Why is This Strain of Swine Flu so Scary?
Prevent Getting the H1N1 Swine Flu Virus
For one thing, this is a new strain of flu. H1N1 swine flu combines strains of avian (bird), human, and swine flu. Dr. Michele Ginsberg, community epidemiology chief for San Diego County, says that the advent of this swine flu reminds her of the early days of AIDS, when people were showing up at emergency centers with strange forms of pneumonia.²
Secondly, there is no vaccine yet for the H1N1 swine flu. In fact, it will be months before a vaccine is developed. Science, medicine, and the FDA simply do not move that fast, even in the face of a potential pandemic.
A lot of the people who have come down with the H1N1 swine flu virus have been in the 18-40 year old age group, the same age group that the great flu epidemic of 1918 affected.
Also, it's the wrong time of year. This is not the usual flu season. What happened in 1918 and again in 1957 and 1968 was that the flu lay dormant in the summer and then went full force in the fall. Something about this kind of dormancy must give flu strains time to grow stronger.
Nevertheless, all of these factors should not cause you to panic. There are simple ways to greatly reduce the risk to you and your family of getting H1N1 swine flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend³ that you take precautions against getting H1N1 swine flu in the following areas:
- Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze. Mucus flies out of your nose and mouth at about 20 mph, so if you already have swine flu, anyone within 10 - 20 feet of you is at risk for getting the H1N1 swine flu virus if you do not cover your nose and mouth. Also, do not reuse tissues. Throw them away after use.
- Wash your hands often. This cannot be emphasized enough. After you use the bathroom, before you eat, before and after you leave the house, after you cough or sneeze - these are just some of the times you should wash your hands to prevent getting or reinfecting yourself with the H1N1 swine flu virus.
- Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with your bare hands. This is one way viruses spread.
- If you think you might be sick with H1N1 swine flu, stay at home. Limit your contact with people so that you do not spread germs.
- Change your towels often. Hand towels in particular are notorious for housing germs. If someone in your house is sick, use paper towels to dry your hands.
- Stay informed. Check the CDC site on H1N1 swine flu once in awhile to see what they are recommending.
If you follow these simple precautions, you will dramatically reduce the likelihood that you or those you love will get the H1N1 swine flu virus. Please call the CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO for more information.
¹ http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MED_SWINE_FLU?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
² http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-sci-swine-tictoc3-2009may03,0,1871998.story
³ http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu
Published by Sandra Essary
Sandra is a featured travel contributor for Associated Content at Yahoo!. She has traveled extensively in the US, Europe, and the Caribbean. She has also camped for over 35 years throughout the US. Besi... View profile
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25 Comments
Post a CommentSwine flu is worrisome :) Sheri
I have a bad immune system so it is really scarey to me.
wash...wash....wash is what we've been stressing around here for the past several weeks. Excellent reporting on this :)
Changing the towels made me think of my grandma, Nanny. She always always made us use paper towels in the kitchen. I asked her what she did back in the "old days" when she didn't have them and she said.."I washed the damn towels, what do you think?"... in her very big I don't know I am four feet tall voice. She told me all the germs hang out on the towels and then people just give them a free ride back onto hands and dishes. ACCCHOOOink! :) Just kidding.
Very good article..thank you!
Good info on this over reported strain of flu!
We just had our first case in Florida. I hope it fizzles out fast.
Yes, I've had fluey symptoms myself for five days now -- achy, cold symptoms, weak, etc. But it's not killing me so I haven't gone to the doctor, which is the case with a lot of people I imagine. It's just that this isn't the normal time of year for flu, and I don't get sick that often, so who knows.
I'm just getting over a fluey thing that's had me down for two weeks. Thought it was strep throat when it began, but swab was neg. Was given an antibiotic, which made no difference. As it dragged on & symptoms evolved, I figured it was a virus. Had every symptom of swine flu, but 2 wks ago no one in IN was suspect, so I assumed it couldn't be. Now some nurses tell me it may not be so virulent in everyone, & many recover w/ OTC meds & long rest. They now think it's under diagnosed, since people may figure they have some other flu or whatever & don't get tested. Well, 2 wks & I'm still recovering, but it's too late to test for the strain of virus. So maybe I had it, maybe not, but it did make me less panicky to know many can recover w/o special treatment. Still, if I thought when it hit me that it might be swine flu, I'd have gotten tested. And I would absolutely get a child w/ symptoms checked out quickly. Just my thoughts on it. Good info here, Sandra.
I don't know if we necessarily need to be scared, but hand sanitizer is my best friend all year long.