Swine Flu And Bird Flu, What Precautions You Can Take And Which Treatments Are Available June 20, 2009
Today we are (more and more|more} at risk from the various mutations of the flu virus. First we had alarms over the bird flu virus, but recently swine flu has become the latest worry. Swine flu is of more concern than bird flu was. It was a worry that bird flu may change into a form that would effect humans, but for a handful of cases, this did not materialize. Swine flu is a greater worry, swine flu is able to spread from human to human making swine flu a dangerous threat.
Swine flu, or to be more correct influenza A (H1N1), is a disease that infects pigs and is caused by a flu virus. Swine flu outbreaks in pigs is is common but is rarely fatal. In the past, swine flu has not normally infected humans, but it can occasionally happen.
Swine flu is particularly dangerous as it is a new type of virus. It is dangerous because no one has been in contact with this particular strain before, and therefore no one has developed any immunity to this strain of flu. It is our inbuilt immunity that stops diseases from becoming life threatening, with no immunity to swine flu we are at the mercy of the virus. Everyone is vulnerable, this includes healthy adults as well as children and the elderly.
The real concern is what occurs when the winter flu season arrives. It is then when the flu virus may quickly spread causing a flu pandemic with possibly over half the population becoming infected.
The symptoms of swine flu are very similar to the symptoms of ordinary flu. These include a sudden,sudden onset of fever, cough or a shortness of breath. Other symptoms that may present themselves include headache, sore throat, aching muscles, chills, sneezing, a runny nose, loss of appetite and tiredness.
So what precautions can we take. Anyone with cold or flu symptoms should to take a few easy, but very important precautions. The flu virus is passed between humans from the small droplets from the mouth and nose when someone coughs or sneezes. This is the way viruses such as swine flu are passed from person to person. Holding your nose and mouth with your hands when you sneeze or cough is not enough. The virus then live on your hands, then everything you touch afterwards becomes contaminated. Anyone then touching anything you touched will pick up the flu virus and then risks becoming infected themselves. Therefore, always use a handkerchief or a tissue. A tissue is better, this should be disposed of safely as soon as you can, try to use a new tissue if you cough or sneeze again.
Currently there are no vaccinations to prevent anyone catching the swine flu virus. Swine flu is a new strain of virus and is not the same as ordinary flu. Therefore the vaccination against the normal seasonal flu is not effective against the swine flu virus. Once the type of flu causing swine flu is identified, it will take many months to produce. By this time, it may well have mutated into a different strain.
The only real effective precaution against swine flu is Tamiflu. Tamiflu isn’t guaranteed to stop flu, but when someone has been exposed to another individual who is carrying the swine flu virus, Tamiflu can help prevent the virus making a person ill. If Tamiflu is taken within two days of contracting the flu virus, it can help stop the virus spreading throughout the body, thereby reducing the symptoms and associated risk. Governments worldwide are stocking up on Tamiflu, the supplies will naturally be used to treat important workers and individuals before the general population.
You can however buy Tamiflu online, so if the situation occurs you can treat yourself and your family. Although it cannot be emphasized enough, Tamiflu has to be taken as early as possible if it is to be effective, any delays in treatment will reduce the effectiveness of Tamiflu. If you think you may be at a greater risk because of your situation, such as For example living in a city with a large population or for example working in a busy open plan office, then it may be wise to buy Tamiflu before the flu season starts. If you happen live in the country and don’t have close contact with many people then of course 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 not be enough to meet a large global demand.
Until a vaccine is found and manufactured in the quantities needed, Tamiflu is the most effective treatment for swine flu.
Disclaimer: This posting is based on information that is freely available in the press and medical articles related to swine flu. Nothing herein is meant to be or should be taken to be any sort of medical advice. For medical advice you should consult your healthcare worker.