How to protect yourself from Swine Flu/H1N1 Virus

No one wants to get the swine flu, but with a few steps, you can reduce your chances of contracting the virus.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• tissues
• hand sanitizer
• TV or internet

1. Stay informed. While the news will give you useful information, the media can also sensationalize events and blow the flue out of proportion. It is a good idea to check other sources, like the World Health Organization (who.int) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov) in addition to following the news. One good news source to follow is Reuters' coverage of the swine flue (http://www.reuters.com/news/globalcoverage/swineflu).

2. Buy some small bottles of hand sanitizer, preferably antibacterial, so store in your house, car, purse, or anywhere you are likely to remember to use it. While antibacterial hand sanitizer won't kill the flu virus, many times the virus is carried by bacteria, so this will reduce your chances of contracting the flu.

3. Wash your hands often in addition to using your hand sanitizer.

4. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissues. If you don't have a tissue, try to cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hand where you are likely to touch other people or things. The Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.

5. While it is not necessary to avoid crowds, take extra precaution in places such as schools, airplanes, subways, hospitals, etc. This means bring your hand sanitizer along and use it often. Also be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.

6. As always, living a healthy lifestyle will boost your immune system and help you ward of illnesses. So, maintain a healthy diet, drink lots of water, and make sure you get enough sleep.

7. If you experience symptoms, contact your doctor. Symptoms of swine flu are very similar to the normal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you can go to our doctor and be tested. Swine flu is the type A influenza, so your doctor will be able to first test you to see what general type of flu you have. If you have the type A influenza, further testing can be done to determine if you actually ave swine flu.

Resources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• World Health Organization
• Reuters Swine Flu Coverage

[jaxicat]

on 11/26/2009 Well written article and advice. 5* :)