Swine Flu, What Precautions You Can Take And Treatments Available

Today we are (more and more|more} vulnerable from the various strains of the flu virus. initially we had alarms over bird flu, but more recently swine flu has become the major concern. Swine flu is of more concern than bird flu was. It was a worry that bird flu could mutate into a strain that could infect humans, apart from a few cases, this situation did not materialize. Swine flu is a bigger 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 respiratory disease that effects pigs and is caused by a flu virus. Outbreaks of swine flu in pigs is not uncommon but is rarely fatal. Swine flu has not normally infected humans, although it can occasionally happen.

Swine flu is very dangerous as it is a new type of the flu virus. This means that no one has been exposed to this particular strain of flu before, and therefore no one has developed 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. This is the period when the swine flu virus may quickly spread causing a flu pandemic with the possibility of over half the population becoming infected.

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

Precautions 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 sneezes or coughs. This is the way viruses such as swine flu are spread from person to person. Covering your face with your hands when you cough or sneeze is not enough. The germs simply sit on your hands, then everything you touch afterwards becomes contaminated. Anyone then touching the same place as you will pick up the flu virus and will then risk becoming infected themselves. Therefore, always use a handkerchief or a tissue. A tissue is far better, this should then be disposed of as soon as possible, and always use a fresh tissue if you sneeze or cough again.

There are currently no vaccinations to stop anyone catching the swine flu virus. The swine flu virus is a new type of virus and is not the same as ordinary flu. Therefore the annual vaccination against the usual seasonal flu isn’t effective against swine flu. Once the strain of flu causing swine flu is identified, it will then take many months to produce. By which time, it may have mutated into a different strain again.

Currently the only real effective precaution against swine flu is Tamiflu. Tamiflu is not guaranteed to stop flu, but when someone has been exposed to another person who has the swine flu virus, it can help to stop the virus making a person ill. If Tamiflu is taken within two days of contracting the flu virus, it can help to stop the virus spreading throughout the body, thereby reducing the symptoms and risk associated. Governments worldwide are stocking up on Tamiflu, these 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 occurs you can protect yourself and your family as much as possible. Although it cannot be emphasized strongly enough, Tamiflu needs to be taken as soon as possible if it is to be effective, any delays in treatment will greatly reduce the effectiveness of Tamiflu. If you think you may be at a greater 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 wise to buy Tamiflu before the winter flu season begins. If you live in the country and do not have a 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 great enough to meet a large global demand.

Until a vaccine is found and produced in the large 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 popular press and medical articles related to swine flu. Nothing herein is meant to be or should be taken to be any sort of medical advice. For medical advice you are encouraged to consult your own healthcare worker.