Swine Flu, What Are The Precautions To Take And What Treatments Are Available
We are today (more and more|more} at risk from the various mutations of the flu virus. First we had scares over the bird flu virus, and recently swine flu has become a major worry. Swine flu is of more concern than bird flu was. It was feared that bird flu could mutate into a form that could infect humans, apart from a few cases, this has not materialized. Swine flu is of much more worry, the swine flu virus is able to pass from human to human making it a dangerous threat.
Swine flu, or to be more correct 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 is common but is rarely fatal. Swine flu has not normally infected humans, although it can happen occasionally.
Swine flu is extremely dangerous as it is a new type of the flu virus. It is dangerous because no one has been in contact with this particular strain before, and therefore no one has built up any immunity to this type of flu. It is our inbuilt immunity that prevents diseases from becoming life threatening, with no inbuilt immunity to this strain of the virus we are in serious danger from the virus. Absolutely everyone is vulnerable, including healthy adults and teenagers as well as children and the elderly.
The real worry is what occurs when winter arrives. This is the period when the swine flu virus may spread quickly causing a flu pandemic with possibly over half of the population becoming infected.
Swine flu symptoms are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu. These can include a sudden,sudden onset of a fever, cough or a shortness of breath. Other symptoms can include headaches, sore throat, muscle aches, chills, sneezing, runny nose, loss of appetite and tiredness.
Precautions First, anyone with cold or flu symptoms should to take a few easy, but most important precautions. The flu virus is spread between humans from the droplets from the nose and mouth when someone coughs or sneezes. This is how viruses such as swine flu are passed from person to person. Holding your nose and mouth with your hands when you cough or sneeze isn’t enough. The virus then live on your hands, then everything you touch afterwards becomes contaminated. Anyone touching the same place as you will pick up the flu virus and will then risk becoming infected. Therefore, always use a handkerchief or tissue. A tissue is far better, this should then be disposed of as soon as you can, try to use a fresh tissue if you cough or sneeze again.
Currently there are no vaccinations to prevent anyone catching swine flu. The swine flu virus is a new strain of virus and is not the same as seasonal flu. Therefore the vaccination against the usual ordinary flu is not effective against the swine flu virus. Once the strain of flu virus causing swine flu is identified, it will take several months to manufacture. By this time, it may have mutated into a different strain.
Currently the only effective treatment against swine flu is Tamiflu. Tamiflu isn’t guaranteed to prevent flu, but when someone has been exposed to another individual who has the flu virus, Tamiflu can help to stop the virus making a person sick. If Tamiflu is taken within 2 days of developing flu, it can help to stop the virus spreading throughout the body, reducing the symptoms and associated risk. Governments worldwide are stocking up on Tamiflu, these supplies will naturally be used to treat key workers and individuals before the general population.
You can buy Tamiflu online, so if the situation occurs you can treat yourself and your family as much as possible. It cannot be emphasized strongly enough, Tamiflu has to be taken as soon as possible if it is to be effective, any delays in treatment will greatly reduce the effectiveness of Tamiflu. If you think you may be at a higher risk because of 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 prudent to buy Tamiflu before the winter flu season begins. If you live in the country and don’t have close contact with many people then of course there will be less chance of getting the flu virus.
Also, remember that swine flu is a worldwide 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 large 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 journals concerned with swine flu. Nothing in this post is intended to be or should be construed to be medical advice. For medical advice you are advised to consult with your doctor.
