Swine Flu And Bird Flu, What Precautions To Take And What Treatments Are Available
Today we are (more and more|more} at risk from various strains of the flu virus. initially we had alarms over the bird flu virus, but more recently swine flu has become the latest concern. Swine flu is of more concern than bird flu ever was. It was a worry that bird flu could change into a strain that would infect humans, apart from a handful of cases, this has not materialized. Swine flu is a bigger concern, it has the ability to spread between humans making it a very serious threat.
Swine flu (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 and is only rarely fatal. Swine flu doesn’t normally infect humans, but it can occasionally happen.
Swine flu is extremely dangerous as it is a new strain of virus. This means that no one has been in contact with this particular strain before, and therefore no one has built up any immunity to this strain of flu. It is our 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, this includes healthy adults and teenagers as well as children and the elderly.
The real worry is what will happen when the winter flu season arrives. This is the period when the virus may quickly spread causing a flu pandemic with the possibility of over half the population becoming infected.
The symptoms of swine flu are very similar to the symptoms of ordinary flu. The symptoms include a sudden,sudden onset of a fever, cough or a shortness of breath. Other symptoms that may present themselves include headache, sore throat, muscle aches, chills, sneezing, runny nose, loss of appetite and tiredness.
Precautions Anyone with cold or flu symptoms needs to take a few simple, but most important precautions. The virus is passed between humans by the small droplets from the nose and mouth when someone sneezes or coughs. This is how viruses such as swine flu are passed from person to person. Holding your face with your hands when you sneeze or cough isn’t enough. The germs simply sit on your hands, then everything you handle afterwards becomes contaminated. Anyone touching the same place as you will pick up the virus 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 cough or sneeze again.
There are currently no vaccinations that stop anyone catching swine flu. The swine flu virus is a new strain of virus and is not the same as ordinary flu. Therefore the annual vaccination against the normal ordinary flu isn’t effective against the swine flu virus. Once the strain of flu causing swine flu is identified, it will take many months to manufacture. By this time, it may well have changed into a different strain.
The only real effective treatment against swine flu is Tamiflu. Tamiflu is not guaranteed to prevent flu, but when someone has been exposed to another individual who is carrying the flu virus, Tamiflu can help to stop the virus making a person sick. If Tamiflu is taken within two days of developing flu, Tamiflu can help stop the virus spreading throughout the body, thereby reducing the symptoms and associated risk. Governments worldwide 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, if the situation arises you can treat yourself and your family. It can’t be emphasized strongly enough, Tamiflu has to be taken as soon as possible if it is to be effective, delays in treating the virus will greatly 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 working in a busy office, then it may be prudent to buy Tamiflu before the flu season begins. If you happen 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 global problem. If a pandemic outbreak becomes global it is possible that supplies of Tamiflu may not be great enough to meet a large global demand.
Until a vaccine is discovered and manufactured in the quantities needed, Tamiflu is the most effective treatment for swine flu.
Disclaimer: This post is based on information freely available in the popular media and medical journals concerned with swine flu. Nothing herein is intended to be or should be construed to be medical advice. For medical advice you should consult your doctor.
