Swine FluJust another Totalaccessnet.com Blogs weblog

Swine flu is an illness which derives its name from a virus that infects

pigs. While the virus cannot affect people, they are likely to get an

infection from time to time. The virus is communicable and can be

transmitted from one person to another.

The symptoms of swine flu are like those manifested in a regular flu and

may include cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, fever, chills and

fatigue.

The H1N1 virus continues to become widespread in the United States. The

Center for Disease Control believes that the number of cases,

hospitalizations, and deaths will continue within the coming days and

weeks.

The Center for Disease Control is aggressively responding to the growing

outbreak. The objective of the agency is to curb the spread and severity of

the illness as well as to inform health care providers, public health

officials, and the general public to fend off the challenge by the medical

crisis. Likewise, the CDC is giving interim guidance on a daily basis as a

response to the rapidly growing crisis.

For treating swine flu, there are antiviral medicines that can be

administered. So far, oseltamivir, amantadine, rimantadine, and zanamivir

are the approved drugs for swine influenza treatment in the United States.
However, amantadine and rimantadine will not work against swine flu as the

H1N1 virus was found to be resistant against these medicines. Laboratory

procedures, on the other hand, have proven that H1N1 is susceptible to

oseltavimir and zanavimir.

Using antiviral drugs in the treatment of swine influenza works by making

your illness milder and making you feel relieved earlier than expected.

Aside from that, antiviral medicines prevent the onset of serious

complications.

Antiviral medicines are most effective when administered after the onset of

the illness usually within a couple of days. However, it should be

considered two days after the onset of symptoms, especially for

hospitalized patients or those at greater risk for influenza-related

complications.

Administration of anti viral drugs is also useful in preventing influenza

when given to an individual who is not sick but has exposed to a person

with swine influenza.

It can reduce the possibility of infection by 70% to 90%. The duration of

intake will be determined by the condition of the patient. Currently, there

are no accessible vaccines for protecting against H1N1.

In order to keep yourself from getting infected by the virus, here are some

of the things that can be done:

- Keep yourself informed about H1N1. You can visit the official website of

the World Health Organization or check brochures from local hospitals or

medical facilities. 
- Since the influenza virus can be transmitted from one person to another

through coughing or sneezing, you can keep yourself busy by doing the

following:
 
- When coughing or sneezing, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue. After

using the tissue, dispose of it and throw it in the trash.
- Wash your hands with soap and water after coughing and sneezing. Use

alcohol-based hand sanitizers whenever necessary.
- To prevent germs from spreading, refrain from touching your eyes, mouth,

or nose.
- If you become ill, the CDC recommends that you avoid contact with other

people at work or school so as not to infect them.
- Comply with public health advice concerning school closures, crowd

avoidance, and social distancing efforts.

As far as swine flu is concerned, health authorities are doing everything

they can to prevent the outbreak of another deadly virus.