Swine Flu Virus Information, The Precautions That Can Be Taken And What Treatments Are Available
We are ever more at at more risk from the various mutations of the flu virus than we have for a very long time. First we had alarms over bird flu, and more recently swine flu has become a major health problem. Swine flu is of more problem than bird flu. It was a worry that bird flu may change into a form that could infect humans, apart from a few cases, this has not happened.
Swine flu is of more concern, swine flu is able to spread from human to human making it a very serious threat. So what is swine flu. Swine flu, or to be more correct influenza A (H1N1), is a respiratory disease that infects pigs, it is caused by an influenza virus. Outbreaks of swine flu in pigs is not uncommon but is rarely fatal. Swine flu does not normally infect humans, but it can occasionally occur when people have been close contact with infected pigs.
Swine flu is extremely dangerous to people as it is a new type of virus. No one has had contact with this strain previously, and therefore no one has built up any immunity. It is our built in immunity that stops viruses from becoming life threatening, with no built in immunity we have no defense from the virus. Absolutely everyone is susceptible, including healthy adults as well as the young and the elderly.
Swine flu could easily give rise to a pandemic influenza situation. Pandemic flu situation occurs when a flu viral strain develops that is different from previous flu types that few, if any, humans have any immunity to. This allows the influenza virus to spread rapidly in the population.
Ordinary flu and swine flu are different as explained below ordinary influenza occurs yearly during the winter period, with about 10 to 15 percent of people are affected and the majority of people will recover in 1 to 2 weeks without medical treatment. It is generally only of risk to the elderly and people with conditions that make them more open to implications from an infection.
Pandemic influenza affects many more people, it can be up to half the population, pandemic flu is far more serious, all ages of people can be affected.
The symptoms of swine flu are very similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu. These can include sudden onset of fever, a cough or shortness of breath. Other symptoms that may present themselves may include headache, sore throat, aching muscles, chills, sneezing, a runny nose, appetite loss and tiredness.
Precautions that can be taken. First, anyone showing flu or cold symptoms needs to take some simple precautions. The influenza virus spreads between humans from the tiny droplets from the nose and mouth when someone sneezes or coughs. This is the way a virus such as swine flu are spread from person to person. Using your hands when you cough or sneeze is not enough. The germs simply sit on your hands, then everything you touch afterwards becomes contaminated with the virus. Other people may then touch these surfaces and become infected. Always use a handkerchief or disposable tissue. A disposable tissue is far better, this should be disposed as soon as possible, try to always use a new tissue when you sneeze or cough again.
There are currently no vaccinations available to stop anyone catching swine flu. Swine flu is an unknown strain of virus. Therefore the annual vaccination against the normal seasonal flu is not effective against swine flu. When the type of flu causing swine flu is found, it will then take many months to manufacture. By this time, it could have mutated into a different strain.
The only effective precaution you can make against swine flu is Tamiflu. Tamiflu is not guaranteed for the prevention of flu, but after someone has been exposed to another individual who has the flu virus, it will help in stopping the virus making a person sick. If Tamiflu is taken within 2 days of acquiring the swine flu virus, it will help to stop the virus spreading through the body, thereby reducing the symptoms and the risk associated with the swine flu virus. Governments are stocking up on Tamiflu, these supplies will be used in treating important workers before the population at large.
You can buy Tamiflu online, so if the situation occurs you can give as much protection as is possible to yourself and family. Although it can’t be emphasized enough, Tamiflu does need to be taken as early as is possible to be effective, delays in treating the virus will diminish how effective Tamiflu is.
Also, remember that swine flu is a worldwide danger. Should a pandemic outbreak become global it is possible that supplies of Tamiflu may be diminished and may possibly not meet a large worldwide demand. Until such time that a vaccine is found and produced in the quantities required, Tamiflu is the most effective treatment for swine flu, it would sensible to buy Tamiflu in advance if you feel you or your family may be at risk.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information that is freely available in {the popular#the} press and medical articles concerned with swine flu. Nothing in this posting is intended to be or should be construed to be any sort of medical advice. For medical advice you are advised to consult with your healthcare worker.
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Filed under: Disease
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