December 12, 2009
Today we are (more and more|more} at risk from the various strains of the flu virus. First we had scares over bird flu, but recently swine flu has become the latest worry. Swine flu is more serious than bird flu ever was. It was a worry that bird flu may change into a strain that would effect humans, but for a handful of cases, this situation did not materialize. Swine flu is of much more worry, it is able to spread between humans making it a very serious threat.
Swine flu, or to be more correct influenza A (H1N1), is a respiratory disease that effects pigs and is the result of a flu virus. Outbreaks of swine flu in pigs is not uncommon and is rarely fatal. In the past, swine flu doesn’t normally infect humans, but it can happen occasionally.
Swine flu is particularly dangerous as it is a new type of virus. This means that no one has been exposed to this particular type of flu before, therefore no one has developed any immunity to this type of flu. It is our inbuilt immunity that prevents diseases from becoming life threatening, with no inbuilt immunity to swine flu we are in serious danger from the virus. Absolutely everyone is vulnerable, this includes healthy adults as well as young children and the elderly.
The real concern is what will happen when the flu season starts in the winter. This is the period when the swine flu virus may quickly spread causing a flu pandemic with the possibility of over half of the population being affected.
Swine flu symptoms are very similar to the symptoms of ordinary flu. The symptoms include a sudden,sudden onset of fever, cough or a shortness of breath. Other symptoms that may present themselves include headache, sore throat, muscle aches, chills, sneezing, a runny nose, loss of appetite and tiredness.
So what precautions can we take. Anyone with cold or flu symptoms needs to take a few simple, but most important precautions. The flu virus is spread between humans by the small droplets from the nose and mouth when someone coughs or sneezes. This is how viruses are passed from person to person. Holding your nose and mouth with your hands when you cough or sneeze is not enough. The germs then live on your hands, then everything you touch afterwards becomes contaminated. Anyone touching anything you touched will pick up the virus and then risks becoming infected. Always use a handkerchief or tissue. A tissue is far better, this should be disposed of safely as soon as possible, try to use a fresh tissue if you sneeze or cough again.
At the moment there are no vaccinations to prevent anyone catching swine flu. The swine flu virus is a new type of virus and isn’t the same as ordinary flu. The vaccination against the normal seasonal flu is not effective against swine flu. Even when the type of flu causing swine flu is identified, it will then take several months to produce. By which time, it may have changed into a different strain.
The only effective precaution against the swine flu virus is Tamiflu. Tamiflu is not guaranteed to stop flu, but when a person has been exposed to another person who has the flu virus, Tamiflu can help to stop the virus making a person sick. If Tamiflu is taken within 2 days of contracting the flu virus, Tamiflu can help to stop the virus spreading throughout the body, reducing the symptoms and associated risk. Governments are stockpiling Tamiflu, these supplies will be used to treat important workers and individuals before the general population.
You can however buy Tamiflu online, if the situation arises you can protect yourself and your family. It can’t be emphasized enough, Tamiflu has to be taken as early as possible to be effective, delays in treatment will greatly reduce the effectiveness of Tamiflu. If you are at a increased risk because of your situation, such as For example living in a city with a large population or for example working in a busy open plan office, then it may be prudent to buy Tamiflu before the winter flu season starts. If you happen live in the country and don’t have close contact with many people then you will be at a lower risk.
Remember that swine flu is a worldwide problem. If a pandemic outbreak becomes global it is possible that supplies of Tamiflu may be diminished and may not be enough to meet a large worldwide demand.
Until a vaccine is found and produced in the large quantities required, Tamiflu is the most effective treatment for the swine flu virus.
Disclaimer: This post is based on information that is freely available in the popular media and medical articles related to swine flu. Nothing in this article is meant to be or should be construed to be any sort of medical advice. For medical advice you are advised to consult with your own healthcare worker.
