the arm. Both will first be given to pregnant women, children, health care workers and those with pre-existing medical conditions. Children aged 9 and younger will need two doses of the vaccine, and people 10 and older will only require one dose.

So far the only symptoms from the vaccine have been vomiting, nausea and pain at the injection site, much like the seasonal flu shot.

Jarrell advised anyone who has not had their seasonal flu shot to get one, and soon, because the health department’s supply will be gone by Saturday. The county just started receiving shipments of the H1N1 vaccine and will begin administering those to the groups most at risk first. Jarrell said they’re start getting more shipments in the coming weeks.

If you are allergic to eggs or have a sensitivity to latex you shouldn’t get either flu shot, and if you have asthma, you shouldn’t get the nasal “live” vaccine for the H1N1 virus.

Rules to live by as this virus continues to be a threat include washing your hands or using hand sanitizer as often as possible, using your arm to block your cough or sneeze, avoid touching your eyes and mouth, avoid children if possible because they’ve proven to be the largest at-risk group for the virus, and remember the three-foot rule — if you’re within three feet of someone, you can be exposed to the virus, any virus. If you are sick, stay home, wear a mask, or scarf to cover your mouth if you have to be around people, and get plenty of rest. Sanitize surfaces that are often used by others such as telephones, keyboards, countertops, doorknobs etc.

For more information about the H1N1 vaccine and when it will be available, call the health department at 997-8465.