Swine Flu “Prevention is better than cure”
What is H1N1 (swine) flu ?
H1N1 Influenza (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 happen. 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.
Is this H1N1 (swine) flu virus contagious ?
CDC has determined that this virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human through coughing and sneezing, as well as through touching contaminated surfaces. However, at this time, it is unknown how easily the virus spreads between people.
What are the signs and symptoms of H1N1 (swine) flu in people ?
The symptoms of H1N1 (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 H1N1 (swine) flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with H1N1 (swine) flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, H1N1 (swine) flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.
In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish or gray skin color • Not drinking enough fluids
• Severe or persistent vomiting • Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with 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
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Can people catch H1N1 (swine) flu from eating pork?
No. H1N1 (swine) influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You cannot get H1N1 (swine) influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products are safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the H1N1 (swine) flu virus as it does to other bacteria and viruses, however, it is still unknown if the virus can be transmitted to humans through uncooked pork, therefore, safety measures such as wearing gloves while handling raw pork and separating pork preparation equipment from other equipment is required , also cleaning and sanitizing pork preparation surfaces and equipment continuously is extremely important since the virus has shown it can survive on the surfaces for 2-8 hours.
What should I do to keep from getting the flu?
First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick, even with the regular human flu as the symptoms and signs of most flu viruses are very similar
What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?
If you are sick even with regular human flu, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.
What do the hygiene experts recommend ?
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with ( Hybac) antibacterial hand soap and hot water and further sanitize hands with ( HyGel) (Hyanaol) alcohol gel hand sanitizer. It is recommended to rub hands with soap and water for 15 to 20 seconds. Also, rubbing both hands with alcohol-gel until the gel is dry. Finally, it is also highly recommended to sanitize all surfaces and equipment with a quaternary surface sanitizer (GX-6) through spraying and leaving for 5-10 minutes contact time to kill the virus.
