Question
Am I more at risk of swine flu because I am HIV-positive?
I am a flight attendant on international flights and I am HIV-positive as is my partner. I am not on meds, He is on Sustiva+Truvada.
My question is am I more at risk of getting Swine flu because of my HIV status and if so would it be worse, I also fear I may pick it up and pass it onto my partner. We have both had flu jabs last November.
I travel to all the affected areas, although I am not due to go to the states again until the end of may. any advice you can give will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time and this excellent resource.
1 May 2009 • Related: All topics, General
Answer
Hi
This is a subject that is changing daily. Currently cases are low and the hope is that this particular ‘flu virus does not spread further.
HIV-positive are generally only at a higher risk from flu if their CD4 count is low. If you and you partner have CD4 counts over 350 and certainly if over 500, this is considered a ‘normal’ level and so risk are similar.
Although it is recommend for HIV-positive people to have a flu vaccination each year, this will not offer protection against the new version of swine flu.
If cases remain low and this virus is contained you shouldn’t worry, but routine precautions against catching flu will limit your chance of catching any virus.
These include:
• covering nose and mouth when sneezing with a tissue and throwing the tissue away after
• washing your hands with soap and water, especially after sneezing
• cleaning hands with alcohol-based cleaners
• avoiding close contact with sick people (this is difficult in the period before people have symptoms)
• avoid touching hands, nose and eyes with unwashed hands
• if you have flu, then stay home, avoid contact with others to limit any spread.
Source: CDC and online Swine Flu lecture
This online lecture is available in English, Spanish, Russian, Farsi, Arabic and Vietnamese.
If cases increase then people employed in certain jobs – mainly health care workers – may be recommended to have certain precautions, perhaps including access to antivirals like oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) in case they have symptoms. If your employer knows about your HIV status, this may, or may not, be something that is taken into account for your own health risks (ie you may be advised not to work on routes flying to high risk locations for example).
A detailed article on swine flu and HIV by Tim Horn is at this link.
The US Centre for Disease Control information, on which some of that report is based, is at this link.
Guidance from the WHO for HIV-positive people is at this link.
Answer: Simon Collins