The Swine Flu Madness

At first I thought the H1N1 influenza virus, commonly known to the public as Swine Flu, was not going to stick around; that it would not harm or kill anyone. I was wrong-dead wrong as a matter of fact.

I work as a news correspondent for a Philippine-based network so I conduct plenty of researches and interviews on different subjects. Out of the blue, a strange news broke out about a strain of influenza virus, which was reported to be spreading at an unprecedented rate. From that moment on, I kept a closer look on the news and wrote a few articles about it myself. I even reported it internationally through UNTV 37, where I work as an international reporter.

The swine flu pandemic swept across the US and around the globe, for the most part. There were only a few places that survived the menacing poison of this beast. Sadly for some nations, there were even a few number of deaths reported and many nations continued to struggle to find the cure for the H1N1 virus, including the United States. We are fortunate enough in the US to have great medical facilities and advance scientific knowledge compared to the third world countries that have been devastated by swine flu. But those advantages did not stop the virus from killing some of our constituents. The deadly influenza virus had managed to claim over 4,100 lives worldwide according to World Health Organization (WHO) officials as of last month.

Flu season is here once more so the swine flu pandemic resurfaces and is still quite a big concern. People are rushing to get their flu shots from their medical providers the first opportunity they find. I will be getting mine on the 17th of this month since that is also my annual physical health assessment (PHA) schedule for my military service. My spouse and children will get their shots around the same time. Nowadays we must be extra careful because we don't know what is floating in the air; what is being sprayed in our foods, especially fruits and vegetables; and what we consume when we drink tap water. Keeping ourselves healthy by boosting our immune system is one way to prevent contracting viral diseases like the dreaded H1N1 flu virus.

Keep safe always and do not take your health for granted, especially your loved ones' health. If your flu shot is due, you must get it done without delay. The small amount you will spend to get the shot is well worth it and it could mean your wellness and safety from the wrath of the swine flu.

Source:

"World swine flu cases surge, deaths also up", AFP News