Swine Flu (A H1N1) Education - part 3

To continue giving out information about influenza viruses and I am hoping that through this I was able to help and educate people. Check part one and part two for more information.

Things to know about human influenza viruses:

* They spread through infected droplets from breathing passages.
* Droplets are expelled by talking, spitting, coughing and sneezing.
* The droplets spread about 1 meter from the infected person, either directly to other people or indirectly through hands and other surfaces.
* The viruses can live for several hours on hand surfaces, or on cloth and paper.

* If healthy people touch infected hands, doorknobs, keyboards, telephones, etc., they can infect themselves by touching mouths, noses or eyes.

* sometimes the viruses can spread through the air.
* It is possible that an infected person will spread the virus a day before showing sign of illness.

How do you know if you already have Influenza?

Seasonal Influenza:

* Fever
* Headache
* Aching muscles
* Exhaustion and feeling weak
* Loss of appetite
* Sore throat
* Runny or stuffy nose
* Dry cough

Pandemic Influenza:

While the first symptoms of pandemic Influenza might be similar to the seasonal flu symptoms, the symptoms develop will depend on the nature of the specific virus. It is likely that most people will recover without needing medical attention, but the following symptoms may help you decide if you need to seek medical help:

* Shortness of breath while resting or doing very little task.
* Persistent fever for 4 or 5 days
* Painful of difficult in breathing
* Cough a lot phlegm or bloody sputum
* Wheezing
* You are feeling better and then you develop a new fever or worsening cough with sputum
* You feel very drowsy and others have difficulty waking you up or you seem confused/disoriented

Please be reminded that in a pandemic, medical services will be overwhelmed and some might even be closed. So it is important for you and your family to prepare for at home care if the worst should happen.

Table below show the difference between influenza symptoms and those of a common cold.


How do you Reduce Risk of Contracting Influenza?

Personal Hygiene - the practice of good personal hygiene is one of the most effective strategies any individual can do to reduce risk of being infected by flu virus. Important things to know:

* Cover the and mouth when the sleeve when coughing or sneezing (not with hands, as that contaminates the hands for touching and spreading organisms further);

* Use tissue for cleaning/blowing the nose, and dispose it after use;

* Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing, using tissue paper. If you are using surgical mask, dispose it after use and wash your hands.

-----Wash hands with soap and water, or clean it with alcohol bases hand cleaner.

----- When you wash your hands, wash at least for 20 seconds, make sure that all surfaces of hands and finger are cleaned.

* Become "touch aware", and avoid touching surfaces that are likely to he been touched by others (door handles, stair railings, etc.).

* Avoid hand shaking, social kissing, and other social rituals that involve touching others.

* Be careful with respiratory secretions when around other people (coughing, sneezing). If possible, avoid contact with individual at risk until respiratory symptoms have resolved.

For more info and personal hygiene measure see:

www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits/index.htm
www.cdc.gov/cleanhands/


Information taken from the following:

http://www.un.org/staff/pandemic/
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/

and reading materials gathered from my office, from hospitals and health centers

We as an individual need to knowledgeable about this kind of viruses since its commonly happening to everyone, I have read an article that a common person possibly acquire seasonal influenza virus twice in a year. The only things that we need to worry if becomes pandemic.