Curious About Swine Flu - Your Questions Answered
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HOW DO I PROTECT MYSELF?
The best way to prevent the spread of swine flu is to wash your hands often, cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and stay home if you have any flu-like symptoms.
IS THERE ANYWAY TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE SWINE FLU AND THE REGULAR FLU?
The symptoms are similar: fever, aches and pains, cough and respiratory symptoms.
One thing to keep in mind is that we're seeing fewer cases of the traditional flu now, so if you develop those flu-like symptoms, it certainly could be swine.
HOW DOES THE SWINE FLU COMPARE TO THE BIRD FLU AND SARS OUTBREAKS FROM A FEW YEARS AGO?
Those outbreaks didn't actually reach the pandemic levels originally feared. Since 2003, there have been nearly 400 human cases of bird flu in a dozen countries -- mostly in Asia. More than 200 people died.
More than 8,000 people worldwide, including eight cases in the U.S., were reported to have the SARS virus. 774 people died, but that was declared contained in July of 2003.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO GET TO THE DOCTOR QUICKLY ONCE YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS?
If you have body aches and fever that you can manage from home, it's best to call your doctor's office first. Follow your doctor's advice on whether you should be tested.
It's best not to show up at your doctor's office or emergency room, where you could potentially expose other patients.
However, if you have serious symptoms like light-headedness, trouble breathing or confusion – get to an emergency room right away.
Officials believe many people died in Mexico because they did not seek treatment soon enough.
WILL MY 1970s VACCINE PROTECT ME?
There was an outbreak of swine flu among people back in 1976 at Fort Dix, New Jersey among military recruits. As many as 240 people were infected and one person – a recruit from western Massachusetts – died.
Scientists scrambled to engineer a vaccine to protect people from a widespread outbreak, but after 40 million people were vaccinated, they stopped, due to concerns about dangerous reactions.
As it turned out, infection dropped off quickly and there was no pandemic, but if you received a vaccine against swine flu back then, it is unlikely you'll still be protected against this new strain because it is a different strain and it's been over 30 years since the vaccination.
ARE THERE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SWINE FLU BUT HAVE NOT BEEN TO MEXICO?
The CDC says most of the confirmed cases so far have been in people who had recently traveled to Mexico or in people who came in close contact with someone after they returned to the U.S.
WHAT ABOUT A SWINE FLU VACCINE?
There is currently no vaccine available to prevent the new swine flu. That isn't expected to be available for several months.
However, there are anti-flu drugs that do work once someone is sick and these are being distributed in large amounts to every state.
CAN SWINE FLU LIVE ON SURFACES?
Flu viruses, in general, can live on surfaces for hours depending on the type of surface. For example, flu viruses live longer on hard materials, such as plastic, metal or wood rather than porous surfaces like fabrics, skin or paper.
It's probably not a bad idea to wipe down surfaces that you could potentially share with sick coworkers or family members, like phones, computer keyboards, and doorknobs with disinfectant wipes.
WHAT ABOUT FOOD? CAN THE VIRUS SURVIVE IN FOOD HANDLED BY INFECTED PEOPLE?
No. Swine flu is not a food-borne illness like E.coli or salmonella. You can't get it from food. But you can get it from breathing infected air or touching contaminated surfaces.
AS A PARENT, WHEN SHOULD YOU BECOME CONCERNED IF YOUR CHILD IS SICK?
If your child has mild symptoms, like fever and a cough that you can manage at home, but you think they've been exposed to swine flu – call your doctor.
If your child has serious symptoms – trouble breathing, listlessness, confusion or is becoming dehydrated, take them to the emergency room. You can tell if a child is getting dehydrated if they are urinating less, or not producing tears when they cry.
ARE CHILDREN AT HIGHER RISK FOR COMPLICATIONS?
Typically with the flu, very young children – babies and toddlers – are at higher risk of developing complications. With this particular strain of flu, we just don't have all the answers yet about who is most at risk.
Children can be at higher risk of infection because they are often exposed to more germs in school and daycare. They are also more likely to forget to wash their hands.
Children or adults with asthma and other lung disorders are at a greater risk of getting really sick with any flu and developing complications like pneumonia.
I HAVE A 10-MONTH-OLD BABY. IF SHE CONTRACTED SWINE FLU WOULD SHE BE ABLE TO BE TREATED WITH ANTI-VIRAL DRUGS?
The FDA has recently approved new rules for using anti-viral drugs in children. Tamiflu was originally approved for children over one, and Relenza for kids five and older. Now doctors can use Tamiflu in children under one, and Relenza in kids under five.
Medicines can come with risks. Relenza can cause breathing issues n people with serious lung problems like asthma. Both Tamiflu and Relenza may cause confusion or other behavioral changes in people with the flu, especially children.
THE MEDIA HAS BLOWN THIS WAY OUT OF PROPORTION, AND PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO PANIC.
No doubt there has been extensive coverage of the swine flu and, unfortunately, some people are panicking.
Although the United States has declared a health emergency to deal with this outbreak, officials say panic is the wrong reaction. This is about education and prevention.
It is, however, vitally important in a potential pandemic that the public stay informed. The swine flu seems to be easily passed from person to person, and because it's a new strain there is no natural resistance to the virus.
If people do not take precautions we could have a very serious situation on our hands.
Also in play locally, is that this broke out during school vacation, when many families were traveling.
We feel it is better to be safe than sorry in a situation where protecting the public's health is at stake. We want to help prevent a full pandemic and any unnecessary deaths.
IF YOU GET THE SWINE FLU AND RECOVER FROM IT, ARE YOU STILL SUSCEPTIBLE TO GETTING IT AGAIN?
It's not clear whether having swine flu in the past provides any protection against this new strain. If so, it's probably not much, because this is a new strain and your immunity has probably waned over time.
HOW WILL THIS FLU AFFECT PEOPLE WITH WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEMS, SUCH AS DIABETICS?
People with certain chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes are at higher risk of developing complications from the flu, like pneumonia.
DOES THE SWINE FLU HAVE A PEAK PERIOD LIKE THE SEASONAL FLU?
It's too early to tell. Many cold and flu viruses peak during the winter months because people are confined indoors and our mucus membranes are drier, making them more susceptible to infection.
OUR FAMILY GETS ANNUAL FLU SHOTS. ARE WE PROTECTED AGAINST THIS STRAIN OF SWINE FLU?
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C says that the regular flu shot many of us got this winter is unlikely to offer much protection, if any, against swine flu. That's because this H1N1 virus actually has components of the bird flu, swine flu and human flu virus – and is therefore substantially different from the influenza we're used to seeing.
I AM JUST GETTING OVER A COLD THAT HAD FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS. DOES THIS PUT ME AT HIGHER RISK OF GETTING SWINE FLU?
You probably feel rundown and crummy and might be concerned that your immune system has taken a hit. However, if you're otherwise health and feeling better, you probably aren't at much higher risk than anyone else.
ANTIBACTERIAL PRODUCTS KILL BACTERIA, BUT DO THEY KILL VIRUSES?
No. When it comes to washing your hands, it's the scrubbing that matters, not the type of soap. Those alcohol-based hand sanitizers work well, too.
IS THERE A CURE FOR THIS SWINE FLU?
Unfortunately, there is not a cure or vaccine right now. Certain anti-viral medications such as Tamiflu and Relenza can help reduce the severity of swine flu symptoms and my even help prevent you from getting it if you've been exposed. But because there is no cure and virus spreads quickly, officially are doing everything they can to contain the outbreaks as soon as they happen.
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