Swine Flu, What Precautions To Take And Which Treatments Are Available

We are today (more and more|more} vulnerable from various mutations of the flu virus. First we had alarms over the bird flu virus, but recently swine flu has become a latest worry. Swine flu is more serious than bird flu ever was. It was feared that bird flu could mutate into a strain that would infect humans, apart from a handful of cases, this has not materialized. Swine flu is a greater worry, it is able to spread from human to human making it a dangerous threat.

Swine flu, or to be more correct influenza A (H1N1), is a disease that effects 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, but it can happen occasionally.

Swine flu is particularly dangerous because it is a new strain of virus. This means that no one has been exposed to this particular type of flu previously, therefore no one has developed any immunity. It is our inbuilt immunity that stops diseases from becoming life threatening, with no inbuilt immunity to the swine flu virus we are in serious danger from the virus. Absolutely everyone is vulnerable, including healthy adults as well as children and the elderly.

The real concern is what will happen when the flu season starts in the winter. This is the period when the swine flu virus may quickly spread causing a flu pandemic with possibly over half of the population being affected.

Swine flu symptoms are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu. The symptoms include a sudden,sudden onset of a fever, cough, shortness of breath. Other symptoms can include headaches, a sore throat, aching muscles, chills, sneezing, runny nose, loss of appetite and tiredness.

So what precautions can we take. First, anyone with the symptoms of a cold or flu needs to take a few easy, but most important precautions. The virus is passed between humans from the small droplets from the nose and mouth when someone coughs or sneezes. This is the way viruses are passed from person to person. Holding your nose and mouth with your hands when you sneeze or cough is not enough. The virus then live on your hands, then everything you handle afterwards becomes contaminated. Anyone then touching the same place as you will pick up the virus and will then risk becoming infected. Therefore, always use a handkerchief or tissue. A tissue is better, this should be disposed of as soon as possible, try to use a new tissue if you sneeze or cough again.

Currently there are no vaccinations that stop anyone catching swine flu. Swine flu is a new strain of virus and is not the same as seasonal flu. The vaccination against the usual seasonal flu isn’t effective against the swine flu virus. Once the strain of flu causing swine flu is identified, it will then take several months to manufacture. By which time, it may well have changed into a different strain.

Currently the only effective precaution against swine flu is Tamiflu. Tamiflu isn’t guaranteed to prevent flu, but when someone has been exposed to another person who is carrying the flu virus, it can help prevent the virus making a person sick. 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 are stocking up on Tamiflu, these supplies will be used to treat key workers and individuals before the general population.

You can however buy Tamiflu online, so if the situation arises you can treat yourself and your family as much as possible. It cannot be emphasized strongly enough, Tamiflu has to be taken as soon as possible if it is to be effective, any delays in treating the virus will greatly reduce the effectiveness of Tamiflu. If you are at a higher 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 starts. If you live in the country and don’t have a close contact with many people then of course your risk will be lower.

Remember that swine flu is a global problem. If a pandemic outbreak becomes global it is possible that supplies of Tamiflu may be diminished and may not be enough to meet a huge worldwide demand.

Until a vaccine is found and manufactured in the large quantities required, Tamiflu is the most effective treatment for swine flu.

Disclaimer: This posting is based on information freely available in the popular media and medical articles related to swine flu. Nothing in this article is meant to be or should be taken to be medical advice. For medical advice you are advised to consult with your healthcare worker.