Posts Tagged ‘Flu Outbreak’

Swine Flu Facts- Everything You Need To Know!

Author: Roxanne Gordimer

Due to the rising interests and questions being posted to around the web I thought it might be helpful for some of you out there to gather some information on the facts about the swine flu outbreak.

1. The swine flu influenza transmission use to jump from pig to pig and only in rare cases transmit to humans. The origins of it might be that humans first transmitted the influenza virus to pigs before they developed their own. The influenza season brings a mix of influenza viruses resulting in the increased risk of transmission and infection from pig to humans, causing cross-species transmission. Known swine flu viruses are the H1N1 subtype as well as less popular subtypes like H1N2, H3N1 or H3N2. Therefore a pig can be infected by more than one virus type at the same time.

Infection Risk

Human-to –human infection was once limited to a close group of people, before the Mexico incidents on April 2009. Prior to that swine influenza was transmitted from infected pigs that had direct contact to human, mostly their owners.

Safety Consumption of Pork?

It is indeed still safe eating pork food. So far no documentation is available indicating a link between safely prepared pork food and human swine flu infection. The swine flu influenza virus is killed by cooking temperatures of 70 degrees C or 160 F.

Any Vaccine Protection Against The Swine Flu Virus?

Up to now (End of April 2009) there are no vaccines known protecting human from this influenza virus illness. Usually each year they is an influenza protection vaccine being issued, however it is unclear if this influence protection does work on the swine flu virus. Please, do not take chances visit your health professional in any case of feeling typical symptoms of influenza infection.

Furthermore, it is recorded that previous swine flu infections have successfully been cured without any additional treatment, requiring no medical treatment at all.

The influenza virus is widespread and is a seasonal outbreak. In some cases it has developed resistance towards antiviral medication and therefore reducing the effectiveness of treatment.

So far in Mexico or the United States the health officials have recommended the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for treatment. But again, make an informed decision by visiting your local health centre or professional in case of observed symptoms on yourself or somebody you suspect within your social network.

What Are Typical Symptoms of Swine Flu Infection?

Acute respiratory tract infections of any kind well known throughout the influenza season could be an indication for swine flu infection. Even mild symptoms should be taken seriously, especially by children, aged people, pregnant or any physical weakened individuals like patients or people in some kind of medication program. Please seek your next nearest health information spot be it your doctor or any qualified.

How To Reduce The Risk Of Infection?

Please avoid the direct contact to pigs if possible. Should you be a pig farmer or dealer make sure the pigs you are around on a regular basis are checked by a veterinary and are labelled swine flu free. Clean your hands with soap every time after you were in contact with pigs.

Usually people like pig farmers are the ones who get infected as there are in a regular contact with them. Especially during slaughter is the exposure high. Please avoid sick animals and do not slaughter them on your own, but report them immediately to your local health authorities. This way you may avoid worse. The next best thing to do is to follow local and national news, especially from credible news sources like governmental health departments or respected NGO`s.

Furthermore, avoid people who seem to have catch flu, with fever symptoms or cough frequently.

Eat healthy food and drink 100 % fruits based liquids or just clean water. Avoid uncooked meat, especially pig, cooked as stated above should be ok. Just practice recommended health habits like physical fitness as much as possible. Together you reduce the risk of being infected and when infected you reduce the risk of illness or further deterioration.

Should someone in your family be infected make sure you take that person asap to the next clinic or doctor for advice and treatment. In case it’s not immediately possible keep that person at least 1 meter away from others, best into a separate room. Be there for the person, so he or she doesn’t feel abandoned which can lead to worsening situation.

Improve the airflow in where the infected person is. Use door or window for the breeze.

Keep the area clean from dirt or any open cans, dustbins etc. Do not forget to wash your hands properly each time after contact with the infected person. COVER MOUTH AND NOSE permanently with professional masks from your local authority or pharmacy and the like. They must be clean and unused.

Please note the information above was assembled from various credible sources, especially the World Health Organisation, a United Nations public health arm. However, in no case can it be regarded as sufficient or advisory for any action taken by you in case regarding the topic discussed here. It is for your basic information and education only, you are therefore, solely responsible for any action resulting from reading this. Only your local or national health authorities can advice you how to proper deal with infection and related, make sure you seek only expert advice and not just general basic information gathered from around the web like this one above. Healthy day, your activagers.com team!

About the Author:

Roxanne Gordimer is a travel, health and lifestyle expert working
for companies such as activagers.com and other social networks.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Swine Flu Facts- Everything You Need To Know!

Author: Sandor Cruz

Simple and Healthy Ways to Beat the Swine Flu

Swine flu, influenza A, h1n1 flu, whatever it’s called, this latest flu pandemic sure is scaring a lot of people out of their wits.

But should you be afraid of the big bad swine flu?

The swine flu scare has spawned different reactions from different countries, some expected, some extreme. In Mexico, swine flu masks have become part of the usual fashion. Even if it didn’t have a single case of swine flu, Egypt slaughtered some 300,000 pigs.

In the U.S., President Barack Obama has mobilized substantial federal resources to fight swine flu, saying that since little is known about the latest flu strain, the government should take all necessary precautions in the event that the virus turns into something worse.

Among the measures taken included asking schools with confirmed cases of the flu virus to close for up to two weeks and to distribute 25 percent of the country’s 50 million courses of antiviral treatment to all states.

Obama also asked Congress for $1.5 billion if additional measures need to be taken to prevent the spread of swine flu.

Though the Centers for Disease Control described the status of swine flu in the U.S. as being in the “prepandemic period,” acting CDC director Dr. Richard Besser said he expects more deaths as the disease moves forward.

So far, ONLY three persons have died in the U.S., the latest being a Texas man with an underlying heart condition.

The Great Bird Flu Hoax author Dr. Joseph Mercola believes that this is not the first time that the U.S. is overreacting on a flu outbreak. Do you remember the 1976 swine flu outbreak at Fort Dix, New Jersey? Hundreds were infected and a soldier died but was it enough to justify then President Ford’s mass vaccination response? Thirty ended up dead after taking flu shots while many others were paralyzed due to Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Maybe 1976 is too far off. How about the Bush government’s warning that bird flu will kill two million Americans? So far, less than 300 people have died worldwide from avian influenza.

Dr. Mercola isn’t trying to say that these deaths were meaningless; every doctor’s goal is to save lives and help people become as healthy as possible. What he is saying is that oftentimes, the response in situations like this is almost always motivated by fear.

The fear that will result in massive flu shot and flu drug sales for big pharmaceutical companies.

Despite its ineffectiveness as an antiviral, the CDC recommends the use of popular flu drug Tamiflu, which is banned in Japan after being linked in the deaths of 14 children.

Studies show that Tamiflu can only reduce flu symptoms by 24 to 36 hours, and even increases the risk of secondary bacterial infections for some patients on it.

Tamiflu ingredients include saccharin sodium, a chemical sweetener linked to cancer; sodium benzoate, which, when combined with vitamin C, forms the carcinogen benzene; and propylene glycol, a food grade antifreeze.

By the way, Tamiflu costs over $100 and its reported side effects include convulsions, cough, delirium, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.

On the other hand, if you were to use the regular flu shot, it also contains dangerous substances, including mercury, formaldehyde and phenol.

But there’s no need to put your health at risk. Dr. Mercola has never used any anti-flu medication in his life yet he has never gone down with the flu in over 20 years. Here are his simple ways to avoid all types of flu:

* Optimize your vitamin D levels – Mercola believes that vitamin D deficiency is likely the real culprit behind the seasonal nature of the flu. If you experience flu-like symptoms, you can take 50,000 units of vitamin D3 per day for three days to help treat the infection.

* Optimize your intake of Omega-3 fats – The omega-3 fats DHA and EPA help enhance your immune system and are crucial in maintaining good health.

* Avoid Sugar and Processed Foods – Sugar is a natural enemy of your immune system. It may be present in foods you may not suspect, like processed fruit juices, so it would be wise to avoid processed foods of all kinds.

* Beat Stress – Manage your stress levels because stress wears out your body physically and emotionally, leaving you susceptible to disease.

* Rest – Don’t take your body for granted. It will be harder for you to beat the flu if you’re always tired or fatigued.

* Wash your hands regularly – Proper washing of hands will help reduce your risk of getting sick from communicable diseases like the flu. Avoid touching your eyes and nose when your hands are dirty or if you’ve come in contact with a sick person.

* Exercise – Your circulation and blood flow increases when you exercise and allows the components of your immune system to spread out better, increasing its chances of detecting and fighting an infection before it spreads.

* Eat garlic – Garlic has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties.

About the Author:

Sandor Cruz is a runner, swimmer and active sports enthusiast. He keeps fit and healthy by following a natural and organic lifestyle. He is a big fan of the works of New York Times Best-Selling Author Dr. Joseph Mercola.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Simple and Healthy Ways to Beat the Swine Flu

Author: Quality Debt Leads

The Swine Flu outbreak these days alarm the public because of its rapid spread, first in Mexico, then in the US and some other nearby countries. Now it continues to spread even to Middle East and Asia-Pacific countries. Swine flue has been affecting human beings before but it has never been so disturbing as the present outbreak.

In the midst of this epidemic, people should be aware of some basic details to prevent acquiring the said fast-killing flu.

What is Swine Flu?

From its name, swine influenza is a viral disease trasmitted among pigs. This is a respiratory disease that circulates within pig populations, but certain outbreaks occur on cold season, on winter and fall, just like how ordinary flu affects human beings.

How is it transmitted to people?

Swine flu infects human beings and over two thousand cases of affected individuals confirm that swine flu is indeed something to be taken seriously. Normally, swine flu is not transmitted to humans. But within the bodies of swines, a process called the antigenic shift make swine flu a very contagious disease not only among pigs but also among us, people.

Pigs are not only carriers of ordinary swine flu viruses, they are also carriers of other animals’ viruses- such as of birds and of human beings. This ordinary human flu can turn into a human-infecting swine flu once combined with other flu viruses. As different types of viruses are being carried by pigs, viruses may reassort and swap genes with each other to develop a new strain of flu virus. This evolved virus is now being responsible for the present swine flu epidemic.

What are the symptoms and effects of swine flu?

Swine flue affects people people like the ordinary flu such as sore throat, cough, nasal congestion, fever, headache, chills body aches, and fatigue. Some patients also reported diarrhea and vomiting as symptoms.

Although swine flu is curable with some drugs, about 150 deaths that were caused by swine flu have been reported.

What should we do?

To prevent swine flu, peolple should take personal health precautions such as cleaning one’s hands and other hygenic practices. Since swine flu appears to be just like an ordinary flu, it would be wise for people, whether they think they have swine flu or not, to cough and sneeze on tissue papers and properly dispose them on trash cans. People should also refrain from touching their lips, eyes and nose unless their hands are really clean.

Swine flu is not transmitted by eating pork since swine flue viruses are killed in meat-cooking tempearture. However, one should still be careful when eating or drinking. It would be safe to make sure that one’s food are safe from germs.

There are antiviral drugs against swine flu such as Tamiflu (oseltamivir) or Relenza (zanamivir). These can be taken for both prevention and cure of swine flu.

With a proper way of facing this present health threat, people will prevent being infected by this epidemic.

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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Basic Things You Need to Know about the Swine Flu Outbreak

Author: Sandor Cruz

Simple and Healthy Ways to Beat the Swine Flu

Swine flu, influenza A, h1n1 flu, whatever it’s called, this latest flu pandemic sure is scaring a lot of people out of their wits.

But should you be afraid of the big bad swine flu?

The swine flu scare has spawned different reactions from different countries, some expected, some extreme. In Mexico, swine flu masks have become part of the usual fashion. Even if it didn’t have a single case of swine flu, Egypt slaughtered some 300,000 pigs.

In the U.S., President Barack Obama has mobilized substantial federal resources to fight swine flu, saying that since little is known about the latest flu strain, the government should take all necessary precautions in the event that the virus turns into something worse.

Among the measures taken included asking schools with confirmed cases of the flu virus to close for up to two weeks and to distribute 25 percent of the country’s 50 million courses of antiviral treatment to all states.

Obama also asked Congress for $1.5 billion if additional measures need to be taken to prevent the spread of swine flu.

Though the Centers for Disease Control described the status of swine flu in the U.S. as being in the “prepandemic period,” acting CDC director Dr. Richard Besser said he expects more deaths as the disease moves forward.

So far, ONLY three persons have died in the U.S., the latest being a Texas man with an underlying heart condition.

The Great Bird Flu Hoax author Dr. Joseph Mercola believes that this is not the first time that the U.S. is overreacting on a flu outbreak. Do you remember the 1976 swine flu outbreak at Fort Dix, New Jersey? Hundreds were infected and a soldier died but was it enough to justify then President Ford’s mass vaccination response? Thirty ended up dead after taking flu shots while many others were paralyzed due to Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Maybe 1976 is too far off. How about the Bush government’s warning that bird flu will kill two million Americans? So far, less than 300 people have died worldwide from avian influenza.

Dr. Mercola isn’t trying to say that these deaths were meaningless; every doctor’s goal is to save lives and help people become as healthy as possible. What he is saying is that oftentimes, the response in situations like this is almost always motivated by fear.

The fear that will result in massive flu shot and flu drug sales for big pharmaceutical companies.

Despite its ineffectiveness as an antiviral, the CDC recommends the use of popular flu drug Tamiflu, which is banned in Japan after being linked in the deaths of 14 children.

Studies show that Tamiflu can only reduce flu symptoms by 24 to 36 hours, and even increases the risk of secondary bacterial infections for some patients on it.

Tamiflu ingredients include saccharin sodium, a chemical sweetener linked to cancer; sodium benzoate, which, when combined with vitamin C, forms the carcinogen benzene; and propylene glycol, a food grade antifreeze.

By the way, Tamiflu costs over $100 and its reported side effects include convulsions, cough, delirium, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.

On the other hand, if you were to use the regular flu shot, it also contains dangerous substances, including mercury, formaldehyde and phenol.

But there’s no need to put your health at risk. Dr. Mercola has never used any anti-flu medication in his life yet he has never gone down with the flu in over 20 years. Here are his simple ways to avoid all types of flu:

* Optimize your vitamin D levels – Mercola believes that vitamin D deficiency is likely the real culprit behind the seasonal nature of the flu. If you experience flu-like symptoms, you can take 50,000 units of vitamin D3 per day for three days to help treat the infection.

* Optimize your intake of Omega-3 fats – The omega-3 fats DHA and EPA help enhance your immune system and are crucial in maintaining good health.

* Avoid Sugar and Processed Foods – Sugar is a natural enemy of your immune system. It may be present in foods you may not suspect, like processed fruit juices, so it would be wise to avoid processed foods of all kinds.

* Beat Stress – Manage your stress levels because stress wears out your body physically and emotionally, leaving you susceptible to disease.

* Rest – Don’t take your body for granted. It will be harder for you to beat the flu if you’re always tired or fatigued.

* Wash your hands regularly – Proper washing of hands will help reduce your risk of getting sick from communicable diseases like the flu. Avoid touching your eyes and nose when your hands are dirty or if you’ve come in contact with a sick person.

* Exercise – Your circulation and blood flow increases when you exercise and allows the components of your immune system to spread out better, increasing its chances of detecting and fighting an infection before it spreads.

* Eat garlic – Garlic has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties.

About the Author:

Sandor Cruz is a runner, swimmer and active sports enthusiast. He keeps fit and healthy by following a natural and organic lifestyle. He is a big fan of the works of New York Times Best-Selling Author Dr. Joseph Mercola.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Simple and Healthy Ways to Beat the Swine Flu

Author: Sandor Cruz

Simple and Healthy Ways to Beat the Swine Flu

Swine flu, influenza A, h1n1 flu, whatever it’s called, this latest flu pandemic sure is scaring a lot of people out of their wits.

But should you be afraid of the big bad swine flu?

The swine flu scare has spawned different reactions from different countries, some expected, some extreme. In Mexico, swine flu masks have become part of the usual fashion. Even if it didn’t have a single case of swine flu, Egypt slaughtered some 300,000 pigs.

In the U.S., President Barack Obama has mobilized substantial federal resources to fight swine flu, saying that since little is known about the latest flu strain, the government should take all necessary precautions in the event that the virus turns into something worse.

Among the measures taken included asking schools with confirmed cases of the flu virus to close for up to two weeks and to distribute 25 percent of the country’s 50 million courses of antiviral treatment to all states.

Obama also asked Congress for $1.5 billion if additional measures need to be taken to prevent the spread of swine flu.

Though the Centers for Disease Control described the status of swine flu in the U.S. as being in the “prepandemic period,” acting CDC director Dr. Richard Besser said he expects more deaths as the disease moves forward.

So far, ONLY three persons have died in the U.S., the latest being a Texas man with an underlying heart condition.

The Great Bird Flu Hoax author Dr. Joseph Mercola believes that this is not the first time that the U.S. is overreacting on a flu outbreak. Do you remember the 1976 swine flu outbreak at Fort Dix, New Jersey? Hundreds were infected and a soldier died but was it enough to justify then President Ford’s mass vaccination response? Thirty ended up dead after taking flu shots while many others were paralyzed due to Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Maybe 1976 is too far off. How about the Bush government’s warning that bird flu will kill two million Americans? So far, less than 300 people have died worldwide from avian influenza.

Dr. Mercola isn’t trying to say that these deaths were meaningless; every doctor’s goal is to save lives and help people become as healthy as possible. What he is saying is that oftentimes, the response in situations like this is almost always motivated by fear.

The fear that will result in massive flu shot and flu drug sales for big pharmaceutical companies.

Despite its ineffectiveness as an antiviral, the CDC recommends the use of popular flu drug Tamiflu, which is banned in Japan after being linked in the deaths of 14 children.

Studies show that Tamiflu can only reduce flu symptoms by 24 to 36 hours, and even increases the risk of secondary bacterial infections for some patients on it.

Tamiflu ingredients include saccharin sodium, a chemical sweetener linked to cancer; sodium benzoate, which, when combined with vitamin C, forms the carcinogen benzene; and propylene glycol, a food grade antifreeze.

By the way, Tamiflu costs over $100 and its reported side effects include convulsions, cough, delirium, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.

On the other hand, if you were to use the regular flu shot, it also contains dangerous substances, including mercury, formaldehyde and phenol.

But there’s no need to put your health at risk. Dr. Mercola has never used any anti-flu medication in his life yet he has never gone down with the flu in over 20 years. Here are his simple ways to avoid all types of flu:

* Optimize your vitamin D levels – Mercola believes that vitamin D deficiency is likely the real culprit behind the seasonal nature of the flu. If you experience flu-like symptoms, you can take 50,000 units of vitamin D3 per day for three days to help treat the infection.

* Optimize your intake of Omega-3 fats – The omega-3 fats DHA and EPA help enhance your immune system and are crucial in maintaining good health.

* Avoid Sugar and Processed Foods – Sugar is a natural enemy of your immune system. It may be present in foods you may not suspect, like processed fruit juices, so it would be wise to avoid processed foods of all kinds.

* Beat Stress – Manage your stress levels because stress wears out your body physically and emotionally, leaving you susceptible to disease.

* Rest – Don’t take your body for granted. It will be harder for you to beat the flu if you’re always tired or fatigued.

* Wash your hands regularly – Proper washing of hands will help reduce your risk of getting sick from communicable diseases like the flu. Avoid touching your eyes and nose when your hands are dirty or if you’ve come in contact with a sick person.

* Exercise – Your circulation and blood flow increases when you exercise and allows the components of your immune system to spread out better, increasing its chances of detecting and fighting an infection before it spreads.

* Eat garlic – Garlic has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties.

About the Author:

Sandor Cruz is a runner, swimmer and active sports enthusiast. He keeps fit and healthy by following a natural and organic lifestyle. He is a big fan of the works of New York Times Best-Selling Author Dr. Joseph Mercola.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Simple and Healthy Ways to Beat the Swine Flu