Posts Tagged ‘swine flu’
We are more at a greater risk from various strains of the flu virus than we have previously. First we had alarms over bird flu, and recently swine flu has become a major concern. Swine flu is a greater problem than bird flu was. It was feared that bird flu may mutate into a strain that might become infectious in humans, apart from a few isolated cases, this has not materialized so far.
Swine flu is of more concern, it has the ability to spread from person to person making it an extremely serious health problem. Swine flu (influenza A (H1N1)) is an influenza virus that infects pigs. Swine flu outbreaks in pigs does not normally infect humans although it can happen occasionally.
Swine flu is particularly dangerous to humans because it is a previously unknown strain of virus. This means that no one has been in contact with this strain previously, which means no one has developed any immunity to this virus. With no built in immunity a disease is life threatening because our body is unable to defend against the virus. Absolutely everyone is vulnerable, including healthy adults and teenagers as well as young children and senior citizens.
Swine flu could easily give rise to a pandemic flu situation. A pandemic flu situation occurs when a flu viral strain develops that is dissimilar to previous flu strains that few, if any, humans have any sort of immunity to. This lets the flu virus to spread rapidly throughout the population.
Pandemic flu differs from seasonal flu as follows. Seasonal flu happens yearly during the winter, with about 10 to 15 percent of the population are infected and most people recover in 1 to 2 weeks with no medical treatment. Ordinary flu is usually only of risk to the elderly and people with diseases that result in them being more open to implications from the infection.
Pandemic influenza affects many more people, it can be up to half the population, it is far more serious, people of all ages may be infected.
The symptoms of swine flu are similar to the symptoms of ordinary flu. Symptoms include sudden onset of fever, a cough or shortness of breath. Symptoms that may also present themselves include headaches, sore throat, muscle aches, sneezing, chills, a runny nose, appetite loss and tiredness.
Precautions that can be taken. First, anyone with flu or cold symptoms needs to take a few easy precautions. The influenza virus is spread between people by the small droplets from the mouth and nose when someone sneezes or coughs. This is how viruses are spread through the population. Using your hands to cover your nose or mouth when you sneeze or cough is not effective enough. The germs remain on your hands, then everything you touch becomes contaminated. Other people can then touch these surfaces and become infected with the virus. Therefore, always use a handkerchief or disposable tissue. A tissue is better, this should be disposed safely as soon as possible, and always use a fresh tissue when you cough or sneeze again.
There are currently no vaccinations available to prevent anyone contracting swine flu. Swine flu is a new strain of virus. The annual vaccination against the normal seasonal influenza is not effective for swine flu. When the strain of flu causing swine flu is identified, it will take several months to manufacture. By this time, it could have mutated into a different type again.
The best precaution you can take against swine flu is Tamiflu. Tamiflu is not guaranteed for the prevention of swine flu, but if you have been exposed to someone who has the flu virus, it can help to stop the virus making a person sick. If Tamiflu is administered within 48 hours of acquiring the swine flu virus, it may help in stopping the virus spreading through the body, thereby reducing the symptoms and the risk associated with the flu virus. Governments worldwide are stocking Tamiflu, these supplies will be used to treat key workers before the general population.
however you buy Tamiflu online, so if the situation arises you can protect yourself and family as much as is possible. It cannot be emphasized enough, Tamiflu needs to be administered as early as possible to be effective, delays in treatment will reduce the effectiveness of Tamiflu.
Also, remember that swine flu is a global problem. If a pandemic outbreak becomes global it is possible that supplies of Tamiflu may become low and may not be enough to meet a huge worldwide demand. Until such time that a vaccine is discovered and produced in the amounts needed, Tamiflu is the only really effective treatment for the swine flu virus, it would therefore be prudent to buy Tamiflu beforehand if you think you could be at risk.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information that is freely available in {the popular#the} press and medical journals concerned with swine flu. Nothing in this posting is intended to be or should be taken to be medical advice. For medical advice you should consult your healthcare worker.
We are ever more at at more risk from the various mutations of the flu virus than we have been for a long time. We had concerns over bird flu, and more recently swine flu has become a major health problem. Swine flu is of more problem than bird flu. It was a worry that bird flu may mutate into a strain that would become infectious in humans, apart from a few cases, this has not occurred.
Swine flu is of much more concern, swine flu can pass between humans which makes it an extremely serious health problem. Swine flu or influenza A (H1N1) is a flu virus which infects pigs. Outbreaks of swine flu in pigs doesn’t normally infect people although it can happen sometimes.
Swine flu is a unknown type of virus and therefore is extremely dangerous to people. No one has had contact with this type before, which means no one has developed any immunity to this virus. It is our inbuilt immunity that prevents viruses from becoming life threatening, without built in immunity we are unable to defend ourselves from the virus. Everyone is vulnerable, including healthy adults and teenagers as well as the young and the elderly.
Swine flu could easily give rise to a pandemic flu situation. Pandemic flu situation occurs when an influenza viral strain 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 in the population.
Pandemic flu differs from seasonal flu as follows. ordinary flu occurs annually during the winter period, about 10 to 15 percent of people will be affected and most people will recover in one to two weeks without medical treatment. seasonal flu is usually only risky to the elderly and those with diseases that make them more vulnerable to complications from an infection.
Pandemic flu affects more people, up to half the population, pandemic flu is much more serious, all ages can be affected.
Swine flu symptoms are very similar to the symptoms of ordinary influenza. These symptoms include a sudden onset of a fever, cough or shortness of breath. Symptoms that may present themselves include headache, sore throats, muscle aches, sneezing, chills, a runny nose, loss of appetite and tiredness.
What precautions should you take. First, anyone with flu or cold symptoms should take a few easy, but very important precautions. The influenza virus is spread between humans from the small droplets from the nose and mouth when someone sneezes or coughs. This is how a virus like swine flu are spread through the population. Using your hands when you sneeze or cough is not enough. The virus simply sit on your hands, then everything you touch becomes contaminated with germs. Anyone who the touches the same surface as you will pick up the virus and then risks becoming infected. Always use a handkerchief or disposable tissue. A tissue is better, the tissue should be disposed safely as soon as possible, and always use a new tissue if you sneeze or cough again.
A vaccination against swine flu is not available. The vaccination for ordinary flu is ineffective in the fight against swine flu. By the time a vaccination is discovered, it can take many months to make, and by that time the virus might have mutated again making a new vaccination possibly ineffective.
The best precaution you can take against swine flu is Tamiflu. Tamiflu isn’t guaranteed to prevent flu, but if you have been in contact with someone else who has the flu virus, it will help in stopping the virus making a person sick. If Tamiflu is taken within 48 hours of contracting the flu virus, Tamiflu can help to stop the flu virus from spreading throughout the body, thereby alleviating the signs and symptoms and the risk associated with the flu virus. Governments worldwide are stocking up on Tamiflu, these supplies will be used in treating important workers and individuals before the general population.
however you buy Tamiflu online, if the situation occurs you can protect yourself and loved ones as much as possible. It can’t be emphasized enough, Tamiflu does need to be taken as soon as possible for it to be effective, any delays in treatment will reduce how effective Tamiflu is.
Remember, swine flu is a worldwide problem. Should a pandemic outbreak become global it is a possibility that supplies of Tamiflu may be diminished and may not meet a huge worldwide demand. Until such time that a vaccine is discovered and manufactured in the amounts needed, Tamiflu is the only really effective treatment for swine flu, it would therefore be prudent to buy Tamiflu beforehand if you feel you or your loved ones are at risk.
Disclaimer: This post is based on information that is freely available in {the popular#the} press and medical articles concerned with swine flu. Nothing herein is meant to be or should be taken to be any sort of medical advice. For medical advice you are advised to consult your own physician.
Every day we are getting reports and reading news about the outbreak of Swine Flu in Mexico. There have been a handful of cases in the US and other countries like Spain, Germany etc that have tested positive. “What is Swine Flu” is the question rising in everyone’s mind?” Swine flu as the name suggests usually affects pigs. However, with some changes to its original form it has now also affected humans. It can infect from human to human in a short period.
We need to keep ourselves informed about the flu to ensure that there are no extreme panic responses to the infection. The name swine flu has been given as it resembles the flu that infects the pigs. Earlier too, there were swine flu casesbut that infection was mainly among those who came in direct contact with pigs. However, the new virus that has spread is a virulent new strain. It is has infected many people who have no contact with pigs at all. Flu A, B and C are the different types of a flu. It is further categorized as per surface molecules, H for Haemagglutinin and N. The new strain that is circulating is H1N1 virus known to circulate in humans as well as pigs and birds.
Whether it is a communicable disease or not?
According to the Health Protection Agency (HPA) the new swine flu is highly contagious and easily spreads from person to person. It spreads in a similar manner as ordinary colds and flu. The main source is the droplets that come out of the nose and mouth when an affected person coughs or sneezes. If the person fails to cover the nose or mouth while coughing and sneezing, the virus may be transferred to anyone within a one meter distance. Similarly it may also spread if a person coughs or sneezes into their hands and those droplets with the virus are transferred to any surface that the person touches like door handles and hand rails. When you touch these surfaces and touch your face the virus may enter into your system and you can become infected.
Symptoms
The symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of the regular flu. The symptoms of this disease are sore throat, cough, fever, body aches, headache, fatigue and chills. The 2009 outbreak also has people reporting diarrhea and vomiting. However, with these symptoms being common to regular flu it requires a lab test to find if its swine flu or any other condition. Fatality is caused due to complications like pneumonia and respiratory failure.
To avoid spread if you have flu symptoms, it is preferable to stay home and use a tissue when you cough or sneeze. It is necessary to throw away the tissue and wash hands clean. Tamiflu and Relenza are known to be more effective drugs when taken within 48 hours of the start of flu like symptoms.
Keeping yourself informed of what is happening in your community is very important. Seek the guidance of the local health department to understand the situation in your area and ensure preventive measures as per their advice.
The word swine flu has suddenly become popular and has been creating fear in several minds for the past few weeks. Human are also being affected with swine flu. The real bad news is that this disease easily transfers from human to human and gives you no time to act on it. This sudden out burst of swine flu posses a big challenge to the medical industry, as doctors around the world have no cure for it. If you learn more about this pandemic you would realize that swine flu is just a virus that is creating panic among people across the world especially US.
A number of cases has been detected with swine flu. Many innocent people stumbled to death while fighting this disease. The sudden outburst of swine flu left experts with no time to come up with a vaccine that can prevent and cure the disease. Swine flu contains components of pigs and bird virus for which the human immune system is not prepared. As the human immune system cannot fight back this disease, one easily loses life. Swine flu is quickly transmissible from one human to another. Read the rest of this entry »