Swine Flu Virus Information, The Precautions You Can Take And The Treatments Available
Today we are more at a greater risk from the various mutations of the flu virus than we have been for a long time. First we had alarms over bird flu, and more recently swine flu has manifested as a major concern. Swine flu is of more concern than bird flu. It was feared that bird flu may mutate into a form that might infect humans, apart from a few cases, this has not happened to date.
Swine flu is a greater concern, swine flu already has the ability to spread between people making it an extremely serious health problem. So what is swine flu. Swine flu, or influenza A (H1N1), is a disease that effects pigs, swine flu is caused by an influenza virus. Outbreaks of swine flu in pigs isn’t uncommon but is rarely fatal. Swine flu doesn’t usually infect people, although it can occasionally happen when people have been in close contact with pigs with swine flu.
Swine flu is particularly dangerous to people because it is a previously unknown strain of virus. No one has had contact with this strain before, and therefore no one has developed any immunity to this strain. Without built in immunity a disease can be life threatening, as our bodies are unable to defend against the virus. Everyone is vulnerable, including healthy adults and teenagers as well as children and senior citizens.
Swine flu could easily give rise to a pandemic flu situation. A pandemic flu situation occurs when an influenza virus develops that is dissimilar to previous influenza strains that few, if any, people have any immunity to. This allows the influenza virus to spread rapidly throughout the population.
Seasonal flu and swine flu are different as explained below Ordinary flu happens annually, mainly in the winter. Approximately 10 to 15 percent of the population are effected and the majority will recover without treatment in 1 to 2 weeks.
Pandemic flu affects more people, it can be up to half of the population, it is much more serious, people of all ages will be infected.
The symptoms of swine flu are similar to the symptoms of ordinary influenza. Symptoms include sudden onset of fever, a cough or a shortness of breath. Other symptoms that may also present themselves may include headache, sore throat, aching muscles, chills, sneezing, a runny nose, loss of appetite and tiredness.
So what precautions should you take. Anyone with cold or flu symptoms needs to take a few simple, but very important precautions. The flu virus spreads between people by the small droplets from the nose and mouth when someone coughs or sneezes. This is the way viruses are spread among the population. Using your hands to cover your face when you sneeze or cough is not enough. The germs remain on your hands, then everything you touch afterwards becomes contaminated with germs. Other people will touch these surfaces and become infected. Always use a handkerchief or disposable tissue. A tissue is far better, the tissue should be disposed of safely as soon as possible, and always use a new tissue when you sneeze or cough again.
A vaccination against swine flu is not available. The vaccination against seasonal flu is ineffective in the fight against swine flu. By the time a vaccination is discovered, it can take many months to make, by which time the virus could have mutated again making a new vaccination ineffective.
The only effective precaution you are able to take against swine flu is Tamiflu. Tamiflu is not guaranteed to prevent swine flu, but if you have been exposed to someone who has the flu virus, it will help to stop the flu virus making a person ill. If Tamiflu is taken in the first 2 days of getting the flu virus, Tamiflu may help to stop the flu virus spreading throughout the body, thereby reducing the symptoms and risk associated with the flu virus. Governments worldwide are stockpiling Tamiflu, these supplies will be used in treating key workers and individuals before the general population.
can buy Tamiflu online, so if the situation occurs you are able to protect yourself and your loved ones as much as possible. Although it cannot be emphasized enough, Tamiflu needs to be taken as soon as is possible to be effective, delays in treating the virus will diminish the effectiveness of Tamiflu.
Remember, swine flu is a worldwide danger. Should an outbreak become global it is a possibility that the supplies of Tamiflu could become diminished and may not meet a massive global demand. Until a vaccine is discovered and produced in the amounts required, Tamiflu is the most effective treatment for swine flu, it would sensible to buy Tamiflu in advance if you think you may be 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 meant to be or should be taken to be medical advice. For medical advice you should consult with your healthcare worker.
