The Mexican Swine Flu Outbreak: A Threat to Your Health?

In recent news, containment procedures have been implemented in Mexico City due to the emergence of a strangely "fierce" outbreak of swine flu virus. Quite simply, swine flu is a virus that normally spreads through pigs, but is still able to infect humans and spread through human-to-human contact. Border states like Texas are paying particular attention to this, as the virus has already caused several deaths in Mexico according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An outbreak of a strain of virus, especially one with the potential for a pandemic, should not be taken lightly.

Lets have a quick look at the Swine Flu. It's symptoms are very similar to the human flu; fever, sore throat, coughing, etc. It has complications just like the regular flu, such as pneumonia and respiratory failure. It differs in severity, but age and the strength of your immune system need to be taken into consideration. So what should you be thinking about, and what special precautions should you take, if any?

Before anything else, the one thing that must be done in regards to an outbreak is to arm yourself with information. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the World Health Organization, and even the U.S Government itself has information on the Flu and what steps you can take to protect yourself. Besides those online information sources, simply keeping up with news reporting on this outbreak will keep you one step ahead.

Also, follow normal health habits; washing your hands is one of the best and most underestimated methods you can use as a preventative measure. Please keep in mind that you can only get this Swine Flu in two ways; directly from an infected pig, or from an infected person. At this point, the general population is relatively safe. Nevertheless, being cautious is a wise decision. If you are wondering if the Swine Flu virus can be caught or spread through pork, the answer is no; properly cooked and handled pork is perfectly safe.

For one last tidbit that should give a little peace of mind, the Swine flu is treatable with newer anti-viral drugs, specifically oseltamivir and zanamivir (Brand Names Tamiflu and Relenza).

So that is the swine flu in a nutshell. Virus outbreaks of any kind are always looked at closely to see if they have any potential of an pandemic, and agencies like the CDC and the WHO are always working to identify and contain threats to public health. Being informed is the best thing you can do to protect yourself, your family and your friends. Stay Alert.

Sources:
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE53O0MW20090425