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Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by the type A viruses. People
would normally not get the swine flu. In the past, swine flu virus was not normally passed human to human.
Recently the Center for Disease Control determined that this swine influenza A(H1N1)
is contagious, and is spreading human to human. This raises a level of concern for Public Health Officials.
THERE IS NO NEED TO PANIC. But it is important to know the facts and how to best protect yourselves and your loved ones. That is the reason this information is being passed along to you.
As of 4-29-2009 the U.S. human cases of swine flu were reported as follows: Arizona
1 case, California 14 cases, Indiana 1 case, Kansas 2 cases, Massachusetts 2 cases,
Michigan 2 cases, Nevada 1 case, New York city 51 cases, Ohio 1 case, Texas 16
cases with one death.
The symptoms of swine flu are similar to seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore
throat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. In the past, severe illness including pneumonia and respiratory failure have caused deaths. Like the seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions..
The swine flu is spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing by
those with the virus. Sometimes people become infected by touching something with flu virus on it and then touching their mouth or nose. The flu virus can live for up to 2 hours on some surfaces such as tables, doorknobs, etc... Frequent hand washing and disinfecting of these surfaces will help reduce the spread of illness.
There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause
respiratory illnesses and illnesses like swine influenza:
*Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the
tissue in the trash after you use it. When you do have to sneeze or cough, if you do
not have a tissue, use your upper sleeve not y our hands.
*Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after
you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. If using a gel,
rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work, the alcohol
in it kills the germs on your hands.
*Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spead this way.
*Try and avoid close contact with sick people.
*Try to eat nutritious foods, drink pleanty of fluids, and get pleanty of rest.
*If you get sick with flu like symptoms CDC recommends that you stay home from
work or school and limit your contact with others to keep from infecting them. YOu
should also contact your health care provider so they can order testing and/or
treatment.
Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before they show
symptoms, and up to 7 days after becoming sick. With children, that time is increased
to approximately 10 days.
There is presently no vaccine available for swine flu and it will take approximately
4-6 months to develop one.
There are medications called antivirals that can be used to lessen the severity of the
symptoms of flu and, in some cases, may prevent others from getting the virus. They
may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, these medications need to
be started as soon as you become ill.
Like seasonal flu, swine flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe.
You can NOT get swine influenza from eating pork. Eating properly handled and
cooked pork products is safe.
You can gain valuable updated information anytime by visiting the following website:
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu_you.htm |
