Today we are (more and more|more} at risk from various mutations of the flu virus. initially we had alarms over the bird flu virus, and recently swine flu has become the major worry. Swine flu is more serious than bird flu was. It was feared that bird flu may mutate into a strain that would effect humans, but for a handful of cases, this did not materialize. Swine flu is a bigger worry, swine flu has the ability to pass between humans making swine flu a very serious threat.
Swine flu (influenza A (H1N1) is a respiratory disease that infects pigs and is caused by a flu virus. Outbreaks of swine flu in pigs is is common and is only rarely fatal. In the past, swine flu doesn’t normally infect humans, but it can occasionally happen.
Swine flu is particularly dangerous because it is a new strain of virus. This means that no one has been exposed to this particular strain of flu before, therefore no one has built up any immunity to this flu strain. It is our immunity that stops diseases from becoming life threatening, with no immunity to this strain of the virus we are at the mercy of the virus. Absolutely everyone is vulnerable, including healthy adults and teenagers as well as young children and the elderly.
The real worry is what occurs when the winter flu season arrives. This is the period when the virus may quickly spread causing widespread illness with the possibility of over half the population being affected.
Swine flu symptoms are similar to the symptoms of ordinary flu. The symptoms include a sudden,sudden onset of a fever, cough or a shortness of breath. Other symptoms that may present themselves include headache, a sore throat, muscle aches, chills, sneezing, a runny nose, appetite loss and tiredness.
Precautions to take First, anyone with the symptoms of a cold or flu should to take a few simple, but very important precautions. The virus is spread between humans from the small droplets from the nose and mouth when someone sneezes or coughs. This is the way viruses are spread from person to person. Holding your face with your hands when you cough or sneeze is not enough. The germs simply sit on your hands, and everything you handle afterwards becomes contaminated. Anyone then touching the same place as you will pick up the germs and then risks becoming infected themselves. Therefore, always use a handkerchief or a tissue. A tissue is better, this should then be disposed of as soon as possible, try to use a fresh tissue if you sneeze or cough again.
At the moment there are no vaccinations that prevent anyone catching the swine flu virus. Swine flu is a new strain of virus and is not the same as ordinary flu. The vaccination against the usual seasonal flu is not effective against swine flu. Even when the type of flu virus causing swine flu is identified, it will take several months to manufacture. By this time, it may well have mutated into a different strain.
Currently the only real effective precaution against swine flu is Tamiflu. Tamiflu is not guaranteed to stop flu, but when a person has been exposed to another person who has the swine flu virus, Tamiflu can help prevent the virus making a person sick. If Tamiflu is taken within two days of developing flu, Tamiflu can help to stop the virus spreading throughout the body, reducing the symptoms and associated risk. Governments are stocking up on Tamiflu, the supplies will be used to treat important workers and individuals before the general population.
You can buy Tamiflu online, so if the situation arises you can protect yourself and your family. It can’t be emphasized strongly enough, Tamiflu needs to be taken as soon as possible if it is to be effective, any delays in treating the virus will greatly reduce the effectiveness of Tamiflu. If you are at a increased risk due to your situation, such as For example living in a city with a large population or working in a busy open plan office, then it may be prudent to buy Tamiflu before the flu season starts. If you live in the country and do not have a close contact with many people then you will be at a lower risk.
Also, remember that swine flu is a global problem. It is possible that supplies of Tamiflu may not be enough to meet a large worldwide demand.
Until a vaccine is discovered and manufactured in the large quantities required, Tamiflu is the most effective treatment for the swine flu virus.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information freely available in the press and medical journals concerned with swine flu. Nothing in this article is meant to be or should be construed to be any sort of medical advice. For medical advice you are encouraged to consult your healthcare worker.