A new strain of swine flu is sweeping the world, with around 150  deaths recorded in Mexico. Several other countries world-wide have suspect cases reported, from as far apart as Canada, France, Hong Kong, Israel, Australia and New Zealand. Some flights to Mexico have been suspended.

President Obama has asked Congress for and addition $1.5 billion to give the government maximum flexibility to fight the threatened pandemic, as the number of confirmed cases in the United States hits 65.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease, caused by type A influenza that frequently breaks out among pigs. Swine flu viruses do not normally affect human beings. However, the current swine flu has a lethal mix of a gene segment from bird flu, a segment from human flu, plus two genes from pig flu. Pigs are known to be the world’s notorious ‘mixing bowl’s. The never before seen virus is causing great concern, as humans have no immunity to it.

Swine flu cannot be contracted through eating pork products, however human-to-human infections are occurring, without the victims being exposed to infected animals.

Here are simple steps people need to take to provide self-protection against the threatened pandemic:

• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Have a mask handy if anyone sneezes or coughs near you.

A single achoo propels 100,000 droplets into the air, flying at around 90 mph, landing on door knobs, ATM and computer keypads, elevator buttons, escalator railings and grocery cart handles. According to British researchers, in a subway station at rush hour, as many as 10 percent of all commuters can come in contact with the spray and residue from just one sneeze. That means as many as 150 commuters can be sickened by one uncovered sneeze, or cough. The rush of air from a cough travels at speeds approaching 600 mph.

• Wash your hands frequently, for up to 20 seconds, with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Wash your hands always before you eat and where possible do not eat with your hands.

It is estimated over 80% of all infections are spread by hands. If you are unable to wash your hands, resort to using hand-sanitizers with 60% alcohol content. These come in handy pocket size containers.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth and avoid kissing on the cheeks.

Germs spread more quickly that way than any other form of transmission.

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people. Isolation and avoidance are your best protective measures.
• Eat well, watch your sleep habits and exercise regularly. Upgrade your intake of vitamin C and practice good hygiene.
• If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others, to keep from infecting them.
• Stay alert and recognize any unusual symptoms. If you are in doubt, get professional advice.

Dr Ira Longini, from Vaccine and Infectious Disease institute, Hutchinson Research Centre in Seattle, Washington, says “Things such as ’social distancing’, (including wearing masks in crowded places) and seeking medical treatment can reduce the sickness by nearly two-thirds”.  He believes that most people who have contracted the disease so far, have travelled to Mexico. He does not, however believe that travel restrictions will  stop the spread of the disease.

Six million masks have been handed out in Mexico. Even the statue of the Patron of Lost Causes, outside of St. Jude Thaddeus church in Mexico City, has been fitted with a light-blue surgical mask to ward off Swine Flu.

Swine flu is treatable, though resistant to two of the four drugs approved for treating flu. Two new arrivals, Tamiflu and Relenza are successful in treating the disease.  “Even outbreaks of swine Flu follows the standard flu pattern of dropping off in the summer months,” says Longini.

Mexico has hundreds of industrial-scale hog facilities, known as ‘confined animal feeding operations’, where pigs are tightly packed in rows. Thousands of pigs are restricted to indoor pens and grain-fed for market. Breeding sows are kept in small metal crates where they spend the majority of their lives pregnant or nursing a new litter of piglets. Studies have shown that the swine flu, H1N1, is common throughout pig populations worldwide, with 25 percent of animals showing antibody evidence of having, or having had, infection.

Up to now, hog workers with swine flu have rarely gone on to infect other people, save for close family members. And that is why this new strain of swine influenza virus is so vexing and alarming. It seems to spread quite easily through casual human contact.

Above all, don’t panic. Take one day at a time. These things do go away. The author Wendy and her husband Rick lived in Hong Kong in 2002/3, through the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). They know first hand what it is to live through a pandemic scare.

This ticket was posted on Monday, April 27th, 2009 at 6:24 pm and is filed under How To, health. You can follow any responses to this ticket through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

One Response to “How Can I Prevent Catching Swine Flu?”

1. dropjack.com Says:
   April 27th, 2009 at 6:57 pm

   How Can I Prevent Catching Swine Flu?…

   Right now everyone needs to be asking, how can I prevent myself from catching swine flu. Here are some very simple tips that will help you….

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