Swine Flu, What Are The Precautions You Can Take And Treatments Available

We are today (more and more|more} vulnerable from the various strains of the flu virus. First we had scares over bird flu, and more recently swine flu has become the latest worry. Swine flu is more serious than bird flu was. It was a worry that bird flu may mutate into a form that could infect humans, apart from a few cases, this has not materialized. Swine flu is a larger concern, it is able to spread between humans making swine flu a very serious threat.

Swine flu (influenza A (H1N1) is a disease that infects pigs, it is caused by a flu virus. Swine flu outbreaks in pigs is not uncommon but is only rarely fatal. In the past, swine flu has not normally infected humans, but it can occasionally happen.

Swine flu is extremely dangerous because it is a new type of the flu virus. The problem is no one has been exposed to this particular strain previously, therefore no one has built up any immunity to this type of flu. It is our inbuilt immunity that prevents diseases from becoming life threatening, with no immunity to the swine flu virus we are at the mercy of the virus. Everyone is vulnerable, including healthy adults as well as young children and the elderly.

The real worry is what occurs when the winter flu season arrives. It is then when the virus may spread quickly causing a flu pandemic with possibly over half the population being affected.

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

Precautions Anyone with the symptoms of a cold or flu needs to take a few simple, but most important precautions. The virus is spread between humans from the droplets from the mouth and nose when someone sneezes or coughs. This is how viruses are spread from person to person. Covering your nose and mouth with your hands when you cough or sneeze isn’t enough. The virus then live on your hands, and 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 far better, this should then be disposed of as soon as you can, and always use a fresh tissue if you cough or sneeze again.

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

Currently the only real effective precaution against the swine flu virus is Tamiflu. Tamiflu isn’t guaranteed to prevent flu, but when a person has been exposed to another individual who is carrying the flu virus, Tamiflu can help to stop the virus making a person sick. If Tamiflu is taken within two days of developing flu, Tamiflu can help stop the virus spreading throughout the body, reducing the symptoms and risk associated. Governments are stockpiling Tamiflu, but the supplies will first be used to treat key workers and individuals before treating the general population.

You can however buy Tamiflu online, if the situation arises you can treat yourself and your family. It cannot be emphasized enough, Tamiflu needs to be taken as early as possible if it is to be effective, delays in treatment will reduce the effectiveness of Tamiflu. If you are at a increased risk because of your situation, such as For example living in a city with a large population or for example working in a busy office, then it may be prudent to buy Tamiflu before the flu season starts. If you live in the country and don’t have close contact with many people then there will be less chance of getting the flu virus.

Also, 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 global demand.

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

Disclaimer: This posting is based on information that is freely available in the press and medical journals concerned with swine flu. Nothing in this post is intended to be or should be taken to be any sort of medical advice. For medical advice you are advised to consult your physician.