Swine Flu, What Precautions To Take And What Treatments Are Available
We are today (more and more|more} at risk from various strains of the flu virus. initially we had alarms over the bird flu virus, and recently swine flu has become the 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, but for a handful of cases, this did not materialize. Swine flu is a larger concern, the swine flu virus has the ability to pass between humans making it a dangerous threat.
Swine flu, or to be more correct influenza A (H1N1), is a respiratory disease that infects pigs and is caused by a flu virus. Outbreaks of swine flu in pigs is is common and is rarely fatal. In the past, swine flu has not normally infected humans, although it can happen occasionally.
Swine flu is extremely dangerous as it is a new strain of the flu virus. The problem is no one has been in contact with this particular type of flu before, therefore no one has built up any immunity to this type of flu. It is our immunity that stops diseases from becoming life threatening, with no inbuilt immunity to this strain of the virus we are at the mercy of the virus. Everyone is vulnerable, this includes healthy adults and teenagers as well as young children and the elderly.
The real concern is what will happen when winter arrives. It is then when the virus may quickly spread causing a flu pandemic with the potential for over half of 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 can include headache, sore throat, aching muscles, chills, sneezing, a runny nose, appetite loss and tiredness.
Precautions to take First, anyone with cold or flu symptoms should to take a few easy, but most important precautions. The virus is passed between humans by the 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. Covering your face with your hands when you cough or sneeze isn’t enough. The virus simply sit on your hands, then everything you handle afterwards becomes contaminated. Anyone then touching anything you touched will pick up the virus and then risks becoming infected. Always use a handkerchief or 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 to stop anyone catching the swine flu virus. The swine flu virus is a new type of virus and isn’t the same as ordinary flu. The vaccination against the usual seasonal flu isn’t effective against swine flu. Even when the type of flu causing swine flu is identified, it will take many months to produce. By which time, it may well have mutated into a different strain.
The only effective precaution against swine flu is Tamiflu. Tamiflu is not guaranteed to stop flu, but when someone has been exposed to another individual who has 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, Tamiflu can help stop the virus spreading throughout the body, reducing the symptoms and risk associated. Governments worldwide are stockpiling Tamiflu, but these supplies will 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. Although it cannot be emphasized enough, Tamiflu has to be taken as soon as possible to be effective, delays in treating the flu virus will reduce the effectiveness of Tamiflu. If you are at a higher risk because of your situation, such as For example living in a busy city with a large population or for example working in a busy open plan office, then it may be prudent to buy Tamiflu before the winter flu season begins. If you happen live in the country and don’t have close contact with many people then of course 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 great enough to meet a huge global demand.
Until a vaccine is discovered and produced in the quantities needed, Tamiflu is the most effective treatment for swine flu.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information freely available in the press and medical articles concerned with swine flu. Nothing herein is intended to be or should be construed to be any sort of medical advice. For medical advice you should consult your doctor.