Today we are more at a greater risk from various mutations of the flu virus than we have for a very long time. First we had great concerns over bird flu, but now swine flu has manifested as a major concern. Swine flu is a greater problem than bird flu. It was feared that bird flu may mutate into a strain that would infect humans, thankfully, apart from a few isolated cases, this has not occurred to date.
Swine flu is a much greater concern, swine flu is able to pass between people which makes it a very serious health problem. Swine flu or influenza A (H1N1) is an influenza virus that infects pigs. Swine flu outbreaks in pigs doesn’t normally infect people although it can occur occasionally.
Swine flu is extremely dangerous to people as it is a new strain of virus. This means that no one has been in contact with this particular type before, and therefore no one has developed any immunity to this particular strain. Without built in immunity a virus can be life threatening because our body is unable to defend against the virus. Absolutely 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 influenza situation. A pandemic flu occurs when a flu virus develops that is dissimilar to previous flu strains that very few, if any, humans have any immunity to. This lets the influenza virus to spread widely and rapidly throughout the population.
Pandemic flu differs from seasonal flu as explained below. ordinary flu occurs annually during the winter period, 10 to 15 percent of the population will be affected and the majority of people will recover in one to two weeks with no treatment. It is usually only risky to the elderly and people with diseases that make them more vulnerable to implications from an infection.
A pandemic flu outbreak affects far more people with up to half the population infected. Pandemic Influenza affects people of every age.
The symptoms of swine flu are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu. Symptoms can include a sudden onset of fever, a cough or a shortness of breath. Symptoms that may present themselves include headaches, sore throat, muscle aches, chills, sneezing, runny nose, loss of appetite and tiredness.
What precautions should you take. Anyone showing flu or cold symptoms should take a few simple precautions. The influenza virus is spread between people from the tiny droplets from the nose and mouth when someone coughs or sneezes. This is the way viruses are spread from person to person. Covering your face with your hands when you sneeze or cough is not enough. The germs remain on your hands, and everything you touch becomes contaminated with germs. Other people may then touch these surfaces and become infected. Therefore, always use a handkerchief or disposable tissue. A disposable tissue is much better, the tissue should be disposed of safely as soon as possible, and always use a new tissue when you sneeze or cough again.
Currently there are no vaccinations to stop anyone catching swine flu. Swine flu is an unknown type of virus. The seasonal vaccination against the normal seasonal flu is ineffective for swine flu. When the strain of flu causing swine flu is found, it will then take many months to manufacture. By this time, it may well have mutated into a different type again.
The best precaution you can take against swine flu is Tamiflu. Tamiflu isn’t guaranteed to prevent swine flu, but if you have been exposed to someone else who has the flu virus, Tamiflu may help to stop the flu virus making you sick. If Tamiflu is administered within 48 hours of acquiring the flu virus, it can help to stop the flu virus from spreading throughout the body, thereby alleviating the symptoms and the risk associated with the swine flu virus. Governments worldwide are stocking Tamiflu, these supplies will naturally be used to treat important workers before the general population.
You can buy Tamiflu online, if the situation arises 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 is possible to be effective, any delays in treatment will diminish how effective Tamiflu is.
Remember, swine flu is a worldwide problem. Should an outbreak become global it is possible that the supplies of Tamiflu may be diminished and may not meet a massive worldwide demand. Until a vaccine is found and produced in the amounts required, Tamiflu is the most effective treatment for the swine flu virus, it would therefore be prudent to buy Tamiflu in advance if you feel you or your family could be at risk.
Disclaimer: This posting is based on information freely available in {the popular#the} press and medical journals 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 should consult your healthcare worker.
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