Information about Swine Flu

Swine Flu Stories This Week

2011-09-21T09:25:00.000-07:00

It has emerged in Serbia that two former senior health officials have been arrested over accusations of profiting from the swine flu vaccines when the outbreak emerged a few years ago in this story courtesy of BusinessWeek. It seems that this private company quickly saw an opportunity and milked it for all its worth, hyper-inflating the vaccine prices. We reported back in July that Scientists were working on a breathalyzer for swine flu. well it looks like the development and process has been faster than expected and now to improve upon this breathalyzer, you can read more about the 'breathalyzer' for swine flu halitosis and how it works here.
Also, this article from the Hong Kong asserts that Experts were wrong on swine flu - this story came out of a conference that was held by international fly experts in Asia this week.

Swine Flu Vaccine Worth 250 million Euros is Set to be destroyed

2011-08-21T11:33:00.000-07:00

Read about this latest Swine Flu story here:
http://www.thelocal.de/national/20110817-37007.html

Swine Flu Breathe Test

2011-07-21T02:21:00.000-07:00

A Breathe test to detect Swine Flu is being developed according to the Mail On Sunday:
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/health/article-2015046/Swine-flu-breath-test-vaccine-need-pandemic.html

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle

2011-06-17T06:10:00.000-07:00

Often we are more susceptible to diseases and flu when our body systems are on low functioning power and our immunity is weaker than usual. We all know the basics on maintaining a fit and healthy lifestyle - but it's not always possible to fit exercise with a balanced and nutritious diet given the fast pace of our modern lives. So what's the solution? The first step is taking a serious evaluation of what we're doing in our daily lives that could be putting our health at risks. For some it may be gorging on junk food at least 2 or 3 times a week. For others, it may be being tied to an office desk from 9-5. Then the next stage is to look at solutions to reduce these unhealthy habbits.

If you're in the latter category, perhaps take breaks more regularly walk around the office, or if there's a gym nearby go to the gym at lunch - even if its only for 30 minutes. An intense 30 minute workout is sometimes better than an hour 30 drawn out workout. If you know your diet is unhealthy and unbalanced - take immediate action. Substitute McDonalds for homemade sandwiches and fruit. Reduce the amount of junk food consumption to once or twice a week maximum. Be strict with yourself.

Its only through changing your lifestyle that you can improve the state of your health, and ensure your less susceptible to succumbing to illnesses like swine flu.

Swine Flu still claiming lives

2011-03-18T00:25:00.000-07:00

Googling the following phrases 'swine flu' in Google News and quite a substantial amount of links will show up for cases where victims have succumbed to the virus and ultimately in worst case scenarios being mistreated for something else, such as the case of a punk rocker in the UK, who fell ill from swine flu but because of his appearance paramedics thought it was a drug overdose. From the Daily Fail:
Daily Fail Swine Flu article

This kind of news article, whilst unpleasant to read, is perhaps testament to the fact that swine flu has disappeared to the back of peoples' minds.

What about Swine Flu Now?

2010-09-30T06:23:00.000-07:00

So with no news stories for about 6 months now in regards to swine flu, it seems that swine flu has well and truly died down. This is not to say I'll simply close this blog down though, as I still believe by keeping up to date with the news and posting relevant articles we can still help to keep this in the public consciousness, and in case the influenza ever comes back in perhaps a more virulent form we shall remember what we learnt from the H1N1 outbreak in 2009.

I found this interesting press release from the Ministry of Health in New Zealand echoing the fact that swine flu cases are now below baseline levels and there's no cause for concern at the moment: http://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/un-doctored/2010/september-2010/30/pandemic-influenza-h1n1-2009-(swine-flu)---update-210-.aspx

If you hear of any other news stories related to swine flu or similar influenzas you're welcome to share them here.

Still cases of swine flu going on

2010-05-04T04:29:00.000-07:00

Just when we thought we'd seen the back of this pesky flu, another case in India today:

http://www.duniyalive.com/?p=121205

My guess is that we'll still see odd cases like these popping up in areas that swine flu has already hit. But at least, now we have the benefit of hindsight on how to contain such cases quickly and stop it infecting others.

Swine Flu Resources

2010-02-15T02:46:00.000-08:00

The Direct gov. website is still providing useful information for people who think they have swine flu: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Swineflu/DG_177831

There's some useful links for detecting early and also the swine flu leaflet containing further information available in 15 languages.

It's good to see that this page hasnt been taken down by the Direct gov. website, as there are still reports of people being diagnosed with swine flu.

Haiti Earthquake Appeal

2010-01-27T05:09:00.000-08:00

So there's already a lot of good charitable events and ways people can help the people of Haiti, but in case you're still wondering in what way you can contribute and help in some way the efforts of the diasaster recovery there, then I'm providing a link which lets you donate to the Red Cross - a very reputable British humanitarian organization. It's a sad way to start of the year with this kind of post, (I was hoping to recap on last year and how the swine flu pandemic broke out and then eventually died down, but now this seems trivial). Thanks for reading this.

Help the people of Haiti
Please make your donation today to the Red Cross.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T03:17:00.000-08:00

Well as the first blog post of 2010, it seems only fitting to do the obligatory Happy New Year Post. 2009 was one in which we all witnessed the fear - spread largely by the media, of the pandemic outbreak that broke in april 2009. But the tail end of 2009 saw it dying down, and fears softened by the release of a general vaccination widely available and initially dispensed to vulnerable groups. 2010 will probably still have some media coverage here and then, so I shall endeveaour to keep the blog running, with some updated information as and when it's released. But, let's hope that I don't need to write about a new outbreak of swine flu in 2010.

Thanks for following, and continue to post me your comments and ideas for the blog.

Happy New Year.

Swine Flu takes a back seat to climate change

2009-12-07T07:59:00.000-08:00

With the climate talks taking place in Copenhagen this week, people will be noticing how this will now dominate the news headlines, and swine flu takes a backseat. Although, it can be argued for the last few weeks and months, the news and media about swine flu has died down even before this conference. It just shows, how quickly news stories that linger around for months can come and go, and how quickly news stories can change. However, this week is still going to be interesting to see what actual progress is made. So far not a mention on the news has been made about how climate change might be affecting outbreaks of new diseases and viruses, which I think is a worthwhile point. Indeed, it's a valid point, that if there was no climate change, would we have experiences outbreaks like bird and swine flu. I'shall be watching with close attention to see what dialogues take place, and what proposals are put forward. It always seems we do too little and it comes too late, let's hope it's not the same with climate change.

Many people still "ducking" swine fly shots in US

2009-11-29T22:19:00.000-08:00

There's an interesting article from the US, about swine fly shots, and despite them being readily available, many people still have issues about taking the immunization shots:

http://www.fayobserver.com/Articles/2009/11/30/955252

Christmas looks to be swine-quiet

2009-11-24T06:09:00.000-08:00

With many countries and local health care authorities making adequate provisions for the festive holidays, it remains to be seen if there will be another panic that either the swine flu outbreak has mutated and broken out again, or that there will be a shortage of vaccinations in some countries, regions. It seems as though, swine flu is still on the minds of a lot of people, although in Taiwan i have noticed less people wear face masks, although its still very much on the consciousness of the Taiwanese, and you still see parents making their children wear them on the way to school and definitely there's still a lot of people wearing them on the underground.

In other countries, many governments are still advising their populace to carry out better Hygeinic practices and go to a doctor if they start to feel ill with flu like symptoms. It's also comforting to see that even poorer countries being able to stock pile vaccination shots for their most vulnerable groups.

Swine Flu - Over by Christmas?

2009-11-11T04:52:00.000-08:00

An interesting article by Wales Online, following research in Wales and medical professionals have been quoted as saying that the peak of swine flu has fallen and we could well be on our way to see swine flu fizzle out by Christmas. However, with the winter temperatures well and truly drawing in on us, we should still remain on heightened alert as it stands to reason that the vulnerable groups are going to be susceptible to normal seasonal flus and this will weaken their immunity to the H1N1 virus. Many people are expecting the second wave of the swine flu virus to hit, as seen with previous pandemics and outbreaks. However, in wales alone in the coming the month there is expected to be over 750,000 swine flu vaccinations. So the message is clear from health professionals and the government alike, we should still remain cautious and not get complacement that the swine flu virus has been eradicated, and there could at anytime be a second wave.

Vaccination shortages in Canada

2009-11-02T01:53:00.000-08:00

Seems they've had some trouble in Canada with their swine flu vaccine provisions, leading to large line-ups and some disappointed people. It has beset Canada's health campaign against the H1N1 virus. Even though the huge pharmaceutical company Glaxo Smith Kline forewarned health authorities in Ottawa that switching to the production of this vaccine would slow down production little was done to compensate for this. Thus, Glaxo now have been ordered to manufacture a further 400,000 doses of the vaccine this week. The reason why the slowdown has occurred is that Glaxo switch from making a more adjuvenated version of the vaccine to a slimline vaccine catering especially batches for children and young women. However, production is expected to go into overdrive this week, and the health authorities in Ottawa are not expecting any more hiccups.

Cases such as in Ottawa, Canada, highlight how very rushed the whole process of releasing the h1n1 vaccine seems to have been compared to the trials of drug compounds that are rigorously tested before they can be released on the market. However, saying this we are constantly told this new vaccine is just a simple modification of the seasonal flu vaccine we've had for a few years now. Again time will tell just how successful the vaccine has been in preventing deaths from this flu.

Vaccinations in the UK start rolling out

2009-10-26T01:12:00.000-07:00

A mass vaccination program has begun now in the UK, with risks groups encouraged to get the vaccinations first. As of today pregnant woman, people with asthma, people over the age of 65, diabetes sufferers and people suffering from cancer will be able to go to surgeries to get the vaccine. Also, health workers on the NHS are being encouraged to get the vaccine (many were reluctant to take the seasonal flu vaccination, so it will be interesting to see if more people take this vaccine). Since the outbreak of the H1N1 virus, nearly 400,000 worldwide have confirmed laboratory cases of the swine flu virus. More than 4,700 people have died from h1n1. Other European countries following suite include France which started last week, Germany this week, Ireland in early November and Spain in mid-November.

Swine Flu Survival Guide

2009-10-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

Even though the vaccinations are slowly arriving, the rest of us have to be content with following measures to avoid contracting the swine flu virus. I recommend you download the following Ebook from this trusted seller. It's not only an Ebook with all the information you could ever want to guard against swine flu, it also features bonus health related Ebooks which make for essential reading. Tremendous value for money:

Swine Flu Ebook Offer

Swine Flu vaccinations and their availability

2009-10-19T03:41:00.000-07:00

With the swine flu vaccinations slowly making itself available in some countries, the availability or lack of availability should I see in some states in the US and countries in Europe has proved somewhat frustrating especially to those considered as vulnerable to the h1n1 virus. However, local authorities do show signs of getting their act together and slowly but surely the vaccination has made its way to many states and countries in the US and UK. However, for the rest of the world, it seems it's very dependent on the respective government and their health budget and how many supplies they've ordered. Of course, some countries have been largely unaffected by the pandemic and so only emergency vaccinations may be on hand. However, most governments have realized this far that its essential to give young mothers, children and the elderly the vaccinations first and for people with swine flu like symptoms to be administered to hospital as soon as possible. Some concerns are still ever present about the rushed nature of this vaccination and its release onto the global market, the Times reported in June that the Europeans Medicine Agency stated that: "The vaccines are authorised with a detailed risk management plan”.

How about where you are, is there ready access to the vaccines? Are these vaccinations free under your health care system, or do you have to pay for them?

Once swine flu is over

2009-10-13T01:10:00.000-07:00

It seems as though peoples' worries about swine flu are slowly easing with the introduction in several countries of the vaccination, which is very similar to the seasonal vaccination flu, and us hearing about less and less cases of the h1n1 virus. But once, the spread of the disease has been fully controlled and there are no more cases does that mean we should go back to our old ways and let our guards down? Who's to say that the virus won't return in a deadlier form, bringing more deaths. The threat still remains that the virus might mutate and the pandemic will come back. So it's necessary for us to still maintain good hygienic practices and wash our hands on a regular basis. If anything the swine flu pandemic has provided many restaurants and public places better practices when it comes to providing their patrons with anti-bacteria gels and sanitizing gels, Thus, safe guarding us not only from swine flu, but also bacteria and germs that may be passed from our hands to our food.

US orders 250 million doses of swine flu vaccine

2009-10-06T02:14:00.000-07:00

With many hospitals in the U.S. piling up on swine flu vaccinations, still many are concerned about the potential side-effects and if the vaccination is really necessary. The swine flu vaccination, actually doesn't differ too much from the current seasonal flu vaccination readily available, many doctors have stated it's just a slight variation of it and therefore it's just as tested as other vaccinations that have come onto the market. The pandemic has shown that people most at risk of contracting the virus are the elderly and children, however it's precisely these two groups that are hesitant to take the vaccine as they fear that there will be adverse side-effects from it and/or it will make them worse. But I think, as people slowly come round to the idea that this vaccination is ultimately safer than not having the vaccination hopefully it will have a viral effect and people will realize prevention is always better than cure.

Taiwan launches World's first Anti-Swine Flu Spray

2009-10-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

So I stumbled across this interesting news item today, which states the a Taiwanese company has launched the world's first anti-swine flu spray capable of killing the virus. This was doubly interesting for me as I've just moved to Taiwan, so glad to see that they're at the cutting edge of health development and protection. The spray only costs $10 USD or (350 Taiwanese dollars) and can be used up to 700 times. A representative for the company, Heidi Wang said:

"We began selling the VirusBom spray today, but we have already been approached by companies from China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and the United States who want to import our product," she said Thursday."

Virus boom has been invented by a research team from the Taiwan National Uni, and state that it's an organic compound that is actually made through synthetic means which can act and kill both bacteria and viruses.

What's more is the versatility of VB, it can be made into a hand gel, spray or wash and be applied to face masks, air filters and surgical gowns.

MMS and Swine Flu

2009-09-21T02:05:00.000-07:00

Jim Humble's Miracle Mineral Solution is being used to treat swine flu patients in the world. MMS is a controversial water purification agent invented by Philanthropist Jim Humble. It contains 28% sodium chlorite, and it's said that the powerful chemical agents within MMS are powerful enough to fight off harmful pathogens and viruses and has been used for the treatment of cancer, HIV/AIDS, herpes, hepatitus B and swine flu patients. Recently, a new protocol has been added to Jim Humble's own website for swine flu victims.

To find out more about MMS and get access to some free resources, go here:

http://mms-miracle-mineral-solutions.com/

Is the threat over? Have we beaten swine flu?

2009-09-14T08:16:00.000-07:00

So it's fair to say the media who-har has flared down somewhat of late, and slowly we're hearing less about new cases of the h1n1 virus that is emerging. Sir Liam Donaldson proclaimed at the end of last week, that the UK is close to beating the pandemic. Seeing as he was the one that over inflated the figures as to the number of cases and deaths the UK would experience by August: 100,000 cases a week and a possible death toll of 65,000 - you can forgive the British public and others from being cynical about his recent announcement.

Although, the number of cases and death tolls may be dying down in the UK, it's certainly not dying down in other parts of the World and particularly the poorer ones who don't have the luxury of Britain's health infrastructure in place. There are many countries in South East Asia, Africa and South America that are still struggling to combat the pandemic. Until all these countries have accessibility to a vaccine that works against H1N1, how can it be possible safe to say that the worst is over? Let's just hope that countries still doing they're best to fight off the swine flu don't take Sir Liam's blaze e attitude, and complacency.

Thailand beginning early trials of Swine Flu vaccination this month

2009-09-09T02:29:00.000-07:00

There have been 16 more fatalities in Thailand from Swine Flu recently. Bringing the total up to 81. The Public Health Ministry in Thailand shows an alarming figure of more than 3 million people who have been infected with swine flu. This number includes people who have had swine flu, but have no recovered and people who have reported swine flu like symptoms but have now recovered. GPO Director Dr Vithit Atthavejjakul said that animal trials of A(H1N1)vaccine are now being run in the Netherlands and will take six or seven days to complete. The vaccine testing to be done on humans, will be carried out within the next few weeks.

With these current trials, it seems that not enough time has been given for testing. And let's just hope the vaccine that's released here in Thailand and in other places in general hospitals won't have any harmful side-effects.

Sanitizing gels

2009-08-29T07:47:00.000-07:00

Where I currently live in Thailand, a number of sanitizing gels have sprung up into existence since the outbreak of swine flu. I sometimes wonder just how effective these gels are those when it comes to eliminating harmful bacteria. Perhaps it's me being too cynical. I dunno. But i do like the automatic hand sanitizers which means you don't have to touch any dirty bottle cap or tap pump to get the stuff out. Also, I like to carry around with me just a small tub of alcohol sanitizer. When this whole swine flu dies down, I wonder if the Thais will go back to their old ways of not perhaps being so obsessed with disinfecting their hands all the time. Or if its become a new ingrained habbit, hard to shake off. In many ways the swine flu pandemic has helped us really how susceptible we are to germs, bacteria and viruses and how quickly they can be passed on from one human being to another. Let's hope that we will continue our better hygienic practices in the future.

Vaccination available in the UK from October

2009-08-18T22:41:00.001-07:00

The NHS has announced that there will be a vaccination against swine flu given to people in October. The Government has ordered enough for the entire population. However, only those most suscetible and vulnerable will have the vaccination adminstered at first, and also people in direct contact with those suscetible to the virus such as health care professionals. Andy Burnham, health secratry for the UK, has said that the vaccination will be administered at first to the following at-risk groups:

People aged over 65, in the clinically at-risk seasonal flu groups.
People aged between 6 months and 65 in the clinically at-risk groups from seasonal flu.
Pregnant women, but the adminstration of the vaccine is subject to licensing by the European Medicines Agency.
People who come into contact with others with a weakened immune system, namely if the contact is a household contact.

If you're wondering how at risk we still are from the virus, the following confirms that the number of cases has fallen from 2 weeks ago, but we are still at threat as the information below also shows:

There has a been a reduction in the number of cases in the UK in the last two weeks. There have been 25,000 new cases in the last week, this has fallen from 110,000 new cases two weeks previously.
There are 371 patients in hospital with the swine flu virus, 39 of them are in critical care.
The number of consultations to GPs has also fallen in the past week.
There have been 44 confirmed deaths in England, and now the total stands at 49.
Still there are no signs of the mutating into a more deadly form.

Source: http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/04April/Pages/Swineflulatest.aspx

So does this mean, that we are safe from the pandemic. Is it time to go back to our normal daily lives? I would say we shouldn't be complacement and still keep to what we've been doing, although the number of cases in the UK has fallen there are still new cases of swine flu everyday and until we have a safe, effective vaccination we should not let our guards down. What do you think? Please post your comments and opinions.

Previous historical evidence of H1N1

2009-08-04T09:24:00.000-07:00

You may have heard that this isn't the first time we've been exposed to this virus. In 1918 - 1919 the virus was seen in Spain and the pandemic was responsible for high mortality rates.
These deaths were cause by a failure in the respiratory system, resulting in the death of the affected person. The estimated deaths due to the flu virus between the years 1918 and 1919 resulted in between 20 and 30 million. Much like what's happened the virus has spread rapidly. Then the first case originated in Europe and soon spread to the States and Africa. Of course they didn't have the medical sanitation we have access to today.

With the influenza that was experienced in the 20th century there were two waves of it, the first being a rather mild wave in comparison to the second in August of 1918 which ravaged several continents and resulted in the deaths of not just the old and vunerable, but in fact the majority of deaths were people under the age of 65. However, many deaths were said to be as a result of a secondary infections, usually pneumonia. The total death figures were around the 20 million mark.

However, we've got to bear in mind how fortunate we are to have the access to the medication and hospitals we have today. It seems that H1N1 is one of those things that we will always have to be prepared for in the future and be quick to contain and quarantine it when it first outbreaks.

Many schools closed due to Swine Flu

2009-07-15T05:55:00.000-07:00

Thailand related: This was as of today, but I still saw lots of school children in school uniform going to school today. So maybe not the whole of Bangkok:

City Hall shuts all BMA schools By: BangkokPost.com Published: 14/07/2009 at 01:59 PM The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has ordered the closure of all of its 435 schools, 200 nurseries and 13 occupational training centres for five days from July 15 to 19 to prevent the spread of the A(H1N1) flu virus.

How about where you are, what measures have the government implement to try and control the spread of the swine flu. Have your local schools been shut? Please get in contact and let me know.

Swine Flu Info - How To Get The Lowdown

2009-07-12T18:07:00.000-07:00

With the constant barrage of swine flu making the headlines in every newspaper, local and national television news, and personal blogs on minute-by-minute basis, no wonder it’s difficult to figure who exactly to trust for the most up to date information. In any case, the human swine flu outbreak has continued to spread rapidly across the United States and internationally. More and more cases are being revealed on what does seems like an hourly basis. So, it is extremely important to get a swine flu update that is reflective of real, factual information about the virus.

You may want to consider the following guidelines for getting swine flu information you can thoroughly trust and rely on.

Here’s the Lowdown:

Your main source of information should come from the CDC or Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. In short, this is the place to go for all the facts on swine flu symptoms and swine flu precautions. Furthermore, the CDC keeps a running total of all the confirmed cases in the United States and worldwide. And if there is a warning against travel and going abraod, you will certainly find everything you need to know on this site. So to recap, the CDC offers you access to many government recommended literature. This includes some of the following:

How to take care of someone who has contracted swine flu

Varied guidance for laboratory workers

In depth guidance for hospitals and health care professionals
The complete definitions for any investigations into the swine flu virus

Additionally, the CDC has to be one of the most helpful sites around for giving hints on how the swine flu is transmitted, swine flu treatments, and the most effective way to prevent swine flu. You should; wash your hands for no less than 15 seconds or avoid having close contact with people who are known to have the virus or perhaps use alcohol-based sanitizer and rub hands till dry.

Finally, if you are interested in international updates, the World Health Organization (WHO) website is probably the best way of getting the latest information on which countries have confirmed cases and which are swine flu free. You can also expect the latest press releases from institutions such as the WHO. They detail the ways in which the international community is dealing with the outbreak. By looking to the CDC and WHO for all of your updates and you certainly won’t be steered in the wrong direction.

Swine Flu Incubation Period - Is it Something That's Cause for Concern?

2009-07-08T05:27:00.001-07:00

So, with swine flu still very much in the news today, should you be worried about the swine flu incubation period?

To be quite frank and honest with you, swine flu symptoms may not be the only things you have to be concerned about regarding the h1n1 virus/swine flu pandemic. Because understandably, with the recent swine flu outbreak, you may have ever fears about swine flu symptoms as well as the swine flu incubation period. Furthermore, the disease continues to spread on a daily basis, and the WHO (World Health Organization) has already stated the virus cannot be contained and have reverted back to their initial warnings about the virus.

As more and more cases are highlighted in various parts of the world, widespread worry has had people wondering exactly what the virus is capable of, and given it originated from pigs, how contagious it can be in humans. With this in mind, it is vitally important to educate yourself about h1n1 by focusing simply on symptoms, treatment, and how long the flu virus remains in the human body. At the moment, swine flu has an incubation period of up to 7 days its claimed by scientists, this is after initial contact with an infected person.

You’ll discover that the most common swine flu symptoms include symptoms that can be easily be mistaken for the regular seasonal flu, thus making it harder to differentiate. Here’s some examples of symptoms you might be experiencing with h1n1: High fevers, a cough that won’t cease, sore throat, body aches, nausea and uncontrollable vomiting. It has been documented that for the most part, when swine flu starts attacking on the body, a spiked fever is one of the ways the body tries to ward off the virus. So be aware of any elevated body temperatures.

It's important not to make the fatal mistake of assuming your symptoms are normal seasonal flu symptoms. Only a blood sample will determine if you have it or not. So, the only way to tell is by seeing a Doctor. By paying attention to good hygienic practices, it can certainly help a great deal in not succumbing to the virus. You should make sure you keep your hands clean by thoroughly washing them with warm soapy water to fight off bacteria, or using an alcohol based sanitizer and rub your hands till they're dry.

So, to recap, the swine flu incubation can last for a period of up to 7 days and it is not very easy to measure unless you are aware you’ve definitely come in contact with an infected person. So it's important to keep an eye on your symptoms and see a doctor at the earliest point possible.

Swine Flu- IWhat are you thoughts in regards to the conspiracy theorists?

2009-07-05T22:46:00.000-07:00

Do you really believe the conspiracy theorists and that swine flu is a conspiracy? We are well aware now that the swine flu pandemic, means the virus is spreading at an alarming rate across the globe and may be becoming resistant to the antibiotics and medicines we have to guard against it. Nearly 70 countries have now confirmed cases of the h1n1 virus, and the numbers are rising. As you might have guessed, throughout all this chaos, many have a heightened panic level about how the h1n1 virus is transmitted and are constantly on the look out for ways they can guard themselves.

A lot of the panic is hyped up by the media as people try to sort fact from fiction. People are constantly being bombarded with messages about being prepared for the worse.
And furthermore, there is a great amount of panic among well-meaning parents who want to get their children vaccinated but only to be disappointed because that there is no vaccine that has won the approval of the United States government. However on the reverse side, there are some parents who fear vaccination all together and haven’t taken the necessary swine flu precautions in order to protect their children.

Let's cut to the chase…it’s time for a little common sense mixed in with caution. It’s certainly true that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The CDC (Centers For Disease Control and Prevention) are saying that exceptional hygiene, thorough hand washing, and also taking your multivitamins and staying home when you feel sick are some of the best ways to ensure you come out of this unscathed.

However. these simple strategies understandably will not be enough for some people. Hence it's why there are many swine flu conspiracy theories in existence today. Furthermore, many people would say that there was some deeper root cause for a virus of this nature to spread this quickly across the world.

Here are what some of the conspiracy theorists are saying, agree with them or not, have your say by posting below this post.

1. The virus has been manufactured as a result of an experiment by one major pharmaceutical company here in the US. People are saying it was released by accident and now the government is trying its best to cover it up.

2. Another theory is that it's a naturally mutated virus which has been caused by hog factory farms in Mexico.

3. An act of Terrorism- plain and simple, terrorist are diverting their strategies away from instant destruction and favouring a move towards bio-terrorism.

4. The swine flu virus, some say, was specifically manufactured as a means for the rich to wipe out the poor.

5. Global Warming is responsible for causing this virus .

However, make sure you don’t fall victim to this 'pandemic'. Take the necessary precautions listed by the CDC and WHO and err. on the side of caution.

Stricken with Panick? Swine Flu Got your in a constant state worry? Then read this.

2009-06-27T20:50:00.000-07:00

Are you worried sick about the swine flu epidemic and how to protect yourself the spread of the virus? But before I jump into the details, let me say this…your fears will be quelled considerably if you learn the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic. Let me explain exactly what I'm talking about. For starters, both epidemics and pandemics are defined as the spread of infectious diseases among a population. However, the two are not exactly the same. Hence, a pandemic references that a much larger region will be affected. At this point, and in the most extreme cases, the global population will be affected by a pandemic.

Whereas, an epidemic is defined by an illness or health-related issue that is showing up in a lot more cases than would be normally expected. As you can clearly see, there are subtle differences in regards to the two terms, and it can be confusing figuring out what each mean.

However, by now you may be wondering just how can I avoid swine flu, regardless of whether its an epidemic or pandemic. It's important to gain a sense of perspective, and realizing that the announcements from the World Health Organization (WHO) does not mean the world is coming to an end. Diseases are just a part of nature’s cycle that occur nearly every forty years. The last influenza pandemic we experienced was back in 1968. The next thing you should do is to educate yourself by getting a swine flu update from people or places you trust. It is highly recommended you go directly to the website of the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization for the most recent facts about swine flu.

You can also lessen your fears by following each swine flu precaution that is found at each of these sites. The list covers things such as basic hygiene practices, such as keeping your mouth covered whenever you sneeze or cough- to prevent the spread of the disease. And although the tough economic climate force us to go to work when we are under the weather, if you do experience flu-like symptoms, it’s best to stay at home to curb the spread of the virus to others. Finally and most importantly don’t focus all of your attention on the swine flu epidemic. Don’t succumb to every story you hear unless it comes directly from trusted sources. By doing this you’ll enjoy life more and worry less.

How to keep track of Swine Flu and prevention is always better than cure

2009-06-20T21:10:00.000-07:00

What would it mean to you, to know exactly what swine flu tactics are the most effective in preventing and treating the virus? Wouldn’t you like to know what measures you can take to prevent yourself from falling victim to this illness? There are no vaccines available to provide protection against the swine flu outbreak, and therefore it's extremely necessary to know everyday precautions in order to protect yourself against getting any swine flu symptoms.

Here are a few examples of swine flu tactics you can use to start to use and implement, thus protecting your health.

The following are some useful pieces of advice:

Anytime you cough or sneeze, be courteous enough to cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or use the inside of your arm to shield others from germs.

Use soap and water each time you wash your hands and rub vigorously for at least 20 seconds. And more importantly, wash your hands after you sneeze or cough.

Just for the record, alcohol-based sanitizer is extremely effective for the keeping risk of infection down. If you find that soap and water isn’t available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers can be used. The kicker is to rub the gel into your hands until it is dry.

Are you aware that germs spread quickly through the eyes, nose and mouth? Avoid touching them to prevent catching the virus.

If someone you know is sick, avoid close contact.

If you happen to be the one who is sick, stay home for at least 7 days once your symptoms begin or at least until you have been symptom free for 24 hours. This will keep you from infecting others and spreading the virus even further.

Make sure you follow any and all public advice when it comes to school closings or avoiding crowds all together.

Prepare yourself in the event you get sick and are forced to stay home for at least week. For example, get yourself a supply of over-the-counter medicines, tissues, and alcohol-based sanitizers. Remember, swine flu is extremely contagious.

Beware of emergency warning signs that will warrant urgent medical attention. These include: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; pain or pressure in your chest or stomach; feeling dizzy all of a sudden; confusion; severe or persistent vomiting; you have flu-like symptoms that seem to improve but then return with a high fever and even worse cough.

If you are infected with the virus, the best way to prevent serious flu complication is to take CDC recommended prescription drugs called oseltamivir or zanamivir. The may make you feel better, a lot quicker than over-the-counter medicines.

Each and every one of these swine flu tactics works when put into practice. If you want to keep yourself healthy and prevent the spread of the virus, you’ll start today watching for the warning signs and be sure to act upon them!

How To Avoid Getting Swine Flu - 8 Useful Tips

2009-06-19T12:57:00.000-07:00

First things first. The simple fact of the matter is Swine flu is nothing to get blaze about. However, according to health experts, the public should be vigilant and not panic. You may be thinking this is easier said than done. However, keep reading if you want to learn how to avoid this infection and keep you and your loved ones safe. The fundamental point is that the swine flu outbreak was initially thought to only be transmitted from pigs to humans. Now, studies, however, show that it is being spread through human contact and is quickly becoming a great threat to us and one of the deadliest viruses of all time.

The CDC (Center For Disease Control) and The World Health Organization have been working endlessly to keep us informed and updated on the latest confirmed cases and deaths linked to the virus.
The list below show some of the common symptoms of the virus:
1. Runny nose
2. Achy muscles
3. Being lethargic
4. Lack of appetite
5. Sudden onset of fever over one hundred.
6. Headaches

As you can clearly see, it is difficult to ascertain the difference between other types of flu symptoms, and this particular strain of the virus requires a diagnosis from your health practitioner. This can take time, so it's important if Swine Flu is suspect to see them right away.

But, don’t panic help is at hand. There are a few very effective ways to ward off infection and prevent the spread of swine flu.

#1 – Don’t risk going outside. If you are experiencing flu like symptoms, simply stay at home. Since these symptoms mirror regular cold and flu symptoms, this way if you have the flu you will be effectively quarantining yourself.

#2 – Watching how to cough and sneeze. Be sure to cover your mouth with a tissue or handkerchief, and dispose of it, right away.

#3 – Make sure you wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. Whatever you touch could be affected, so a good rule of thumb would be to keep your hands clean to reduce your chances of becoming infected.

#4 – A little hand sanitizer does wonders. Simply have a tube of hand sanitizer with you at all times. This way you can constantly ensure your hands are clean and free from germs and bacteria.

#5 – If possible avoid public places. There are many places and objects where germs can easily hide, such as door nobs, counters and of course in the open air of busy shopping malls and other public places.

# 6 – Take a cautious approach on airplanes. The close quarters of an airplane is a place where germs like the swine flu virus lurk, so protect yourself by taking hand sanitizers with you. And if you feel you're coming down with a fever inform the air stewards.

#7 – Ensure you wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Buy your fruits and vegetables locally, where possible. Wash them with water and soak them for good measure.

#8 – Go to doctor at the earliest point possible. If you are experiencing any flu like symptoms, then see your doctor immediately. As stated earlier, only your health practitioner can effectively diagnose your particular strain of flu.

By following these pointers you will stand yourself in good stead, and remember always to have good hygiene practices, even when the Swine Flu pandemic passes.

Just how is Swine Flu Transmitted? - Important Facts You Should Know

2009-06-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

There has been much media fan fare about swine flu, and it seems a great deal of people nowadays are even scared to go outside for fear that they might catch the disease. It is an airborne virus, and like other influenzas transmitted through germs.

It is indisputable that the swine flu pandemic is all you hear on the morning news and what you read in the newspapers. With swine flu symptoms, being highly contagious schools have been closing in fear of spreading the virus even further, in countries worldwide!
As a result, it means getting a factual swine flu update on a regular basis – even daily – basis will help to decrease widespread panic and fear. In summary, it’s best to be educated on what swine flu precautions to take in order to stay safe.

By the time you end up finishing reading this article you’ll find out some important facts about swine flu and what you can do to protect yourself.

To start off with, your first question may be “What is swine flu anyway?” In short, it’s a respiratory disease that originally showed up in pigs. The strain that is affecting humans is a new strain of the virus dubbed novel H1N1 by the United States government.

Obviously, discovering how swine flu is transmitted means stating that swine flu normally does not infect humans. Only those who were in constant, direct contact with infected pigs were and are at risk still. However, now the H1N1 strain of the virus is airborne and can be passed on through person-to-person contact. Furthermore, the swine flu incubation period can last for up to 7 days after you’ve been in contact with an infected person.

The term swine flu infers that the virus can be transmitted by eating pork products however that is not the case. The CDC or Centers For Disease Control and Prevention always has recommended that you cook food at a temperatures of a sufficient heat of at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit in order to kill not only the swine flu virus but other bacteria and viruses as well.

Since swine flu can be and is transmitted through human contact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has let the cat out the bag about containment. It states that it is virtually impossible to contain the virus, so people around the world must focus their best efforts on preventative methods. For instance, not covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze apart from being bad hygeine practices anyway, is a way to spread germs .

Bodies like the CDCare also promoting good hygiene by telling everyone to consistently wash their hands with warm soapy water for around 20 seconds to ensure they kill off all germs. The CDC is also recommending that people take extra precautions and carry with you a type of hand sanitizer to sanitize common areas such as door knobs, tables, and public restrooms. By uncovering just how is the swine flu is transmitted it will aid you in a more cautious approach to personal hygeine and sanitation methods. After all prevention is always better than cure, and it's better to be safe than sorry.