In a nutshell, here is some information to help you become more informed about the H1N1 virus (aka the swine flu).
Prevention:
- Cover nose & mouth with tissue when coughing/sneezing or around those who are doing same.
- Discard used tissues immediately.
- Wash hands frequently for at least a minute with warm water and soap.
- Use hand sanitizer often.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- Avoid touching your mouth, eyes, nose.
Symptoms:
- Temperature of 100.5 or higher
- Muscle aches
- Cough (esp. dry)
- Sore throat
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
Treatment:
- If you feel sick, stay home from work or school.
- See your doctor (or, if symptoms are severe, of course, go to the hospital).
- Within the first two days of getting sick, start treatment with either Tamiflu or Relenza (via prescriptions from your doctor).
Locations of confirmed cases to date:
- Mexico (336 confirmed)
- Arizona (1)
- California (14)
- Indiana (1)
- Texas (26)
- Kansas (2)
- Maine (2)
- Massachusetts (2)
- Michigan (2)
- Nevada (1)
- New York (50)
- South Carolina (10)
- Ohio (1)
- Austria (1)
- Britain (5)
- Canada (13)
- Costa Rica (2)
- Germany (3)
- Israel (2)
- New Zealand (14)
- Spain (10)
Additional advice provided so far:
- Avoid travel to Mexico for about a week until further notice.
- Don’t panic.
What is it? And why is it called the swine flu?
- It’s a virus – an influenza (flu) virus.
- This particular strain causes a respiratory disease in pigs, but was apparently transferred to humans in Mexico and spread from there.
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