You may be getting concerned at the news of the swine flu virus spreading rapidly throughout the country. There have been around 280 confirmed cases of swine flu in India as of 17th July.
It is important to understand how swine flu or for that matter any flu spreads. Contrary to the popular belief, swine flu is not air borne. The two main ways it spreads: first if someone who's infected sneezes or coughs and you come in contact with the virus in the air. The other is if you touch an object which may have have the virus and you touch your eyes, mouth or nose.
It's common for people to touch their nose, eyes and mouth. Most of these actions are sub-conscious like licking your tongue for flipping pages of a book or a magazine. As soon as you feel an itch you immediately rub or scratch your eyes.
Remember the virus can be anywhere - a door knob, a remote control, phones, computer keyboards, etc. The idea is not to get paranoid and stop using them. A simple task can protect you from infection.
Two things in your home - soap and water can reduce the chance of infection by 30%. All you need to do is keep washing your hand with soap and water frequently. And most importantly, stop touching your face. Make it a conscious effort to observe and stop. Another side effect of not touching your face too often - your skin looks better!
Showing posts with label what is swine flu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label what is swine flu. Show all posts
Saturday, August 8, 2009
What is Swine Flu?
Swine flu is an infection caused by a virus. It's named for a virus that pigs can affect pigs. People usually do not get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. The virus is contagious and can spread from human to human. Symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.
Swine flu also known as swine influenza, hog flu and pig flu. In 2009 the media labeled as "swine flu" the flu caused by 2009's new strain of swine-origin A/H1N1 pandemic virus just as it had earlier dubbed as "avian flu" flu caused by the recent Asian-linage HPAI (High Pathogenic Avian Influenza) H5N1 strain that is still endemic in many wild bird species in several countries.
Swine flu is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. Other countries, including Mexico and Canada, have reported people sick with this new virus. This virus is spreading from person-to-person, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.
Although symptoms have generally proved mild, a small number of patients will develop more serious illness. Many of these people have other underlying health conditions, such as heart or lung disease, that put them at increased risk.
On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a global pandemic of novel influenza A (H1N1) was underway by raising the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6. This action was a reflection of the spread of the new H1N1 virus, not the severity of illness caused by the virus. At the time, more than 70 countries had reported cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) infection and there were ongoing community level outbreaks of novel H1N1 in multiple parts of the world.
Swine flu also known as swine influenza, hog flu and pig flu. In 2009 the media labeled as "swine flu" the flu caused by 2009's new strain of swine-origin A/H1N1 pandemic virus just as it had earlier dubbed as "avian flu" flu caused by the recent Asian-linage HPAI (High Pathogenic Avian Influenza) H5N1 strain that is still endemic in many wild bird species in several countries.
Swine flu is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. Other countries, including Mexico and Canada, have reported people sick with this new virus. This virus is spreading from person-to-person, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.
Although symptoms have generally proved mild, a small number of patients will develop more serious illness. Many of these people have other underlying health conditions, such as heart or lung disease, that put them at increased risk.
On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a global pandemic of novel influenza A (H1N1) was underway by raising the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6. This action was a reflection of the spread of the new H1N1 virus, not the severity of illness caused by the virus. At the time, more than 70 countries had reported cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) infection and there were ongoing community level outbreaks of novel H1N1 in multiple parts of the world.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
