Alert in Tamil nadu - Swine Flu

About Swine Flu

• The disease spreads very quickly, especially in crowded places.
• Cold and dry weather enables the virus to survive longer outside the body than in other conditions and, as a result, seasonal epidemics in temperate areas appear in winter.
• Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food.
• Eating properly handled and cooked pork (at an internal temperature of ≥160°F) is safe.
  

What is swine flu?

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by Type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.


What are the signs of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of 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. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

How does swine flu spread?
Spread of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way as that of seasonal flu. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes, people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

How can someone with the flu infect others?
Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick.

Are there medicines to treat swine flu?
Yes. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms). They are currently available with hospitals and are to be administered under supervision of clinicians.

How long can an infected person be?
People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possibly for up to 7 days following onset of illness. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?
Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air.

How long can viruses live outside the body?
We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent hand washing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
Currently available seasonal influenza vaccine does not protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with people having respiratory illness.
• If one gets sick with influenza, one must stay at home, away from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. However, if you have any respiratory distress, report to a nearby hospital. Don’t forget to wear a facemask while going to the hospital
  

What should I do if I get sick?
If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others. If you become ill and experience any of the warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

Can I get swine influenza from eating or preparing pork?
No. swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

Symptoms

• Fever


• Chills


• Body ache


• Fever


• Lethargy


• Lack of appetite


• Nausea


• Muscle soreness


• Breathlessness


• Vomiting


• Diarrhea

Note: Some of these are not unusual symptoms for monsoons, so it is difficult to identify the viral infection. Confirmation of swine flu infection is possible only by going for a throat and nose swab test for H1N1

Do’s and Dont's

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Wash your hands at regular intervals with disinfectants.
• Keep surfaces like doorknobs, tables, etc. clean with disinfectants.
• Don’t touch your mouth, nose, eyes after touching strangers and unknown surfaces.
• Don’t touch yourself or others after sneezing or coughing. First, wash your hands.
• Avoid public contact or use mask when in crowded areas. The swine fly attacks the respiratory tract.
• Avoid travelling, if you have any of the mentioned symptoms.
• Avoid close contact with people having respiratory illnesses.
• If you have no tissue or handkerchief, do not clean nose with hands. Instead, use the cuff of your shirt or clothes.
• Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
• If you develop influenza-like-illness (ILI) (fever with either cough or sore throat), self-isolate yourself at home for 7 days after the onset of the illness or at least for 24 hours after symptoms have resolved, whichever is longer.
• Persons who experience ILI and wish to seek medical care should contact their health care providers to report illness (by telephone or other remote means) before seeking care at a clinic, physician’s office, or hospital.
  

Thanks : BangaloreMirror.com

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