Swine Flu, What Are The Precautions You Can Take And Treatments Available
We are today (more and more|more} vulnerable from various mutations of the flu virus. First we had scares over the bird flu virus, and more recently swine flu has become a major concern. Swine flu is more serious than bird flu was. It was a worry that bird flu could mutate into a strain that could infect humans, but for a few cases, this situation has not materialized. Swine flu is a greater concern, the swine flu virus is able to pass between humans making it a very serious threat.
Swine flu (influenza A (H1N1) is a disease that infects pigs, it is caused by a flu virus. Swine flu outbreaks in pigs is is common but is 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, therefore no one has developed any immunity to this strain of flu. It is our immunity that stops diseases from becoming life threatening, with no immunity to swine flu we are in serious danger from the virus. Absolutely everyone is vulnerable, this includes healthy adults as well as young children and the elderly.
The real concern is what will happen when the winter flu season arrives. It is then when the swine flu virus may spread quickly causing a flu pandemic with possibly over half the population being affected.
Swine flu symptoms are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu. These include a sudden,sudden onset of fever, cough or a shortness of breath. Other symptoms that may present themselves include headaches, sore throat, aching muscles, chills, sneezing, runny nose, appetite loss and tiredness.
Precautions to take Anyone with the symptoms of a cold or flu should to take a few simple, but most important precautions. The flu virus is passed between humans from the small droplets from the nose and mouth when someone coughs or sneezes. This is the way viruses such as swine flu are spread from person to person. Covering your nose and mouth with your hands when you sneeze or cough isn’t enough. The virus then live on your hands, then everything you handle afterwards becomes contaminated. Anyone then touching anything you touched will pick up the germs and then risks becoming infected. Always use a handkerchief or a tissue. A tissue is better, this should then be disposed of safely as soon as you can, and always use a new tissue if you sneeze or cough again.
Currently there are no vaccinations that stop anyone catching swine flu. Swine flu is a new strain of virus and is not the same as seasonal flu. Therefore the vaccination against the normal ordinary flu is not effective against swine flu. Once the type of flu virus causing swine flu is identified, it will take several months to produce. By this time, it may well have changed into a different strain.
Currently the only effective treatment against swine flu is Tamiflu. Tamiflu isn’t guaranteed to stop flu, but when a person has been exposed to another individual who is carrying the swine flu virus, Tamiflu can help prevent the virus making a person sick. If Tamiflu is taken within 2 days of developing flu, it can help stop the virus spreading throughout the body, thereby reducing the symptoms and risk associated. Governments are stockpiling Tamiflu, but the supplies will first be used to treat key workers and individuals before treating the general population.
You can buy Tamiflu online, so if the situation arises you can treat yourself and your family. It can’t be emphasized enough, Tamiflu needs to be taken as soon as possible to be effective, delays in treatment will reduce the effectiveness of Tamiflu. If you think you may be at a higher risk due to your situation, such as For example living in a busy city with a large population or for example working in a busy office, then it may be prudent to buy Tamiflu before the winter flu season starts. If you live in the country and don’t have a close contact with many people then of course you will be at a lower risk.
Remember that swine flu is a global problem. It is possible that supplies of Tamiflu may be diminished and may not be enough to meet a huge global demand.
Until a vaccine is found and produced in the quantities needed, Tamiflu is the most effective treatment for the swine flu virus.
Disclaimer: This post is based on information that is freely available in the press and medical articles 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 are advised to consult with your own doctor.
Filed Under: Contributors
