Swine Flu – Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention
Swine flu refers to a respiratory infection caused by influenza A viruses that ordinarily cause illness in pigs. Humans can catch swine flu from infected pigs, but pig-to-human transmission is unusual.
The symptoms are similar to the common flu. They include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Learn more about swine flu and how to treat it in the link below.
The single most effective way to stop or slow the spread of diseases such as swine flu is to prevent the spread of germs. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water and cover your mouth if you cough or sneeze this is advice that has been given for many years by is still a very effective way to help you avoid spreading or contracting swine flu,also remember if you or a family member are ill or have the swine flu symptoms
Prevention
â?¢ Avoid crowded areas and maintain good ventilation to reduce contact with viruses.
â?¢ Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth if you are caring for someone with a flu-like illness, or if you are ill yourself. This will reduce the risk of transmission.
â?¢ Avoid visiting patients in hospitals. Their immune systems are already weak. Avoid contact with person having symptoms of influenza.
Since the swine flu story broke a couple of weeks ago, it seems the anchors on the 24-hour news networks haven’t breathed without mentioning the virus. There were minor interruptions to the coverage, like a crazy high speed semi-truck chase, but the majority of stories revolved around the outbreak
Flu is a serious disease, whether it be swine flu, bird flu or your common or garden variety that comes around every year. It’s unlikely that you can protect yourself by wearing a mask, but it could stop you sneezing on others if you have it. Flu can last on door knobs and other surfaces for up to 3 days. It can be passed by a kiss on the cheek. If you have any flu, don’t spread it around. Don’t take it out shopping or to work with you where you can infect other people.
Treatment and medication – While swine flu can generally be cured by the four antiviral drugs approved for curing flu in the US, amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir, the recent 2009 swine flu outbreak viruses have been found to be resistant to the first two drugs. Oseltamivir and zanamivir are now recommended for treatment and prevention of swine influenza.
The H1N1/swine flu virus is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A flu virus. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Similar to human, pigs do get flu. It is widely believed that though swine flu generally do not infect human, pig to human transmission has occurred in the past and notably among persons who had direct exposure to pigs carrying the virus at the time.
Within weeks many reports of health ailments ranging from severe headaches to heart attacks to the acquiring of the rare Guillain-Barre syndrome were reported. By December 16, 1976, the reports were so scandalous, the usually intransigent and self-righteous U.S. government was forced to suspend the mass inoculation plan having inoculated approximately 40 million people for a flu that never came.
petersonbran
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/swine-flu-symptoms-treatment-and-prevention-1166413.html
Filed under: H1N1 Flu
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Swine flu prevention/action?
Now, if this Swine Flu thing really does become out of hand, like a "global pandemic," what are ways that one is supposed to avoid catching the disease? I have read that you are supposed to wash your hands, cover your mouth, etc, but I feel like we are not being told what preventative steps to take or symptoms to look for. And what about if we feel we have it? We have not been told where to turn or what treatment options or what the survival rate is. For such noise being made about the Swine Flu you’d think they’d try to at least give us some reassurance or information.
I found some info on the CDC site:
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
it may answer a lot of questions that people have been posting in this section.
I suggest not going to mexico and reading The Zombie Survival Guide… Just in case
References :
Don’t go to Mexico, don’t have any contact with people from people recently returned from mexico, be sensible, don’t go to large public events, don’t have unnecessary contact with people i.e. when greeting someone you can say hi, you don’t have to hug, kiss etc
Also watch I am Legend, it shall show a lot of what to do when you are the last ‘human’ left in a diseased city, (if you learn nothing from it at least you have entertained yourself for two hours)
References :
omg! I live right next to the U.S./Mexico border! I am shitting bricks right now. No offense to anyone, but damn Mexico straight to hell! Nothing but chaos over there!!
1.The first and most important thing you can do to avoid the swine flu is to keep your hands clean. Carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer around wherever you go. Be sure and wash your hands after touching any items such as doorknobs, hand rails and bathroom fixtures.
2. If an outbreak is announced in your town or city, avoid public places where people may be coming in and out from other cities. Bus terminals, airports and train stations should all be avoided if the swine flu is discovered in your region.
3. Should a major outbreak occur, purchase breathing masks and wear them any time while out in public. Be sure and purchase masks for your children and family as well.
4.Purchase supplements that provide support for your immune system such as selenium. While there is no guarantee that these supplements will protect you, should you catch this swine flu virus your immune system will need all the help it can can get.
I found this information off of this website…
http://www.ehow.com/how_4932658_prevent-swine-flu.html
All I got to say is good luck! I know I will be needing it! :-S
References :
the symtoms are the same as any flu, Dirrera, nausea, fever, ect. this flu is a combination of bird, swine and human flu. that can be passes on from person to person. my sugg. is to only go out if you have to and carry hand sanitizer.
References :
cnn news, local news
oh my god!!! im in mexico!!! but its not that worse you have to take precautions though like wear mask and all. the cases in mexico city 80 died out of a million or something but i recommend you not to go to mexico yet wait a few months….
References :
The best way to protect yourself from contracting the flu is through proper protection and sanitization. That is why we are offering an affordable way to help you and your family fight the flu. Our flu kits come with disposable surgical masks, disposable gloves, alcohol-based sanitizing wipes, and tips on flu prevention. Studies have show that wearing face masks significantly reduces the risk of contracting the flu and other illnesses. Don’t wait until it’s too late, start protecting yourself from the flu today! VISIT http://WWW.FPKIT.COM TO ORDER YOUR KIT TODAY!
References :
http://www.fpkit.com/
Copied and pasted from WHO, in case pdf does not download:
Basically, mortality rate varies from country to country. Only one death in 91 reported cases in the US. Other countries have different stats. Most people seem to recover fine from this flu. Also, it is NOT known exactly how this flu is transmitted. Studies are currently being done. See below for more info…
Swine influenza frequently asked questions
- What is swine influenza?
- What are the implications for human health?
- Where have human cases occurred?
- How do people become infected?
- Is it safe to eat pork meet and products?
- What about the pandemic risk?
- Is there a human vaccine to protect swine influenza?
- What drugs are available for treatment?
What is swine influenza?
Swine influenza, or “swine flu”, is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease of pigs, caused by one of several swine
influenza A viruses. Morbidity tends to be high and mortality low (1-4%). The virus is spread among pigs by aerosols,
direct and indirect contact, and asymptomatic carrier pigs. Outbreaks in pigs occur year round, with an increased
incidence in the fall and winter in temperate zones. Many countries routinely vaccinate swine populations against swine
influenza.
Swine influenza viruses are most commonly of the H1N1 subtype, but other subtypes are also circulating in pigs (e.g.,
H1N2, H3N1, H3N2). Pigs can also be infected with avian influenza viruses and human seasonal influenza viruses as
well as swine influenza viruses. The H3N2 swine virus was thought to have been originally introduced into pigs by
humans. Sometimes pigs can be infected with more than one virus type at a time, which can allow the genes from
these viruses to mix. This can result in an influenza virus containing genes from a number of sources, called a
"reassortant" virus.
Although swine influenza viruses are normally species specific and only infect pigs, they do sometimes cross the species
barrier to cause disease in humans.
What are the implications for human health?
Outbreaks and sporadic human infection with swine influenza have been occasionally reported.
Generally clinical symptoms are similar to seasonal influenza but reported clinical presentation ranges broadly from
asymptomatic infection to severe pneumonia resulting in death.
Since typical clinical presentation of swine influenza infection in humans resembles seasonal influenza and other acute
upper respiratory tract infections, most of the cases have been detected by chance through seasonal influenza
surveillance. Mild or asymptomatic cases may have escaped from recognition; therefore the true extent of this disease
among humans is unknown.
Where have human cases occurred?
Since the implementation of IHR(2005)
1 in 2007, WHO has been notified of swine influenza cases from the United States and Spain.
How do people become infected?
People usually get swine influenza from infected pigs, however, some human cases lack contact history with pigs or
environments where pigs have been located. Human-to-human transmission has occurred in some instances but was
Pan American Health Organization – Organización Panamericana de la Salud
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limited to close contacts and closed groups of people.
Is it safe to eat pork and pork products?
Yes. Swine influenza has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly handled and prepared
pork (pig meat) or other products derived from pigs. The swine influenza virus is killed by cooking temperatures of 160
°F/70° C, corresponding to the general guidance for the preparation of pork and other meat.
Which countries have been affected by outbreaks in pigs?
Swine influenza is not notifiable to international animal health authorities (OIE, ww.oie.int ), therefore its international
distribution in animals is not well known. The disease is considered endemic in the United States. Outbreaks in pigs are
also known to have occurred in North America, South America, Europe (including the UK, Sweden, and Italy), Africa
(Kenya), and in parts of eastern Asia including China and Japan.
What about the pandemic risk?
It is likely that most of people, especially those who do not have regular contact with pigs, do not have immunity to swine
influenza viruses that can prevent the virus infection. If a swine virus establishes efficient human-to human transmission,
it can cause an influenza pandemic. The impact of a pandemic caused by such a virus is difficult to predict: it depends on
virulence of the virus, existing immunity among people, cross protection by antibodies acquired from seasonal influenza
infection and host factors.
Is there a human vaccine to protect from swine influenza?
There are no vaccines that contain the current swine influenza virus causing illness in humans. It is not known whether
References :
http://new.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=805&Itemid=569