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We are ever more at a greater risk from various strains of the flu virus than we have been previously. First we had great concerns about bird flu, but now swine flu has manifested as a major concern. Swine flu is of more problem than bird flu. It was a worry that bird flu may mutate into a strain that could become infectious in humans, apart from a few cases, this has not happened to date.
Swine flu is of more concern, swine flu has the ability to pass from person to person which makes it a very serious threat. So what exactly is swine flu. Swine flu, or influenza A (H1N1), is a respiratory disease that infects pigs, swine flu is the result of an influenza virus. Swine flu outbreaks in pigs is common but is rarely fatal. Swine flu doesn’t usually infect people, although it can happen occasionally when people have been in close contact with infected pigs.
Swine flu is a unknown type of virus and is therefore very dangerous to people. This means that no one has been in contact with this particular type previously, which means no one has developed any immunity to this virus. Without inbuilt immunity a virus can be life threatening because our bodies are unable to defend against the virus. Absolutely everyone is vulnerable, this includes healthy adults as well as children and elderly citizens.
Swine flu could easily give rise to a pandemic influenza situation. Pandemic flu occurs when a flu virus develops that is dissimilar to previous influenza types that few, if any, humans have any sort of immunity to. This lets the flu virus to spread widely and rapidly in the population.
Ordinary flu and swine flu differ as explained below ordinary flu happens yearly during the winter period, 10 to 15 percent of the population are affected and most people recover within 1 to 2 weeks with no medical treatment. It is generally only risky to elderly citizens and people with conditions that make them more open to complications from an infection.
A pandemic outbreak of influenza affects far more of the population with up to half the population infected. It affects people of every age.
The symptoms of swine flu are very similar to the symptoms of ordinary influenza. These symptoms include a sudden onset of fever, cough or a shortness of breath. Other symptoms that may also be present may include headache, sore throat, aching muscles, sneezing, chills, a runny nose, appetite loss and tiredness.
What precautions can we take. Anyone showing flu or cold symptoms should take some simple, but very important precautions. The influenza virus spreads between people from the small droplets from the mouth and nose when someone coughs or sneezes. This is the way viruses are spread from person to person. Covering your face with your hands when you cough or sneeze is not enough. The virus simply sit on your hands, and everything you touch afterwards becomes contaminated with the virus. Anyone who the touches the same place will pick up the germs and become infected. Therefore, always use a handkerchief or tissue. A tissue is better, this should be disposed safely as soon as possible, and always use a fresh tissue when you sneeze or cough again.
Currently there are no vaccinations to prevent anyone contracting swine flu. Swine flu is an unknown strain of virus. The annual vaccination against ordinary flu is not effective against swine flu. When the strain of flu causing swine flu is identified, it will then take many months to manufacture. By this time, it may have mutated into a different strain again.
The best precaution against swine flu is Tamiflu. Tamiflu is not guaranteed to prevent swine flu, but after someone has been exposed to another individual who has the flu virus, Tamiflu will help to stop the flu virus making a person ill. If Tamiflu is taken in the first 48 hours of acquiring the swine flu virus, Tamiflu will help to stop the flu virus spreading through the body, alleviating the symptoms and risk associated with the virus. Governments worldwide are stocking Tamiflu, but these supplies will be used to treat important workers and individuals before the population at large.
You can however buy Tamiflu online, so if the situation occurs you are able to give as much protection as possible to yourself and loved ones. Although it cannot be emphasized enough, Tamiflu does need to be administered as early as is possible for it to be effective, any delays in treating the virus will diminish how effective Tamiflu is.
Also, remember that swine flu is a global danger. If an outbreak becomes global it is possible that the supplies of Tamiflu may be diminished and may not meet a large global demand. Until a vaccine is discovered and manufactured in the quantities needed, Tamiflu is the only really effective treatment for the swine flu virus, it would sensible to buy Tamiflu in advance if you feel you could be at risk.
Disclaimer: This posting is based on information freely available in {the popular#the} media and medical journals concerned with swine flu. Nothing in this post is intended to be or should be construed to be medical advice. For medical advice you are encouraged to consult with your physician.
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