With many deaths recorded in Mexico, a new strain of swine flu virus is sweeping the globe. Several nations have suspect cases reported, from as far away as Hong Kong, Canada, Israel France and New Zealand.
Caused by type A influenza Swine flu, is a respiratory disease. Studies have shown that the swine flu, H1N1, is common throughout pig populations worldwide, with 25% of all animals displaying antibody evidence of having the disease. These are scary facts.
Swine flu viruses don't usually infect humans. The current swine flu, however, has a toxic mix of a gene segment from bird flu, a segment from human flu, plus two genes from pig flu. Pigs are well known as being the earth's most efficient 'mixing bowls'. The completely unknown virus is creating havoc, as humans have no immunity to it.
Swine flu can’t be contacted through eating pork products, however human-to-human infections are happening, without the victims having any contact with infected animals.
Here are a few simple precautions you need to take to provide effective self-protection against the threat of a global pandemic:
•Make sure you cover your nose and mouth if you sneeze or cough. Ensure you get rid of the tissue in the rubbish can after you use it. Keep a mask handy in case anyone sneezes or coughs around you.
One sneeze alone projects 100,000 droplets into the air at a speed of approximately 90 mph, settling on ATM and computer keypads, elevator buttons, door knobs, escalator railings and grocery trolley handles.
British researchers report that in a subway rail-station at rush hour, as high as 10 percent of all travellers can come in contact with the spray and residue from just one sneeze. That means as many as 150 commuters can be infected by one uncovered cough, or sneeze. The stream of air hurtling from a cough, moves at speeds that are close to 600 mph.
•Always wash your hands frequently, for up to 20 seconds, with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Always wash your hands thoroughly prior to eating and whenever possible do not eat with your hands.
It is estimated that around 80 percent of all infections are passed on by hands. If you aren't able to wash your hands, use hand-sanitizers which have 60% alcohol content. These are readily available in handy pocket size containers.
•Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth and definitely avoid kissing on the cheeks.
Germs are spread more quickly through that method of transmission.
•Try to stay away from sick people. Isolation and keeping your distance are your most efficient protective measures.
•Stay home from work or school if you get sick and keep your contact with others limited, so as to not infect anyone else.
•Keep aware and recognize any abnormal symptoms. If you are in doubt, go and seek professional advice.
•Ensure you eat well, closely monitor your sleep habits and make sure you exercise regularly. Upgrade your vitamin C intake and ensure you practice good hygiene.
Swine flu can be treated. Though it is unaffected by two of the four drugs approved for treating flu, two new arrivals, Tamiflu and Relenza have proven to be successful.
Mexico has hundreds of industrial-scale pig facilities, known as 'confined animal feeding farms', where the hogs are packed in tight rows. Thousands of pigs are contained in indoor pens and grain-fed for the market. Breeding sows are baled-up in small metal crates where they spend most of their lives, either pregnant or nursing a new litter of piglets.
Up until now, Mexican hog workers, infected with swine flu, have rarely been the cause of infecting other humans, except for close family members.
About author
Dr Wendy Stenberg-Tendys and her husband are CEO's of YouMe Support Foundation (http://youmesupport.org) providing high school education grants for children who are without hope. You can read more about this exciting project, that aims to give these children a once in lifetime 'Blue Moon Opportunity'. A change to fulfill their dreams at whatever level they chose to. This Blue Moon Opportunity may even change your life as well. Take a few minutes to check it all out at Win A Resort (http://winaresort.com)
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Friday, May 1, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Swine Flu - Should You Be Worried?
By now you've all heard of the swine flu outbreak that has started to spread around the world. To date there have only been a handful of cases in the United States and all have resolved without the use of any medication; however, there have been a few hundred cases in Mexico that unfortunately have been deadly. As seen in previous deadly outbreaks and what makes this swine flu even more ominous is that those killed ranged in ages from 20-50, a typically healthy age group. Also, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently raised its worldwide "alert level," which it has not done since the Hong Kong pandemic in 1968, where nearly one million people died. Is this recent swine flu something that you need to be worried about? How can you protect yourself and your family?
Swine Flu vs. Seasonal Flu
Normally swine flu, as the name implies, only affects pigs. This virus, however, it seems has recently changed from its original form and therefore has "jumped" from pigs to humans. What makes this virus, named H1N1, particularly different and potentially dangerous is that it can spread from human to human.
Seasonal flu occurs every year, usually during the "cold and flu season" that usually lasts from December to March. The 2008-2009 flu season was a mild one, but like each year, it is estimated that between 250,000 to 500,000 people died from seasonal flu. What is different and worries health officials about H1N1 is that it seems to spread from human to human more quickly and easily than typical seasonal flu and because this swine flu mutated so quickly, there is no vaccine for it.
What to Watch Out for
Symptoms of swine flu are similar to regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. Also, if you or someone you know have these symptoms and have traveled to San Diego County or Imperial County, California or San Antonio, Texas within 7 days prior to the illness onset, there is reason for concern. If you have any of these symptoms, it's a good idea to get checked by your doctor, where a nasal respiratory swab will help confirm or deny a diagnosis.
Prevention Possible
Current public health officials have recommended healthy hygiene practices to avoid the spread of swine flu. Washing of hands, getting plenty of sleep, drinking plenty of fluids and eating healthy foods are great places to start. Obviously, avoiding close contact with anyone who is sick is a no-brainer. Some research suggests that zinc and selenium might improve your body's natural antibody response to the flu while the use of a Neti pot (nasal irrigation) prevents the virus from "setting up shop" in the nasal passages and sinuses.
Treatment After Infection?
Luckily there are plenty of things we can do to help those who unfortunately become ill. Conventionally, we know that H1N1 can be controlled with Tamiflu and/or Relenza. In addition, high doses of vitamin C, typically given intravenously, along with hydrogen peroxide can help get the virus under control.
It is yet to be determined if this current outbreak of swine flu will be as dangerous as some health officials are predicting. In the mean time, taking the appropriate measures to protect yourself and your family with a healthy dose of prevention is a great place to start.
Would you like to use this article? You may as long as you include the following information along with the article: Phil Wazny, NMD is a naturopathic physician at Integrative Health Care, a "Results Based Natural Medicine" Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ. He created several dynamic programs designed to help patients gain strength while reducing their rate of debilitating conditions like cancer and heart disease. His areas of specialty are permanent weight loss, natural pediatrics, allergy solutions, hormone balancing and pain relief with prolotherapy and PRP therapy. He can be reached at http://www.integrativehealthcare.com and 480-657-0003.
Interesting link:
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Swine Flu Protection Store
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Swine Flu vs. Seasonal Flu
Normally swine flu, as the name implies, only affects pigs. This virus, however, it seems has recently changed from its original form and therefore has "jumped" from pigs to humans. What makes this virus, named H1N1, particularly different and potentially dangerous is that it can spread from human to human.
Seasonal flu occurs every year, usually during the "cold and flu season" that usually lasts from December to March. The 2008-2009 flu season was a mild one, but like each year, it is estimated that between 250,000 to 500,000 people died from seasonal flu. What is different and worries health officials about H1N1 is that it seems to spread from human to human more quickly and easily than typical seasonal flu and because this swine flu mutated so quickly, there is no vaccine for it.
What to Watch Out for
Symptoms of swine flu are similar to regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. Also, if you or someone you know have these symptoms and have traveled to San Diego County or Imperial County, California or San Antonio, Texas within 7 days prior to the illness onset, there is reason for concern. If you have any of these symptoms, it's a good idea to get checked by your doctor, where a nasal respiratory swab will help confirm or deny a diagnosis.
Prevention Possible
Current public health officials have recommended healthy hygiene practices to avoid the spread of swine flu. Washing of hands, getting plenty of sleep, drinking plenty of fluids and eating healthy foods are great places to start. Obviously, avoiding close contact with anyone who is sick is a no-brainer. Some research suggests that zinc and selenium might improve your body's natural antibody response to the flu while the use of a Neti pot (nasal irrigation) prevents the virus from "setting up shop" in the nasal passages and sinuses.
Treatment After Infection?
Luckily there are plenty of things we can do to help those who unfortunately become ill. Conventionally, we know that H1N1 can be controlled with Tamiflu and/or Relenza. In addition, high doses of vitamin C, typically given intravenously, along with hydrogen peroxide can help get the virus under control.
It is yet to be determined if this current outbreak of swine flu will be as dangerous as some health officials are predicting. In the mean time, taking the appropriate measures to protect yourself and your family with a healthy dose of prevention is a great place to start.
Would you like to use this article? You may as long as you include the following information along with the article: Phil Wazny, NMD is a naturopathic physician at Integrative Health Care, a "Results Based Natural Medicine" Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ. He created several dynamic programs designed to help patients gain strength while reducing their rate of debilitating conditions like cancer and heart disease. His areas of specialty are permanent weight loss, natural pediatrics, allergy solutions, hormone balancing and pain relief with prolotherapy and PRP therapy. He can be reached at http://www.integrativehealthcare.com and 480-657-0003.
Interesting link:
N95 Respirator/Flu Mask
Swine Flu Protection Store
Sony DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6
Swine Flu Virus
A Swine Flu virus has health officials around the world working to contain the growing outbreak. One out of every five residents of Mexico's most populous city wore masks to protect themselves against the virus as Mexico City seems to be the epicenter of the outbreak. As many as 103 deaths have been attributed to the swine flu so far with many more feared to be on the horizon. The health department of Mexico said an additional 1,614 reported cases have been documented.
So far, however, only 18 of the deaths in Mexico have been confirmed by laboratory tests to be from swine flu virus and reported to the World Health Organization as such.
In the US preparations have been upgraded for a possible swine flu virus outbreak after 20 cases were reported, also the first cases of the virus was reported in Canada on Sunday -- six mild cases.
Swine flu or Swine Influenza is a contagious respiratory sickness that is normally only found in pigs. It is caused by a type-A influenza virus. Outbreaks in pigs occur year-round. The current strain is a new variation of an H1N1 virus, which is a mix of human and animal versions.
Normaly the swine flu virus only spreads from animal to person containing the spread but When the flu spreads person-to-person, it can continue to mutate, making it harder to combat because people have no natural immunity.
The symptoms are similar to the common flu. They include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Learn more about swine flu and how to treat it in the link below.
The swine flu virus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes around another person. People can become infected by touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes.
Calling it a "public health emergency of international concern" the World Health Organization (WHO) is very concerned. The WHO also says a public health emergency is an occurrence or imminent threat of illness or health conditions caused by bioterrorism, epidemic or pandemic disease, or highly fatal infectious agents or toxins that pose serious risk to a significant number of people.
Swine Flu Virus Protection?
Advice of health experts is to follow common-sense instructions: Wash your hands, stay home if you're sick and listen to your local health authorities. Advice from the CDC about the situation is, "Very frequent hand-washing is something that we talk about time and time again and that is an effective way to reduce transmission of disease,". They also advise, "If you're sick, it's very important that people stay at home. If your children are sick, have a fever and flu-like illness, they shouldn't go to school. And if you're ill, you shouldn't get on an airplane or another public transport to travel. Those things are part of personal responsibility in trying to reduce the impact. "
Swine Flu Symptoms
It is also noted that swine flu symptoms are relatively general and nonspecific. "So many different things can cause these symptoms. it is a dilemma," says one doctor interviewed by CNN. "It is a challenge that we are wrestling with. There is not a perfect test right now to let a doctor know that a person has the Swine Flu." It has been noted that most individuals with Swine Flu had an early on set of fever. Also it was common to see dizziness, body aches and vomiting in addition to the common sneezing, headache and other cold symptoms.
If you become sick and notice early onset of body aches, vomiting and dizziness you should consult with your doctor immediately. Although it is very unlikely that you have the Swine Flu virus, you should get medical confirmation just to be safe.
This Swine Flu virus outbreak could be a very dangerous epidemic or just another bump in the road. Health officials are still trying to figure out where exactly the virus originated, how transmissible it is and why it is mild in some cases and deadlier in others. In the mean time. Wash your hands, use common sense and be on a heightened alert to signs and symptoms of the Swine Flu virus. See you doctor if any unusual flu like symptoms occur.
So far, however, only 18 of the deaths in Mexico have been confirmed by laboratory tests to be from swine flu virus and reported to the World Health Organization as such.
In the US preparations have been upgraded for a possible swine flu virus outbreak after 20 cases were reported, also the first cases of the virus was reported in Canada on Sunday -- six mild cases.
Swine flu or Swine Influenza is a contagious respiratory sickness that is normally only found in pigs. It is caused by a type-A influenza virus. Outbreaks in pigs occur year-round. The current strain is a new variation of an H1N1 virus, which is a mix of human and animal versions.
Normaly the swine flu virus only spreads from animal to person containing the spread but When the flu spreads person-to-person, it can continue to mutate, making it harder to combat because people have no natural immunity.
The symptoms are similar to the common flu. They include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Learn more about swine flu and how to treat it in the link below.
The swine flu virus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes around another person. People can become infected by touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes.
Calling it a "public health emergency of international concern" the World Health Organization (WHO) is very concerned. The WHO also says a public health emergency is an occurrence or imminent threat of illness or health conditions caused by bioterrorism, epidemic or pandemic disease, or highly fatal infectious agents or toxins that pose serious risk to a significant number of people.
Swine Flu Virus Protection?
Advice of health experts is to follow common-sense instructions: Wash your hands, stay home if you're sick and listen to your local health authorities. Advice from the CDC about the situation is, "Very frequent hand-washing is something that we talk about time and time again and that is an effective way to reduce transmission of disease,". They also advise, "If you're sick, it's very important that people stay at home. If your children are sick, have a fever and flu-like illness, they shouldn't go to school. And if you're ill, you shouldn't get on an airplane or another public transport to travel. Those things are part of personal responsibility in trying to reduce the impact. "
Swine Flu Symptoms
It is also noted that swine flu symptoms are relatively general and nonspecific. "So many different things can cause these symptoms. it is a dilemma," says one doctor interviewed by CNN. "It is a challenge that we are wrestling with. There is not a perfect test right now to let a doctor know that a person has the Swine Flu." It has been noted that most individuals with Swine Flu had an early on set of fever. Also it was common to see dizziness, body aches and vomiting in addition to the common sneezing, headache and other cold symptoms.
If you become sick and notice early onset of body aches, vomiting and dizziness you should consult with your doctor immediately. Although it is very unlikely that you have the Swine Flu virus, you should get medical confirmation just to be safe.
This Swine Flu virus outbreak could be a very dangerous epidemic or just another bump in the road. Health officials are still trying to figure out where exactly the virus originated, how transmissible it is and why it is mild in some cases and deadlier in others. In the mean time. Wash your hands, use common sense and be on a heightened alert to signs and symptoms of the Swine Flu virus. See you doctor if any unusual flu like symptoms occur.
Swine Flu Outbreak
From Mexico to Florida and all the way across America to New York, swine flu has become a hot topic. As many as 75 students at St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens got sick on Thursday. More got sick on Friday. What health officials want to know is was it swine flu or something more benign. The hype is on for any large numbers of people getting sick as a pandemic could cause great disruption and thousands of deaths.
There are mounting fears about a deadly swine flu virus that is reported to have killed as many as 60 people in Mexico, one that health officials fear has already seeped into the United States. A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that spreads through populations across a large region; for instance a continent, or even worldwide.
Mexican and U.S. health officials searched on Saturday for signs an outbreak of a new flu strain is spreading further, after it killed up to 68 people in Mexico and infected eight in the United States. As Mexico shut schools and museums and axed public events, global health officials stopped short of declaring a pandemic. But they warned more cases could come to light, making up a major outbreak, as the flu spreads between people and infected some individuals who had no contact with one another.
How's that work? :-(
Mexico's deadly swine flu could disrupt trade and travel between the United States and Mexico if it prompts restrictions on the movement of goods across the border or sparks fear in consumers. The potential impact is far from clear as experts race to learn more about the disease, which has claimed the lives of as many as 61 people. But shipping and travel industries are especially vigilant. "If you end up with a significant demand shift, you could end up with a very substantial effect on our products, whether it be government-imposed restrictions or alternatively if the consumers just decide to say 'no'," said Bob Young, chief economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Any decision to restrict food shipments due to flu would come from the U.S. Agriculture Department, which has the power to "shut down movement," said Russell Laird, an executive director representing agricultural and food carriers at the American Trucking Associations. "So far, we haven't heard anything, but if that call is made we'll make sure to do our part," he said.
It could be major or just a blip on the radar screen so due diligence on every front is needful.
About author
Ernie Fitzpatrick
As a spiritual-futurist, I have a BA degree majoring in history. One cannot know the future without knowing the past which holds clues to what is on the horizon. The world is in such a rapid expansion of knowledge that we are close to entering a tipping point that will forever change earth as we know it.
N95 Respirator/Flu Mask
Swine Flu Protection Store
Discount Canon PowerShot G10
There are mounting fears about a deadly swine flu virus that is reported to have killed as many as 60 people in Mexico, one that health officials fear has already seeped into the United States. A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that spreads through populations across a large region; for instance a continent, or even worldwide.
Mexican and U.S. health officials searched on Saturday for signs an outbreak of a new flu strain is spreading further, after it killed up to 68 people in Mexico and infected eight in the United States. As Mexico shut schools and museums and axed public events, global health officials stopped short of declaring a pandemic. But they warned more cases could come to light, making up a major outbreak, as the flu spreads between people and infected some individuals who had no contact with one another.
How's that work? :-(
Mexico's deadly swine flu could disrupt trade and travel between the United States and Mexico if it prompts restrictions on the movement of goods across the border or sparks fear in consumers. The potential impact is far from clear as experts race to learn more about the disease, which has claimed the lives of as many as 61 people. But shipping and travel industries are especially vigilant. "If you end up with a significant demand shift, you could end up with a very substantial effect on our products, whether it be government-imposed restrictions or alternatively if the consumers just decide to say 'no'," said Bob Young, chief economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Any decision to restrict food shipments due to flu would come from the U.S. Agriculture Department, which has the power to "shut down movement," said Russell Laird, an executive director representing agricultural and food carriers at the American Trucking Associations. "So far, we haven't heard anything, but if that call is made we'll make sure to do our part," he said.
It could be major or just a blip on the radar screen so due diligence on every front is needful.
About author
Ernie Fitzpatrick
As a spiritual-futurist, I have a BA degree majoring in history. One cannot know the future without knowing the past which holds clues to what is on the horizon. The world is in such a rapid expansion of knowledge that we are close to entering a tipping point that will forever change earth as we know it.
N95 Respirator/Flu Mask
Swine Flu Protection Store
Discount Canon PowerShot G10
Can You Protect Yourself Against The Swine Flu?
Every day our bodies are attacked by viruses and bacteria that weaken our immune system and make us more vulnerable to diseases like the Swine Flu.
Swine Flu is a serious disease. All flues are serious. Even with the flu shots so many people get, around 36,000 people die in the United States yearly from the flu. The concern is that a pandemic may occur. If it does, many more people will die. A pandemic is a disease that affects people worldwide. An epidemic is more contained.
The Swine Flu is a respiratory illness that is spread from pigs to humans to other humans. We spread it to each other much like we do colds—coughing, sneezing, and touching things with the virus on it. Wearing masks offer little protection unless you are also wearing disposable gloves and wash your hands well after disposing of both, then disinfecting the sink and handles. Unrealistic.
Symptoms are regular flu symptoms—fever, running nose, sore throat, and you can develop vomiting and diarrhea.
Treatment: Antibiotics don’t work against viruses. The antivirals may work but problems are developing that viruses are becoming immune to them. Plus to work, you must take them within 48 hours of contact. Often, with the flu, you don’t recognize the symptoms until it is too late for the antivirals to work.
So, how can we protect ourselves?
We keep our immune system in top shape so that if we do contact the Swine Flu, our bodies will fight serious complications. We boost our immune system with certain foods.
Double the orange juice. Don’t forget the kids. Have them trade some of that apple juice for orange juice.
Eat carrots, sweet potatoes, and sweet bell peppers.
Beans, whole grains, nuts, especially walnuts, shrimp, and red meat.
Garlic and onions are great for boosting the immune system.
Get your Vitamin D from the sun 15 minutes a day. Make sure your kids go outside after school for 15 minutes without sunscreen.
Drink plenty of liquids throughout the day to prevent dehydration even if you have no symptoms.
A meal that is loaded with immune boosters is Chili. Make with ground beef, red, green, and yellow sweet peppers, tomatoes, garlic, onions, and lots of beans.
About author
Sandy Powers
A breast cancer survivor with liver problems, Sandy Powers turned to organic foods to heal her liver and fight cancer recurrence. Her research, amazing results, and recipes packed with antioxidants and immune boosters are in her book, "Organic for Health." Visit Sandy and view her book video at www.organicforhealthsite.com
N95 Respirator/Flu Mask
Swine Flu Protection Store
Swine Flu is a serious disease. All flues are serious. Even with the flu shots so many people get, around 36,000 people die in the United States yearly from the flu. The concern is that a pandemic may occur. If it does, many more people will die. A pandemic is a disease that affects people worldwide. An epidemic is more contained.
The Swine Flu is a respiratory illness that is spread from pigs to humans to other humans. We spread it to each other much like we do colds—coughing, sneezing, and touching things with the virus on it. Wearing masks offer little protection unless you are also wearing disposable gloves and wash your hands well after disposing of both, then disinfecting the sink and handles. Unrealistic.
Symptoms are regular flu symptoms—fever, running nose, sore throat, and you can develop vomiting and diarrhea.
Treatment: Antibiotics don’t work against viruses. The antivirals may work but problems are developing that viruses are becoming immune to them. Plus to work, you must take them within 48 hours of contact. Often, with the flu, you don’t recognize the symptoms until it is too late for the antivirals to work.
So, how can we protect ourselves?
We keep our immune system in top shape so that if we do contact the Swine Flu, our bodies will fight serious complications. We boost our immune system with certain foods.
Double the orange juice. Don’t forget the kids. Have them trade some of that apple juice for orange juice.
Eat carrots, sweet potatoes, and sweet bell peppers.
Beans, whole grains, nuts, especially walnuts, shrimp, and red meat.
Garlic and onions are great for boosting the immune system.
Get your Vitamin D from the sun 15 minutes a day. Make sure your kids go outside after school for 15 minutes without sunscreen.
Drink plenty of liquids throughout the day to prevent dehydration even if you have no symptoms.
A meal that is loaded with immune boosters is Chili. Make with ground beef, red, green, and yellow sweet peppers, tomatoes, garlic, onions, and lots of beans.
About author
Sandy Powers
A breast cancer survivor with liver problems, Sandy Powers turned to organic foods to heal her liver and fight cancer recurrence. Her research, amazing results, and recipes packed with antioxidants and immune boosters are in her book, "Organic for Health." Visit Sandy and view her book video at www.organicforhealthsite.com
N95 Respirator/Flu Mask
Swine Flu Protection Store
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