Schools in session & that means one thing, cold & flu season.
This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. H1N1, also know as the Swine flu, is a respiratory infection caused by the influenza A virus. The Swine flu is spread from person-to-person much like the any seasonal flu. The influenza viruses infect the lining of the nose, throat and lungs. The virus enters your body when you inhale contaminated droplets or transfer live virus from a contaminated surface. The virus is then transferred to your eyes, nose or mouth hand via hand contact.
The Swine flu is a new strain with a genetic make up of the combination of the swine, avian & human influenza viruses.
Swine flu symptoms in humans are similar to those of infection with other flu strains:
Fever
Cough
Sore throat
Body aches
Headache
Chills
Fatigue
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Swine flu symptoms develop three to five days after you're exposed to the virus and continue for about eight days, starting one day before you get sick and continuing until you've recovered.
Usually there is no need for treatment other than the symptoms. However, in some cases a physician may prescribe medication to reduce sever symptoms.
Common sense play a VERY important role in prevention of any flu.
Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently with soap & water. A good 20-30 second of hand washing with warm water is best. School aged children are often taught to sing the ABC song or Happy Birthday, to know how long to wash. If facilities are unavailable to wash, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Flu viruses can survive for two hours or longer on surfaces, such as doorknobs and countertops.
Avoid contact. Stay away from crowds if possible.
Stay home if you're sick. If you do have swine flu, you can give it to others starting about 24 hours before you develop symptoms and ending about seven days later.
