Swine Flu Pandemic...don't panic....seriously

Don't Panic!
As someone that lived across the street from North York General Hospital in Toronto during the SARS outbreak, I have some experience with the panic surrounding a new pandemic threat. Swine flu is not the same as SARS, but it is a virus, and there are many simple common sense things one can do to prevent the spread of viruses. The most important thing to do, is not to panic. Panicking causes stress and stress lowers your immune system's ability to fight off infections, including viral infections.

What is Swine Flu?
Global health officials are worried about an unusual new strain of flu that may have killed as many as 68 people in Mexico, with 1,000 showing possible symptoms. It has infected at least eight people in the United States.

In order to prevent further infections all public events have been cancelled in and around Mexico City, including two sold-out soccer matches.

What to do to prevent Swine Flu:
- as mentioned above...don't panic
- do not take anti-viral medications for prevention - side effects are not good - if you do start to show symptoms, anti-viral medications are best taken within the first 48 hours
- don't get a flu shot - the flu shot will not prevent swine flu
- don't go to Mexico
- avoid people that have recently returned from Mexico
- wash your hands
- teach your children how to wash their hands properly
- Hot water and soap for 20 seconds - I'm sorry Purell doesn't cut it
- increase Vitamin C up to 10,000 mg per day
- drink lots of water - 2 - 3 L of water per day
- avoid sugar - too much sugar will reduce your bodies ability to fight infections
- get lots of rest

Learn More

From the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website:
Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses. Outbreaks of swine flu happen regularly in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do occur. Most commonly, human cases of swine flu happen in people who are around pigs, but it's possible for swine flu viruses to spread from person to person, also.

The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu, as well. In the past, severe illnesses, such as pneumonia and respiratory failure, as well as deaths, have been reported with swine influenza infection in people, as well. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and, alternatively, prevention of infection with these swine flu viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines, such as pills, liquids, or inhaler that fights against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and can make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick, specifically within two days of symptoms.
People with swine influenza infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic, and possibly for up to seven days following the illness onset. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. However, there are everyday actions that people can take to help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people. If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth because germs can spread that way.

If you get sick. If you live in an area where swine flu infections have been reported, and if you become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact your health care provider, particularly if you're worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed. If you're sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care. In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include: fast breathing or trouble breathing, bluish skin color, not drinking enough fluids, not waking up or not interacting, being so irritable that the child does not want to be held, fever with a rash, or flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with a fever and worse cough.

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion, and severe or persistent vomiting.
People don't need to worry about eating or preparing pork. Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

Stay tuned for further updates.

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