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Not to freak anybody out but if you haven't heard anything yet, you don't know that this thing is on the move. The more people know how to protect themselves, the better the chances of getting off scott free
Over 1000 cases in Mexico, and 11 cases in the U.S.. So far, it has a 8% fatality rate for those infected. The Spanish flu of 1918 had a 2.5% kill rate and killed 40 million people. Its allready here in the US, and officials expect it has already spread more than the reported cases because symptoms take days to show.
How to Protect yourself(taken from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ben-sherw ... 91459.html)
1. Sanitize -- i.e. Wash Your Hands Frequently. It may sound obvious, but hand-washing with soap and water for around 20 seconds is the single best thing you can do (if you're going to go out into the world and interact with other human beings). The CDC estimates that 80 percent of all infections are spread by hands. If you can't wash your hands regularly, try hand-sanitizers with 60 percent alcohol content.
2. Avoid -- i.e. Engage in Social Distancing." That's the fancy term for staying away from other people if you're sick or if you're concerned that they may be infected. It may not be especially practical when you have to go to, say, work, but experts believe it's worth repeating: Isolation and avoidance reduce your chances of getting infected or infecting others.
(Researchers in the UK - mentioned above and sponsored by a common cold remedy - found that 99 per cent of commuters suffer at least one cold per winter. By contrast, 58 per cent of peole who work from home and 88 per cent of those who walk to work caught a cold last winter).
3. Be Alert -- i.e. Recognize the Symptoms and Get Help. Swine flu symptoms are similar to regular flu: Fever, body aches, sore throat, cough, runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. If you don't feel well, seek medical attention. The current swine flu is resistant to two of four antiviral drugs approved for combating the flu. Symmetrel and Flumadine are apparently no use against this strain but Tamiflu and Relenza appear to work.
What are the chances of a global pandemic? "The situation is uncertain and unpredictable and likely to be a marathon more than a sprint," says Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Swine flu will dominate news headlines in the days ahead. Every case will be carefully tracked -- and deservedly so. And every sneeze should be covered -- preferably with the crook of an arm, not a hand, which inevitably spreads the germs to so many others.
Over 1000 cases in Mexico, and 11 cases in the U.S.. So far, it has a 8% fatality rate for those infected. The Spanish flu of 1918 had a 2.5% kill rate and killed 40 million people. Its allready here in the US, and officials expect it has already spread more than the reported cases because symptoms take days to show.
How to Protect yourself(taken from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ben-sherw ... 91459.html)
1. Sanitize -- i.e. Wash Your Hands Frequently. It may sound obvious, but hand-washing with soap and water for around 20 seconds is the single best thing you can do (if you're going to go out into the world and interact with other human beings). The CDC estimates that 80 percent of all infections are spread by hands. If you can't wash your hands regularly, try hand-sanitizers with 60 percent alcohol content.
2. Avoid -- i.e. Engage in Social Distancing." That's the fancy term for staying away from other people if you're sick or if you're concerned that they may be infected. It may not be especially practical when you have to go to, say, work, but experts believe it's worth repeating: Isolation and avoidance reduce your chances of getting infected or infecting others.
(Researchers in the UK - mentioned above and sponsored by a common cold remedy - found that 99 per cent of commuters suffer at least one cold per winter. By contrast, 58 per cent of peole who work from home and 88 per cent of those who walk to work caught a cold last winter).
3. Be Alert -- i.e. Recognize the Symptoms and Get Help. Swine flu symptoms are similar to regular flu: Fever, body aches, sore throat, cough, runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. If you don't feel well, seek medical attention. The current swine flu is resistant to two of four antiviral drugs approved for combating the flu. Symmetrel and Flumadine are apparently no use against this strain but Tamiflu and Relenza appear to work.
What are the chances of a global pandemic? "The situation is uncertain and unpredictable and likely to be a marathon more than a sprint," says Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Swine flu will dominate news headlines in the days ahead. Every case will be carefully tracked -- and deservedly so. And every sneeze should be covered -- preferably with the crook of an arm, not a hand, which inevitably spreads the germs to so many others.
