Swine Flu And Bird Flu, What Are The Precautions To Take And What Treatments Are Available
Today we are (more and more|more} vulnerable from various mutations of the flu virus. First we had alarms over bird flu, and more recently swine flu has become a major worry. Swine flu is of more concern than bird flu ever was. It was feared that bird flu could change into a form that would infect humans, apart from a few cases, this situation has not materialized. Swine flu is a bigger worry, 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. Swine flu outbreaks in pigs is is common but is rarely fatal. In the past, swine flu doesn’t normally infect humans, but it can happen occasionally.
Swine flu is very dangerous as it is a new type of virus. It is dangerous because no one has been in contact with this particular type of flu previously, therefore no one has built up any immunity to this strain of flu. It is our immunity that stops diseases from becoming life threatening, with no immunity to the swine flu virus we are at the mercy of the virus. Everyone is vulnerable, this includes healthy adults as well as young children and the elderly.
The real worry is what occurs when the winter flu season arrives. It is then when the swine flu virus may spread quickly causing a flu pandemic with the potential for over half of the population being affected.
Swine flu symptoms are very similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu. These can include a sudden,sudden onset of a fever, cough, shortness of breath. Other symptoms can include headache, sore throat, muscle aches, chills, sneezing, a runny nose, loss of appetite and tiredness.
Precautions to take First, anyone with the symptoms of a cold or flu should to take a few easy, but most important precautions. The flu virus is passed between humans by the small droplets from the nose and mouth when someone coughs or sneezes. This is how viruses are passed from person to person. Covering your nose and mouth 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 then touching the same place as you will pick up the virus and then risks becoming infected themselves. Always use a handkerchief or tissue. A tissue is better, this should be disposed of as soon as you can, and always use a new tissue if you sneeze or cough again.
There are currently no vaccinations to 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 is not effective against swine flu. 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 again.
The only effective treatment against swine flu is Tamiflu. Tamiflu is not guaranteed to stop flu, but when a person has been exposed to another individual who is carrying the flu virus, it can help prevent the virus making a person ill. If Tamiflu is taken within two days of contracting the flu virus, it can help to stop the virus spreading throughout the body, reducing the symptoms and associated risk. Governments worldwide are stocking up on Tamiflu, but these supplies will first be used to treat key workers and individuals before the general population.
You can buy Tamiflu online, so if the situation arises you can protect yourself and your family. It can’t be emphasized strongly enough, Tamiflu needs to be taken as soon as possible to be effective, delays in treating the flu virus will reduce the effectiveness of Tamiflu. If you think you may be at a increased 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 wise to buy Tamiflu before the flu season begins. If you live in the country and do not have close contact with many people then there will be less chance of getting the flu virus.
Remember that swine flu is a global problem. If a pandemic outbreak becomes global it is possible that supplies of Tamiflu may not be enough to meet a huge worldwide demand.
Until a vaccine is discovered and produced in the large quantities needed, Tamiflu is the most effective treatment for the swine flu virus.
Disclaimer: This post is based on information that is freely available in the media and medical journals concerned with swine flu. Nothing herein is intended to be or should be taken to be medical advice. For medical advice you are encouraged to consult with your own doctor.
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