We are today (more and more|more} at risk from the various mutations of the flu virus. initially we had alarms over bird flu, and more recently swine flu has become the major worry. Swine flu is more serious than bird flu ever was. It was feared that bird flu could change into a form that could infect humans, apart from a handful of cases, this situation did not materialize. Swine flu is a larger concern, swine flu has the ability to pass from human to human making swine flu a very serious threat.
Swine flu, or to be more correct influenza A (H1N1), is a disease that effects pigs and is the result of a flu virus. Outbreaks of swine flu in pigs is not uncommon but is only rarely fatal. Swine flu doesn’t normally infect humans, although it can happen occasionally.
Swine flu is very dangerous as it is a new type of virus. It is dangerous because no one has been exposed to this particular strain of flu previously, and therefore no one has developed any immunity. It is our immunity that stops diseases from becoming life threatening, with no inbuilt immunity to swine flu we are at the mercy of the virus. Absolutely everyone is vulnerable, this includes healthy adults and teenagers as well as young children and the elderly.
The real concern is what occurs when winter arrives. This is the period when the virus may quickly spread causing widespread illness with possibly over half of the population becoming infected.
The symptoms of swine flu are similar to the symptoms of ordinary flu. These can include a sudden,sudden onset of fever, cough or a shortness of breath. Other symptoms that may present themselves include headaches, a sore throat, muscle aches, chills, sneezing, a runny nose, appetite loss and tiredness.
Precautions to take First, anyone with cold or flu symptoms needs to take a few simple, but most important precautions. The virus is spread between humans by the droplets from the nose and mouth when someone sneezes or coughs. This is how viruses are spread from person to person. Covering your face with your hands when you sneeze or cough is not enough. The germs simply sit on your hands, and everything you handle afterwards becomes contaminated. Anyone touching the same place as you will pick up the flu virus and will then risk becoming infected. Always use a handkerchief or a tissue. A tissue is far better, this should then be disposed of as soon as possible, and always use a new tissue if you sneeze or cough again.
At the moment there are no vaccinations to stop anyone catching swine flu. Swine flu is a new type of virus and is not the same as ordinary flu. Therefore the vaccination against the normal ordinary flu is not effective against swine flu. Once the strain of flu virus causing swine flu is identified, it will take several months to produce. By this time, it may well have mutated into a different strain again.
The only effective treatment against the swine flu virus is Tamiflu. Tamiflu isn’t guaranteed to stop flu, but when someone has been exposed to another person who is carrying the flu virus, Tamiflu can help to stop the virus making a person ill. If Tamiflu is taken within 2 days of developing flu, it can help to stop the virus spreading throughout the body, reducing the symptoms and associated risk. Governments are stockpiling Tamiflu, the supplies will first be used to treat key workers and individuals before the general population.
You can buy Tamiflu online, so if the situation arises you can protect yourself and your family. It can’t be emphasized strongly enough, Tamiflu needs to be taken as soon as possible if it is to be effective, delays in treating the virus will greatly reduce the effectiveness of Tamiflu. If you are at a greater risk because of your situation, such as For example living in a busy city with a large population or working in a busy office, then it may be prudent to buy Tamiflu before the flu season begins. If you live in the country and don’t have close contact with many people then of course your risk will be lower.
Remember that swine flu is a worldwide problem. If a pandemic outbreak becomes global it is possible that supplies of Tamiflu may not be enough to meet a large worldwide demand.
Until a vaccine is discovered and manufactured in the large quantities needed, Tamiflu is the most effective treatment for swine flu.
Disclaimer: This post is based on information freely available in the popular press and medical journals concerned with swine flu. Nothing in this post is meant to be or should be construed to be medical advice. For medical advice you are advised to consult with your own physician.