How To Prevent Catching Swine Flu

The threat of a pandemic is sweeping the world, through a new strain of swine flu. Many deaths have been recorded in Mexico. Several other countries also have suspect cases reported, from as far apart as France, Hong Kong, Canada, Israel and New Zealand.

Caused by type A influenza Swine flu, is a respiratory disease. Studies have shown that the swine flu H1N1 is common throughout pig populations worldwide, with 25% of all animals displaying antibody evidence of having the disease.

Swine flu viruses do not usually affect human beings. However, the current swine flu has a deadly mixture 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 best 'mixing bowls'. This totally unknown virus is causing extreme concern, as humans have no immunity to the disease.

Swine flu can't be contacted through eating pork products, however human-to-human infections are happening, without the victims having any contact with infected animals.

Here are simple precautions you need to use to provide self-protection against the threatened pandemic:

* Make sure you cover your nose and mouth if you sneeze or cough. Ensure you get rid of the tissue in the rubbish can after you use it. Keep a mask handy in case anyone sneezes or coughs around you.

Just one sneeze thrusts 100,000 droplets into the air at around 90 mph, landing on everything around you. British researchers have found that in a subway train during rush hour, as many as 10% of all commuters can come in contact with the spray and residue from just one sneeze. 150 commuters may become ill from one uncovered sneeze, or cough. The rush of air from a cough travels at speeds of nearly 600 mph.

* Always wash your hands frequently, for up to 20 seconds, with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Always wash your hands thoroughly prior to eating and whenever possible do not eat with your hands.

It is estimated over 80% of all infections are spread by hands. If you are not able to wash your hands, resort to using hand-sanitizers with 60% alcohol content. These are available in handy pocket size containers.

* Attempt to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth and definitely avoid kissing on the cheeks.

Germs are passed more quickly that way than any other method of transmission.

* Try to stay away from sick people. Isolation and keeping your distance are your most efficient protective measures.
* If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with other people, to keep them from becoming infected.
* Keep aware and recognize any abnormal symptoms. If you are in doubt, go and seek professional advice.

* Make sure you eat well, be careful of your sleep habits and take regular exercise. Increase your daily dose of vitamin C and practice good hygiene.

Swine flu can be treated. Though it is resistant to two of the four drugs approved for treating flu, two new arrivals, Tamiflu and Relenza have proven to be successful.

Mexico houses hundreds of industrial-scale hog facilities, known as 'confined animal feeding operations', where pigs are packed tightly in rows. Thousands of pigs are confined to indoor pens and grain-fed for market. Breeding sows are held in small metal crates where they spend the major part of their lives pregnant, or feeding a new litter of piglets. Up until now, Mexican hog workers, infected with swine flu, have rarely been the cause of infecting other humans, except for close family members.

Swıne Flu | Wıll ıt have an end?

Swine flu refers to influenza caused by those strains of influenza virus that usually infect pigs and are called swine influenza virus (SIV). Swine influenza is common in pigs in the M?d-West of the United States and some other states, Mexico, Canada, South America, Europe, Kenya, Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan and other parts of eastern Asia.

Transmission of swine influenza virus from pigs to humans is not common and properly-cooked pork poses no risk of infection. When transmitted, it does not always cause human influenza and often the only sign of infection is the presence of antibodies in the blood which are only detectable by laboratory tests. When transmission results in influenza in a human, it is called zoonotic swine flu. People who work with pigs, especially people with intense exposures, are at risk of catching swine flu. However, only about fifty such transmissions have been recorded since the mid-20th Century, when identification of influenza subtypes became possible. Rarely, these strains of swine flu can pass from human to human. In humans, the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general, namely chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort.

The 2009 flu outbreak in humans, known as "swine flu", is due to an apparently virulent new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 that contained many genetic elements normally found in swine influenza. The origin of this new strain is unknown, and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reports that this strain has not been isolated in pigs. It can be transmitted from human to human, an ability attributed to an as-yet unidentified mutation. This 2009 H1N1 strain causes the normal symptoms of influenza, such as fever, coughing and headache.

The 2009 flu outbreak is due to a new strain of influenza, an apparent reassortment of at least four strains of influenza A virus subtype H1N1, including one strain endemic in humans, one endemic in birds, and two endemic in swine. Although initial reports identified the new strain as swine influenza (ie, a zoonosis), its origin is unknown. Several countries took precautionary measures to reduce the chances for a global pandemic of the disease.

This new strain had not previously been reported in pigs. On May 2, 2009, H1N1 was reported in pigs at a farm in Alberta, Canada, with a link to the 2009 swine flu outbreak in Mexico. The pigs are suspected to have caught this new strain of virus from a farm worker who recently travelled to Mexico, then showed symptoms of an influenza-like illness. These are probable cases, pending confirmation by laboratory testing.

The time and location of the outbreak is still unknown, but it was first detected in two cases in Southern California in late March. When this novel virus was publicized, officials in Mexico suspected a link to an outbreak of late-season flu cases they were finding. Mexican news media report that the outbreak may have started in February near a Smithfield Foods pig plant amid complaints about its intensive farming practices. Within days, hundreds more suspected cases were discovered in Mexico, with more cases also showing up in the U.S. and several other countries. By late April, officials from the U.N.'s World Health Organization (WHO), based in Switzerland, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S., were expressing serious concern about the flu outbreak, worried that it might become a worldwide flu pandemic.

The new strain has spread widely beyond Mexico and the U.S., with confirmed cases in eighteen countries and suspected cases in forty-two. Many countries have advised their inhabitants not to travel to infected areas. Countries including Australia, China, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand are monitoring visitors returning from flu-affected areas to identify people with fever and respiratory symptoms. Many countries have also issued warnings to visitors of flu-affected areas to contact a doctor immediately if they had flu-like symptoms.

Mexico's schools, universities, and all public events will be closed from April 24, 2009 to May 6, 2009. By May 3, 2009, more than 400 schools in the U.S. closed due to confirmed or probable cases in students or staff, affecting 250,000 students

By April 28, the new strain was confirmed to have spread to Spain, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Israel, and the virus was suspected in many other nations. As a result, WHO raised its alert level to "Phase 5" out of 6 possible, which it defines as a "signal that a pandemic is imminent" By the end of April, 300 schools had closed across the United States and the Mexican government ordered a multi-day shutdown of all non-essential activities in the government and private sector, amounting to a shutdown of most of the country's economy. At the same time, however, many scientists were reaching a consensus that the epidemic was so far "relatively mild," and believed that it could be less fatal than previous pandemics.

The new strain is an apparent reassortment of four strains of influenza A virus subtype H1N1. Analysis by the CDC identified the four component strains as one endemic in humans, one endemic in birds, and two endemic in pigs (swine). However, other scientists have stated that analyses of the 2009 swine flu (A/H1N1) viral genome "suggests that all segments are of swine origin", "we are puzzled about sources of information that affirm that the virus is a reassortment of avian, human and swine viruses," and "this preliminary analysis suggests at least two swine ancestors to the current H1N1, one of them related to the triple resorting viruses isolated in North America in 1998." One swine strain was widespread in the United States, the other in Eurasia. Worldwide the common human H1N1 influenza virus affects millions of people every year, according to WHO officials, and "these annual epidemics result in about three to five million cases of severe illness, and about 250,000 to 500,000 deaths" annually. In industrialized countries most of these annual deaths occur in people aged 65 or older. By May 2, some pigs in Canada were diagnosed with H1N1. Although some influenza strains can spread between species, the influenza virus is killed by normal cooking procedures, so there is no risk of infection from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products.

Recommendations to prevent infection by the virus consist of the standard personal precautions against influenza. This includes frequent washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after being out in public. The CDC advises not touching the mouth, nose or eyes, as these are primary modes of transmission. When coughing, they recommend coughing into a tissue and disposing of the tissue, then immediately washing the hands.

Of the available antiviral treatments for influenza, the WHO stated that the viruses obtained from the human cases with swine influenza in the United States were sensitive to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) but resistant to amantadine and rimantadine. Tamiflu and Relenza also have a preventative effect against Influenzavirus A. On April 27, the CDC recommended the use of Tamiflu and Relenza for both treatment and prevention of the new strain. Roche and the U.S. government had already extended the shelf life of federally stockpiled Tamiflu from the original five years to seven years because studies indicated that the medication continues to maintain its effectiveness.

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Swine Flu | Video of Dr. Joe Bresee with the CDC Influenza Division describes swine flu

Watch video Dr. Joe Bresee (CDC) about H1N1 (Swine Flu)- its signs and symptoms, how it's transmitted, medicines to treat it, steps people can take to protect themselves from it, and what people should do if they become ill | Tags : swine flu symptoms,swine flu vaccine,swine flu parties,swine flu deaths spanish flu,swine flu debacle 1976,bird flu,sars,Dr. Joe Bresee

Swine Flu Prevention

Keywords : Swine Flu, Swine Influenza, Swine Flu Symptoms, Swine Flu Deaths | Author : Nathan | Source : www.articlesbase.com

There is a lot of anxiety among our society concerning the Swine Flu. It wouldn't be my personal preference to catch the illness because it seems to give a hard swift punishment to the victim. This strain can carry morph into any one of the three strains of influenza. Pigs do carry influenza viruses and can adapt or morph in humans. The swine flu can also change to infect birds, causing the strain to switch genes and create a pandemic.

Like any type of new illness there are precautions people can take to prevent infection and the spread of the Swine Flu. It natural for people to cough directly into their hands. All the germs coming from the reparatory system are transported from the internal body and passed along to places, like car keys, door knobs, drinking fountains, and door handles. This can devastate the main population if one is carrying the actual Swine Flu. Create a habit of coughing into your shoulder or into your arm to minimize the spread of all germs and not just the Swine Flu.

At night it would be favorable to spray Lysol spray on light switches, toilet seats, toilet handles, freezer and fridge handles to kill the Swine flu and other bacteria. Lysol is a powerful deterrent to assist in the spread of germs, and illness. Pump bottles of hand sanitizer will help kill the germs on the surface of the skin and can assist in preventing the spread of the Swine flu. But there is a more advanced and preferred method to preventing the spread of Swine Flu.

We have been taught from an early age to wash our hands. Many take for granted the hand washing philosophy. The truth is that Lysol, hand sanitizer, coughing into the arm are all good ways but a good solid deep hand wash is the number one method for preventing the spread of germs. Hand sanitizer, and Lysol only kill the surface of where these items are applied. A deep hand wash bypasses the surface of the skin and really digs down to the grooves and pits of the hand. Ridges within the hand can be microscopic and hard to get reach for the Lysol, and hand sanitizer. A good hefty dose of liquid soap will grind down to the microscopic ridges and pours in the hand and do real damage to destroy the Swine Flu.

Swine Flu Facts

Keywords : Swine Flu, Swine Influenza, Swine Flu Symptoms, Swine Flu Facts, Facts About Swine Flu, How Is The Swine Flu Transmitted, Swine Flu Epidemic, Swine Flu Info, Swine Flu Outbreak, Type A H1N1 Swine Influenza Virus, Swine Flu Myths And Facts, Swine Flu News | Author : Eric Kampel | Source : www.articlesbase.com


Swine influenza – Swine influenza or swine flu is a respiratory disease in pigs caused by the type A H1N1 swine influenza virus (SIV). Humans in close proximity to swine could contract swine influenza if the swine are carrying the rare strain of the SIV that is capable of affecting humans.

Symptoms – Swine flu symptoms in humans are generally similar to regular flu (influenza) symptoms and include muscle pain, runny nose, sore throat, cough, headache, lack of appetite, fever, chills, and general weakness and discomfort. Other reported symptoms are nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Transmission – Swine flu spreads from pigs to humans when humans are close to infected pigs. People working in barns or visiting livestock exhibits housing infected pigs are likely to get affected. Transmission from humans to humans can occur when the infected individual coughs or sneezes when others are close by. Putting one’s hands to the nose or mouth after touching anything with the flu viruses on it could also spread the infection. Consuming well-cooked pork and pork products won’t cause infection as cooking to an internal temperature of 160°F kills bacteria and viruses, including the swine flu virus.

Treatment and medication – While swine flu can generally be cured by the four antiviral drugs approved for curing flu in the US, amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir, the recent 2009 swine flu outbreak viruses have been found to be resistant to the first two drugs. Oseltamivir and zanamivir are now recommended for treatment and prevention of swine influenza.

Prevention – Swine flu can be prevented by taking certain precautionary measures, such as washing hands frequently with soap or an alcohol-based hand wash. Staying away from infected individuals is important as their coughing or sneezing could spread the infection. If instances of infection are reported in your locality, stay indoors as far as possible. Swine flue vaccine could be out by June 2009.

Swine Flu How Is It Contagious? - Important Facts You Should Know

Keywords : how is the swine flu transmitted, swine flu pandemic, swine flu symptoms, swine flu update, what is swine flu | Author : Amanda Edwards | Source : www.directorys.uniquearticles.info

You might bear in mind that knowledge of swine flu and how it is caught is one dependable routine for preventing becomming infected by the virus.

These days it seems to be all we hear about on the sunrise news, lunchtime and evening news. Swine flu it seems is hear to stay and dominating news papers worldwide. Regarding the swine flu symptoms being extremely contagious schools many schools have closed to try to stop the virus from spreading even more.

This makes sure that you are receiving a factual swine flu update on a regular basis – even daily – basis will help to decrease widespread panic and fear.
It is definately sensible to be knowledgeable about swine flu and preventative measures that you can take.

When you have finished reading through this article you will understand some important facts regarding swine flu and also tips to help you protect you and your family.

To begin with one of your first questions might be "what is the swine flu anyway?". Swine flu is an respiratory illness that begun in pigs. This particular stran of flu is now affecting humans, its scientific name is H1N1 as named by the United States Government.

Evidently, discovering how is swine flu transmitted means understanding that swine flu normally does not infect humans. Only those who were in constant, direct contact with infected pigs was at risk.

It is very unfortunate that this particular strain of the flu virus has managed to mutate and is now airborne, it is now proven to be passing via human to human contact.

And another thing, the swine flu incubation period can last for up to 7 days after you’ve been in contact with an infected person.

transmitted by eating pork products however that is not the case.

The CDC or Centers For Bug Control and Prevention is and always has recommend that you cook foods at a temperature of at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit in order to destoy not only the swine flu virus but other bacteria and viruses as well.

Since swine flu is transmitted through human contact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has let the cat out the bag about containment. It states that it is virtually impossible to contain the virus, so people around the world must focus every bit of effort on preventative proceedures.

A great example of this, is people who do not cover their mouth when coughing or sneezing, these people will inevtiably pass it on to others. The CDC has said that everyone should be covering their mouths with a large tissue and sneeze or cough into that tissue, also with their arms covering their face. Catch It, Destoy It, Bin It!

The CDC is also promoting good hygiene this is the most important measure that everyone can take, hands can be washed with soap or antibacterial soaps, washing your hands should last for a minimum of 20 seconds to make sure all germs are killed off.

It is worth the money to purchase some antibacterial hand gel, I for my part use milton, but there are many of the market. We use milton to spray door handles, toilets, surfaces etc.

Look, uncovering just how the swine is caught is your ticket to optimal health during this time of global crisis. You can agree that prevention is the best policy can’t you?



Amanda loves to research and test new products including digital products, health ideas, once tested she writes about them giving her own experience. For all of the latest products, news, and case studies please see Swine Flu Tips

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How To Avoid Swine Flu Our Top 8 Tips

Keywords : swine flu, swine flu symptoms, swine flu outbreak, how to avoid swine flu | Author : Amanda Edwards | Source: www.directorys.uniquearticles.info

First things first. The easy fact of the matter is Swine influenza is zip to make fun of. However, according to health experts, the general public should be vigilant and not panic.

You're probably thinking that's's simpler said than done. Right?
But just keep on reading and find out how to dodge this infection and keep you and your family|folks} safe.

The final analysis is the swine flu outbreak was at first thought to only be transmitted from pigs to humans. Now, studies show that it is being spread through human contact and is quickly becoming one of the most theeatening influenza viruses of our time.

The CDC ( Center For Disease Control ) and The World Health Organization have been working constantly to keep us in the know.up to date with all the confirmed cases and deaths from the virus all around the world.
Here are the details on swine flu symptoms :

1. Runny nose
2. Achy muscles
3. Listlessness
4 Absence of appetite
5. Unexpected onset of fever over 101

I am sure you can see clearly see, it is hard to notice the difference between other types of influenza symptoms, so this type of the virus needs a diagnosis from your well-being specialist.

But, do not fret, there are some very effective paths to ward off infection and stop the spread of swine influenza.

Listen awfully carefully now :
One - do not gamble it. If you are suffering from flu likesymptoms, simply remain at home. Since these symptoms mirror regular cold and flu symptoms, its better to be safe than sorrowful.

Two - learn how to cough and sneeze. Here's the deal - cough or sneeze into the interior of your elbow on your arm. This is the most effective way to

Three - Wash hands frequently and totally. Whatever you touch might be affected, so a good rule of thumb is to keep your hands clean to cut down on your odds of becoming infected.

Four - Simply have a tube of hand sanitizer with you at all time. This way you can constantly clean your hands.

Five - Beware of public places. Door handles and even ink pens are breeding grounds for germs. Avoid touching them at any cost.

Six - Be cautious on airplanes. The close quarters of an airplane is a place where germs like the swine flu virus lurk so protect yourself.

Seven - Wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Get your vegetables and fruit locally if you can. Wash them with water and soak them to increase the effectiveness.

Eight - Telephone Your doctor. If you are experiencing any severeflu like symptoms see your doctor straight away. As stated earlier, only your well being expert can diagnose your particular kind of the flu. Remember not to go in to the doctors surgery without pre-warning them on telephoning as it spreads like wild fire and vulnerable patients may be awaiting appointments in the surgery.

pay attention to what you have learned here about the swine flu. Hang in there and protect yourself as best as possible. By following the straightforward suggestions here, you'll lessen your possibilities of becoming sick.



Amanda loves to research and test new products including digital products, health ideas, once tested she writes about them giving her own experience. To find out more information on protecting yourself from swine flu please click here

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The Symptoms of Swine Flu H1N1

Article Tags : swine flu symptoms, symptoms of swine flu, signs of swine flu, symptoms of the swine flu, what are the symptoms of swine flu

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Article Tittle : What are the Symptoms of Swine Flu H1N1?

Swine flu (also known as swine influenza) is referred to as H1N1 virus of A type. This is the recent strain of flu which has affected people all around the world. This virus is a combined effect of bird flu, swine flu and human flu. This new strain is highly infectious and has become the most talked and seen news on television. It is a pandemic disease and people are really scared of it. H1N1 virus spreads out to other countries by way of people travelling from one country to another.