Swine Flu Virus Information, The Precautions That Can Be Taken And What Treatments Are Available

Today we are ever more at a greater risk from the various strains of the flu virus than we have been for a very long time. We had concerns over bird flu, and recently swine flu has manifested as a major health problem. Swine flu is a greater problem than bird flu. It was feared that bird flu may mutate into a strain that could infect humans, thankfully, apart from a few isolated cases, this has not happened to date.

Swine flu is a much greater concern, swine flu is able to spread from human to human which makes it an extremely serious health problem.  Swine flu or influenza A (H1N1) is a flu virus which infects pigs. Swine flu outbreaks in pigs does not usually infect people but can occur sometimes.

Swine flu is very dangerous as it is a previously unknown strain of virus. This means that no one has been in contact with this type previously, which means no one has developed any immunity. It is our built in immunity that prevents viruses from becoming life threatening, without inbuilt immunity we are unable to defend ourselves from the virus. Everyone is vulnerable, this includes healthy adults and teenagers as well as children and senior citizens.

Swine flu could easily give rise to a pandemic flu situation. Pandemic flu situation occurs when an influenza virus 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.

Seasonal flu and swine flu are different as explained below  Ordinary flu occurs annually, usually in the winter. Approximately between 10 and 15 percent of people will be effected and the vast majority will recover with no treatment in 1 to 2 weeks.

A pandemic outbreak of influenza affects far more people with up to half the population infected. Pandemic Influenza affects people of every age.

The symptoms of swine flu are very similar to the symptoms of ordinary flu. Symptoms can include sudden onset of fever, a cough or shortness of breath. Other symptoms that may also present themselves may include headaches, sore throats, aching muscles, sneezing, chills, a runny nose, loss of appetite and tiredness.

Precautions to take. Anyone with cold or flu symptoms should take some simple, but very important precautions. The influenza virus is spread between people from the small droplets from the nose and mouth when someone coughs or sneezes. This is the way viruses are spread from person to person. Using your hands to cover your face when you sneeze or cough is not enough. The germs simply sit on your hands, then everything you touch becomes contaminated with germs. Other people can then touch these surfaces and become infected. Therefore, always use a handkerchief or disposable tissue. A disposable tissue is much better, this should be disposed of as soon as possible, try to always use a new tissue when you sneeze or cough again.

Currently there are no vaccinations available to prevent anyone catching swine flu. Swine flu is a new strain of virus. Therefore the seasonal vaccination against seasonal influenza is ineffective against swine flu. When the type of flu causing swine flu is found, it will take several months to produce. By this time, it may have mutated into a different type again.

The best precaution you can take against swine flu is Tamiflu. Tamiflu isn’t guaranteed for the prevention of flu, but after someone has been exposed to another individual who has the swine flu virus, Tamiflu may help to stop the flu virus making you ill. If Tamiflu is taken within 48 hours of acquiring the flu virus, it will help in stopping the flu virus from spreading through the body, thereby reducing the symptoms and risk associated with the swine flu virus. Governments are stocking Tamiflu, but these supplies will naturally be used to treat key workers and individuals before the general population.

You can buy Tamiflu online, so if the situation occurs you can protect yourself and your family as much as possible. It can’t be emphasized enough, Tamiflu needs to be taken as early as possible to be effective, delays in treating the virus will reduce the effectiveness of Tamiflu.

Also, remember, swine flu is a worldwide problem. Should an outbreak become global it is possible that the supplies of Tamiflu may become low and may possibly not be high enough to meet a huge worldwide demand.  Until such time that a vaccine is discovered and manufactured in the amounts needed, Tamiflu is the most effective treatment for the swine flu virus, it would therefore be prudent to buy Tamiflu in advance if you think you are at risk.

Disclaimer: This article is based on information available in {the popular#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 advised to consult your own healthcare worker.

 

Filed under: Diseases

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