Many schools closed due to Swine Flu

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

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?

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?

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.

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

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

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.