Swine Flu - (OS1) User Update


Risk

  • The virus can lead to the death of an infected person within 3-5 days.
  • The incubation period of the virus is between 5-10 days, but there were cases in Mexico where the infected person(s) died within 3-5 days.
  • The virus is more virulent than the common influenza virus, thus the need to prevent the spread of the disease.
  • Department of Health officials warn that we have to immediately identify and isolate a carrier of the virus so that he or she cannot transmit it to others. This way we could prevent a potential pandemic.

Mode of Transmission

  • The main mode of transmission from human to human is through "droplets" by coughing or sneezing of an infected person.
  • Health experts said the entirely novel strain has an unusual combination of genetic matierial from pigs, birds and humans which have "reassorted" and developeed to become the human swine influenza.

Preventative Measures

The best way to avoid an epedemic of the virus is very basic. Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, wash hands regularly, avoid close contact with sick people, avoid going out when sick and consult a doctor immediatly if symptoms of flu persist.

The disease cannot be transmitted by eating properly cooked pork, but as a precaution, the government said over the weekend that pork products from the United States and Mexico were temporarily banned.

Hog Farmers have also been ordered to vaccinate their herds.

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

There are simple everyday actions people can take to stay healthy:

  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw tissue you in the trash after you use it.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Pathogens spread that way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people:

  • Influenza, in general, is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing and sneezing of infected people.
  • If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.