So you’re at work, minding your own business, going about your daily office routines. You think it’s just another day in the office, just another busy day. You think you’re safe? Think again.
I was not minding about this virus before because I am confindent that it will never reach my place where I am working, 'till I got an E-mail from Nuffnang Philippines about Swine Flu. Suddenly, I stop for a while and think about it, then I started researching about this virus on the web.
What is Swine Flu?
Swine influenza (also called swine flu, hog flu and pig flu) refers to influenza caused by those strains of influenza virus, called swine influenza virus (SIV), that usually infect (is endemic in) pigs.As of 2009 these strains are all found in Influenza C virus and the subtypes of Influenza A virus known as H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2, and H2N3. Swine influenza is common in pigs in the midwestern United States (and occasionally in other states), Mexico, Canada, South America, Europe (including the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Italy), Kenya, Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan and other parts of eastern Asia.
Transmission of swine influenza virus from pigs to humans is not common and does not always cause human influenza, often only resulting in the production of antibodies in the blood. The meat of the animal poses no risk of transmitting the virus when properly cooked. If transmission does cause human influenza, it is called zoonotic swine flu. People who work with pigs, especially people with intense exposures, are at increased risk of catching swine flu. In the mid-20th century, identification of influenza subtypes became possible, this allows accurate diagnosis of transmission to humans. Since then, fifty confirmed transmissions have been recorded, Rarely, these strains of swine flu can pass from human to human. In humans, the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general, namely chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort.
The 2009 flu outbreak in humans, known as "swine flu", is due to a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 that contains genes closely related to swine influenza.The origin of this new strain is unknown. However, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reports that this strain has not been isolated in pigs.This strain can be transmitted from human to human, and causes the normal symptoms of influenza.
Pigs can become infected with human influenza, and this appears to have happened during the 1918 flu pandemic and the 2009 flu outbreak.
Source:Wikipedia
Recently, the number of swine flu cases in Japan are escalating with surprising speed, and health officials are not sure why. The Japanese government on Wednesday confirmed the first two cases of the disease in Tokyo, the world's most populous metropolitan area. Meanwhile, the number of Japanese who have contracted the new flu has more than doubled since May 18 from 130 to 279, a rate of increase that is "without a doubt" the highest in Asia, says Peter Cordingley, regional spokesman for the World Health Organization.
Where did the Swine Flu Started?
Most people confirmed with the new swine flu were infected in Mexico, where the number of deaths blamed on the virus has surpassed 150.
Here's one pictures of the Swine Flu:
A Lady helps her husband walk toward the emergency entrance of Mexico City's National Institute of Respiratory Illnesses. He was grunting, sweating and wearing tissue paper in his ears as the couple hurried to the hospital, with him showing symptoms of the influenza virus that has plagued the city.
What are the symptoms of swine flu?
The symptoms of swine flu are broadly the same as those of ordinary flu, but may be more severe and cause more serious complications.
Sudden fever, and sudden cough.
Other symptoms may include:
Headache,
Tiredness,
Chills,
Aching muscles,
Limb or joint pain,
Diarrhoea or stomach upset,
Sore throat,
Runny nose,
Sneezing, and
Loss of appetite.
If the flu becomes pandemic, potentially everyone is at risk because few people, if any at all, will have immunity (resistance) to it.
If you have any of these symptoms but a flu pandemic has not been announced, you could have seasonal flu.
Swine Flu Prevention:
Step 1 Always cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; ideally use something disposable like a tissue. Avoid touching your face, nose or mouth too frequently with your hands since swine flu appears to be transmitted through respiratory droplets in the same fashion as the common cold.
Step 2 How To Prevent Swine Flu InfectionWash your hands frequently with soap and water since swine flu like other viruses can be contracted by touching objects contaminated by the virus. It's unsure how long the swine flu virus can survive on surrounding surfaces.
Step 3 How To Prevent Swine Flu InfectionThough alcohol based hand sanitizers don't routinely kill viruses they probably do offer some limited protection in preventing swine flu infections.
Step 4If swine flu infections have been medically confirmed in your area consider avoiding large public gatherings. Individuals can be contagious with the swine flu virus for several day before demonstrating any signs or symptoms of infection. Be particularly careful about indoor gatherings where air circulates poorly.
Step 5 How To Prevent Swine Flu InfectionIf you're really paranoid and don't mind looking odd then consider wearing a respiratory mask. This barrier method does offer some basic protection against infection though not all masks are created equally. Higher quality masks capable of filtering out some respiratory infections are more expensive.
Step 6 How To Prevent Swine Flu InfectionIf you start feeling ill with cold or flu-like symptoms do not go to work. Stay home and begin the usual home remedies for colds and flu. Contact your health care provider, local health department or hospital emergency room if your symptoms worsen or fail to improve for information about where to go to be screened for possible swine flu infection.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE GLOBAL SWINE FLU AWARENESS MAP
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