Swine Flu, What Are The Precautions To Take And Treatments Available
We are today (more and more|more} vulnerable from the various strains of the flu virus. initially we had scares over bird flu, but recently swine flu has become a latest worry. Swine flu is more serious than bird flu was. It was a worry that bird flu may change into a strain that could infect humans, apart from a handful of cases, this situation did not materialize. Swine flu is of much more worry, the swine flu virus has the ability to spread between humans making it a dangerous threat.
Swine flu (influenza A (H1N1) is a respiratory disease that infects pigs, it is the result of a flu virus. Outbreaks of swine flu in pigs is not uncommon and is only rarely fatal. In the past, swine flu doesn’t normally infect humans, although it can occasionally happen.
Swine flu is extremely dangerous because it is a new type of the flu virus. This means that no one has been in contact with this particular type of flu previously, and therefore no one has developed any immunity to this type of flu. It is our inbuilt immunity that stops diseases from becoming life threatening, with no inbuilt immunity to swine flu we are in serious danger from the virus. Absolutely everyone is vulnerable, this includes healthy adults as well as children and the elderly.
The real concern is what occurs when winter arrives. This is the period when the flu virus may spread quickly causing a flu pandemic with the possibility of over half the population being affected.
Swine flu symptoms are similar to the symptoms of ordinary flu. These include a sudden,sudden onset of a fever, cough or a shortness of breath. Other symptoms that may present themselves include headaches, sore throat, muscle aches, chills, sneezing, a runny nose, appetite loss and tiredness.
So what precautions can we take. First, anyone with cold or flu symptoms should to take a few easy, but very important precautions. The virus is passed between humans by the small droplets from the mouth and nose when someone coughs or sneezes. This is the way viruses are spread from person to person. Holding your face with your hands when you sneeze or cough is not enough. The germs then live on your hands, and everything you touch afterwards becomes contaminated. Anyone touching the same place as you will pick up the virus and will then risk becoming infected themselves. Therefore, always use a handkerchief or tissue. A tissue is better, this should be disposed of safely as soon as you can, and always use a new tissue if you cough or sneeze again.
At the moment there are no vaccinations to prevent anyone catching the swine flu virus. The swine flu virus is a new type of virus and isn’t the same as seasonal flu. Therefore the vaccination against the usual seasonal flu isn’t effective against the swine flu virus. Even when the type of flu causing swine flu is identified, it will take several months to produce. By this time, it may well have changed into a different strain again.
Currently the only real effective precaution against the swine flu virus is Tamiflu. Tamiflu is not guaranteed to stop flu, but when someone has been exposed to another individual who is carrying the swine flu virus, Tamiflu can help to stop the virus making a person ill. If Tamiflu is taken within 2 days of contracting the flu virus, it can help stop the virus spreading throughout the body, thereby reducing the symptoms and risk associated. Governments are stocking up on Tamiflu, but these supplies will be used to treat important workers and individuals before treating the general population.
You can buy Tamiflu online, so if the situation arises you can protect yourself and your family as much as possible. Although it can’t be emphasized strongly enough, Tamiflu needs to be taken as soon as possible to be effective, delays in treatment will greatly reduce the effectiveness of Tamiflu. If you are at a greater risk due to your situation, such as For example living in a busy city with a large population or working in a busy office, then it may be wise to buy Tamiflu before the flu season begins. If you live in the country and do not have a close contact with many people then you will be at a lower risk.
Remember that swine flu is a global problem. If a pandemic outbreak becomes global it is possible that supplies of Tamiflu may be diminished and may not be enough to meet a large worldwide demand.
Until a vaccine is found and manufactured in the quantities needed, Tamiflu is the most effective treatment for swine flu.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information that is freely available in the popular media and medical journals concerned with swine flu. Nothing in this posting is meant to be or should be construed to be any sort of medical advice. For medical advice you should consult your own physician.
This entry was posted on Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at 3:29 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.