Swine Flu And Bird Flu, What Precautions To Take And Treatments Available
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 | Always Online
We are today (more and more|more} at risk from various strains of the flu virus. initially we had scares over bird flu, and more recently swine flu has become a latest concern. Swine flu is of more concern than bird flu was. It was a worry that bird flu may mutate into a form that would infect humans, but for a few cases, this situation has not materialized. Swine flu is a greater worry, swine flu has the ability to pass between humans making swine flu a very serious threat.
Swine flu, or to be more correct influenza A (H1N1), is a respiratory disease that infects pigs, it is caused by a flu virus. Swine flu outbreaks in pigs is is common but is only rarely fatal. Swine flu doesn’t normally infect humans, although it can occasionally happen.
Swine flu is particularly dangerous as it is a new type of virus. It is dangerous because no one has been exposed to this particular type of flu before, 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 immunity to the swine flu virus we are in serious danger from the virus. Everyone is vulnerable, this includes healthy adults and teenagers as well as young children and the elderly.
The real worry is what will happen when the winter flu season arrives. This is the period when the swine flu virus may spread quickly causing a flu pandemic with the potential for over half the population becoming infected.
Swine flu symptoms are 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, a runny nose, appetite loss and tiredness.
Precautions to take First, anyone with cold or flu symptoms should to take a few simple, but very 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 the way viruses such as swine flu are passed from person to person. Holding your nose and mouth with your hands when you cough or sneeze isn’t enough. The germs 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. Therefore, always use a handkerchief or a tissue. A tissue is far better, this should then be disposed of safely as soon as possible, try to use a new tissue if you cough or sneeze again.
At the moment there are no vaccinations that prevent anyone catching the swine flu virus. Swine flu is a new strain of virus and isn’t the same as seasonal flu. Therefore the annual vaccination against the normal ordinary flu isn’t effective against the swine flu virus. Even when the type of flu virus causing swine flu is identified, it will take several months to produce. By this time, it may have mutated into a different strain again.
The only real effective treatment against swine flu is Tamiflu. Tamiflu isn’t guaranteed to stop flu, but when a person has been exposed to another person who has the flu virus, it can help prevent the virus making a person sick. If Tamiflu is taken within two days of developing flu, Tamiflu can help to stop the virus spreading throughout the body, reducing the symptoms and risk associated. Governments are stocking up on Tamiflu, these supplies will first be used to treat important workers and individuals before the general population.
You can however buy Tamiflu online, if the situation occurs you can protect yourself and your family. It cannot be emphasized strongly enough, Tamiflu has to be taken as early as possible if it is to be effective, any delays in treatment will reduce the effectiveness of Tamiflu. If you are at a greater 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 wise to buy Tamiflu before the flu season begins. If you live in the country and don’t have close contact with many people then of course you will be at a lower risk.
Remember that swine flu is a worldwide problem. It is possible that supplies of Tamiflu may not be enough to meet a huge worldwide demand.
Until a vaccine is found 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 popular press and medical journals concerned with swine flu. Nothing in this article is intended to be or should be taken to be any sort of medical advice. For medical advice you are encouraged to consult with your healthcare worker.