Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands B.W.I.
How to Avoid the Swine Flu
Wash your hands frequently, and don't rub your eyes, nose or mouth.
For all the mystery and fear surrounding the swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, whose global outbreak today was deemed a pandemic -- meaning its reach is wide and its potential to spread quickly from person to person is great -- the best way to avoid it is to adhere to this grandmotherly advice.
These tips are on the short list offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on ways to keep the swine flu -- or any strain of flu -- at bay.
The CDC advises using regular soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleanser.
It also doesn't hurt to keep your distance from sneezers and coughers.
"Normally the influenza virus is spread from person to person through droplets in the air -- from a person with a cough for example," said Dr. David Satcher, a professor the Morehouse School of Medicine, and the former U.S. Surgeon General, on a video displayed on the Web site of the American Red Cross. "Droplets in the air that can be inhaled by another person, and that's probably the most common form of spread."
Also posing a risk, he said, are items that have recently touched or handled by someone infected -- a fork, or a doorknob, for example. Some experts endorse occasionally disinfecting household surfaces and appliances with a diluted chlorine bleach solution.
Once infected with the flu, it's difficult to know if one has contracted the swine flu. This is because the symptoms are almost indistinguishable from the seasonal flu: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.
However, this year's outbreak of swine flu seems to involve more cases of diarrhea and vomiting, according to the CDC. Most who become stricken with swine flu suffer only mild symptoms. But what has health officials so alarmed is the current vulnerability of human population: the strain is brand new, so no vaccination exists.
The World Health Organization says it is currently working to develop a vaccine, but one isn't expected to be available until at least August. In the meantime, WHO isn't prioritizing the development of the new vaccine over the production of the vaccine for the seasonal flu, as that illness infects up to 5 million people annually worldwide, and kills up to 500,000 yearly, according to WHO.
For all the mystery and fear surrounding the swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, whose global outbreak today was deemed a pandemic -- meaning its reach is wide and its potential to spread quickly from person to person is great -- the best way to avoid it is to adhere to this grandmotherly advice.
These tips are on the short list offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on ways to keep the swine flu -- or any strain of flu -- at bay.
The CDC advises using regular soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleanser.
It also doesn't hurt to keep your distance from sneezers and coughers.
"Normally the influenza virus is spread from person to person through droplets in the air -- from a person with a cough for example," said Dr. David Satcher, a professor the Morehouse School of Medicine, and the former U.S. Surgeon General, on a video displayed on the Web site of the American Red Cross. "Droplets in the air that can be inhaled by another person, and that's probably the most common form of spread."
Also posing a risk, he said, are items that have recently touched or handled by someone infected -- a fork, or a doorknob, for example. Some experts endorse occasionally disinfecting household surfaces and appliances with a diluted chlorine bleach solution.
Once infected with the flu, it's difficult to know if one has contracted the swine flu. This is because the symptoms are almost indistinguishable from the seasonal flu: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.
However, this year's outbreak of swine flu seems to involve more cases of diarrhea and vomiting, according to the CDC. Most who become stricken with swine flu suffer only mild symptoms. But what has health officials so alarmed is the current vulnerability of human population: the strain is brand new, so no vaccination exists.
The World Health Organization says it is currently working to develop a vaccine, but one isn't expected to be available until at least August. In the meantime, WHO isn't prioritizing the development of the new vaccine over the production of the vaccine for the seasonal flu, as that illness infects up to 5 million people annually worldwide, and kills up to 500,000 yearly, according to WHO.
© 2010 Created by Ka Renan
