We are today (more and more|more} at risk from the various mutations of the flu virus. First we had scares over the bird flu virus, but recently swine flu has become the latest worry. Swine flu is more serious than bird flu ever was. It was feared that bird flu could mutate into a form that would infect humans, apart from a handful of cases, this did not materialize. Swine flu is a larger worry, it has the ability to spread from human to human making it a dangerous threat.
Swine flu (influenza A (H1N1) is a disease that effects pigs and is caused by a flu virus. Outbreaks of swine flu in pigs is not uncommon but is only rarely fatal. In the past, swine flu has not normally infected humans, but it can happen occasionally.
Swine flu is extremely dangerous because it is a new type of the flu virus. This means that no one has been in contact with this particular strain of flu previously, and 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 immunity to the swine flu virus we are at the mercy of the virus. Absolutely everyone is vulnerable, including healthy adults and teenagers as well as young children and the elderly.
The real worry is what will happen when winter arrives. This is the period when the swine flu virus may quickly spread causing a flu pandemic with possibly over half of the population being affected.
The symptoms of swine flu are very similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu. The symptoms include a sudden,sudden onset of fever, cough or a shortness of breath. Other symptoms that may present themselves include headaches, a sore throat, aching muscles, chills, sneezing, a runny nose, appetite loss and tiredness.
Precautions to take First, anyone with cold or flu symptoms should to take a few simple, but very important precautions. The virus is spread between humans from the droplets from the mouth and nose when someone sneezes or coughs. This is the way viruses such as swine flu are passed from person to person. Holding your nose and mouth with your hands when you cough or sneeze is not enough. The virus then live on your hands, then everything you touch afterwards becomes contaminated. Anyone touching anything you touched will pick up the germs and then risks becoming infected. Therefore, always use a handkerchief or a tissue. A tissue is far better, this should then be disposed of safely as soon as possible, try to use a fresh tissue if you sneeze or cough again.
There are currently no vaccinations that prevent anyone catching the swine flu virus. Swine flu is a new strain of virus and isn’t the same as ordinary flu. Therefore the annual vaccination against the normal seasonal flu isn’t effective against the swine flu virus. Once the type of flu causing swine flu is identified, it will then take many months to produce. By which time, it may have mutated into a different strain again.
Currently the only real effective precaution against swine flu is Tamiflu. Tamiflu is not guaranteed to prevent flu, but when a person has been exposed to another person who is carrying the swine flu virus, it can help prevent the virus making a person ill. If Tamiflu is taken within two days of contracting the flu virus, Tamiflu can help to stop the virus spreading throughout the body, thereby reducing the symptoms and associated risk. Governments are stockpiling Tamiflu, but these supplies will naturally be used to treat important workers and individuals before treating the general population.
You can however buy Tamiflu online, if the situation arises you can protect yourself and your family as much as possible. Although it cannot be emphasized strongly enough, Tamiflu needs to be taken as early as possible to be effective, delays in treatment will reduce the effectiveness of Tamiflu. If you are at a greater risk due to your situation, such as For example living in a busy 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 do not have close contact with many people then you will be at a lower risk.
Remember that swine flu is a worldwide problem. It is possible that supplies of Tamiflu may be diminished and may not be enough to meet a large global demand.
Until a vaccine is discovered and manufactured in the large quantities required, Tamiflu is the most effective treatment for swine flu.
Disclaimer: This posting is based on information that is freely available in the press and medical journals concerned with swine flu. Nothing herein is intended to be or should be taken to be any sort of medical advice. For medical advice you are encouraged to consult with your own physician.
