Swine Flu, What Are The Precautions To Take And Which Treatments Are Available
July 4, 2009
We are today (more and more|more} vulnerable from the various strains of the flu virus. First we had alarms over bird flu, but recently swine flu has become the latest worry. Swine flu is of more concern than bird flu ever was. It was feared that bird flu may mutate into a strain that would effect humans, apart from a few cases, this situation did not materialize. Swine flu is a bigger worry, the swine flu virus has the ability to spread between humans making swine flu a dangerous threat.
Swine flu, or to be more correct influenza A (H1N1), is a disease that effects pigs, it is the result of a flu virus. Outbreaks of swine flu in pigs is not uncommon but is only rarely fatal. Swine flu has not normally infected humans, but it can occasionally happen.
Swine flu is very dangerous because it is a new type of the flu virus. This means that no one has been in contact with this particular strain before, and therefore no one has developed any immunity to this flu strain. It is our inbuilt immunity that stops diseases from becoming life threatening, with no inbuilt immunity to this virus we are at the mercy of the virus. Everyone is vulnerable, including healthy adults and teenagers as well as young children and the elderly.
The real concern is what will happen when the winter flu season arrives. This is the period when the flu virus may quickly spread causing a flu pandemic with the potential for over half of the population becoming infected.
Swine flu symptoms are similar to the symptoms of ordinary flu. These can 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, loss of appetite and tiredness.
Precautions First, anyone with cold or flu symptoms needs to take a few simple, but most important precautions. The flu virus is spread between humans by 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. Holding your face with your hands when you cough or sneeze isn’t enough. The germs simply sit on your hands, then everything you handle afterwards becomes contaminated. Anyone then touching the same place as you will pick up the germs and will then risk becoming infected themselves. Therefore, always use a handkerchief or a tissue. A tissue is better, this should then be disposed of as soon as you can, try to use a fresh tissue if you sneeze or cough again.
Currently there are no vaccinations to prevent anyone catching swine flu. Swine flu is a new type of virus and isn’t the same as ordinary flu. Therefore the vaccination against the usual seasonal flu is not effective against swine flu. Even when the type of flu virus causing swine flu is identified, it will then take many months to produce. By which time, it may well have changed into a different strain again.
Currently the only real effective precaution against swine flu is Tamiflu. Tamiflu isn’t guaranteed to stop flu, but when a person has been exposed to another individual who has the flu virus, Tamiflu can help to stop the virus making a person ill. If Tamiflu is taken within two days of developing flu, it can help stop the virus spreading throughout the body, thereby reducing the symptoms and risk associated. Governments worldwide are stockpiling Tamiflu, the supplies will first 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 treat yourself and your family. It can’t be emphasized strongly enough, Tamiflu has to be taken as early as possible to be effective, any delays in treating the flu virus will reduce the effectiveness of Tamiflu. If you are 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 office, then it may be prudent to buy Tamiflu before the winter flu season starts. If you happen live in the country and do not have a close contact with many people then your risk will be lower.
Remember that swine flu is a worldwide 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 required, Tamiflu is the most effective treatment for the swine flu virus.
Disclaimer: This post is based on information freely available in the popular media and medical articles concerned with swine flu. Nothing in this posting is meant to be or should be construed to be medical advice. For medical advice you are encouraged to consult with your own physician.
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