How to Prevent & Recognize Symptoms of Swine Flu

-
-

Step 1: Understand the infection
Understand what it is. Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by the influenza virus. Usually the virus does not infect humans, but transmission can sometimes occur in persons with direct exposure to pigs. The current outbreak has been caused by human-to-human transmission.

Step 2: Understand how it spreads
Swine flu is spread between humans like a cold: A person can catch it by being sneezed, coughed, or breathed on by a carrier, or by touching a surface that has the virus on it and then touching their own nose, eyes, or mouth. Direct contact with infected pigs can also transmit the virus to people, and vice versa. So far, no other animals can transmit the virus to humans.

Tip
You cannot get swine flu from eating cooked pork or pork products.

Step 3: Wash your hands
Wash your hands with warm water and soap often, lathering up for as long as it takes you to sing "Happy Birthday" twice, or about 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer in between, and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Don't shake hands with anyone.

Step 4: Avoid sick people
If someone is showing signs of a cold or flu, keep your distance.

Step 5: Don't assume immunity
Don't assume you're immune to the swine flu because you got a flu shot last year. It may not prevent you from being made sick by this particular strain, though it could prevent you from catching other strains.

Tip
Unlike other flu viruses, which tend to attack weakened immune systems, swine flu flourishes in young, strong, healthy bodies.

Step 6: Know the symptoms
Know the symptoms, which include a fever higher than 100 degrees, body aches, coughing, a sore throat, and respiratory congestion. Some people have diarrhea and vomiting, too.

Step 7: Don't delay medical attention
Don't delay in getting medical attention if you show symptoms. Swine flu can be successfully treated with the antiviral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza, which are most effective when taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.

Step 8: Protect others
If you are diagnosed with any kind of flu, stay indoors and limit your interaction with loved ones for seven days after the onset of symptoms to avoid passing it to others.

Step 9: Wear a face mask
If you are in an area where there's been a swine flu outbreak, wear a face mask. Swine flu is spread through respiratory droplets, which are transferred by a cough, sneeze, or even an exhale.

Tip
A simple face mask filters about 62 percent of small particles; a professional-grade one keeps 98 percent out.

Step 10: Don't panic
Don't panic if you recently visited an area with an outbreak. The incubation period is three to five days, so if you're flu-free a week after your trip, you're probably not infected.

Did You Know?
The World Bank has estimated that in a worst-case scenario, a flu pandemic could cost the world economy $3 trillion.

[Anne_Elizabeth]

This is a good video. At least you guys are trying. It doesn't matter if the Swine Flu is over-rated or not, people will still want to watch this video because it tells you everything you need to know about Swine Flu in 3 minutes.

[frycook]

thank you god for sending a person who is smart enough 2 realize it's not a big deal. i agree with ya man

[Yarko]

I like how she says it so calmly "It could cost the world 3 trillion dollars..." yaaay!

[TheAlmighyShia]

An American died the other day, in Texas. Granted, she is reported to had a preexisting condition. So yes, you shouldn't really worry to much about it.

[pizzariaman]

In Dutch it's called Varkensgriep, varken = pig and griep = flu
But for some reasons we just call it the Mexican flu, because some people might think pig are dangerous now.

[TheAlmighyShia]

Yes, that is a big one. And it should mention you shouldn't ask your doctor for antibiotics, as well.

[wifoutteef]

You're right that it is not that big of a deal.

But the reason the flu has killed more is because this flu is rare and hasn't had many outbreaks.

[koalapaint]

Just watched the Spanish version and it sounds more serious than the English version for whatever reason.

[aragorio]

wow your voice makes me feel more at ease with the swine flu

[andreapatane]

I had swine flu 15 years ago in February 2009 when I was a college student in the Winter Semester. Missing school sucked! Thank god I didn’t die from it.

[Hockeyplaya]

The girl that sits next to me in spanish has swine flu... im getting the symptoms... I have asthma.. this is going to be fun..

[ratpedal]

only 2009 kids will remember the swine flu. i had it

[nicpla]

well if that's the case you should just stay home and take meds to stop the fever and coughing and get plenty of bed rest so your immune system is not down and so your body can fight the infection

[Seon]

Yes and its symtoms are more mild then the regular flu most people have recovered w/o medaction

[Jape]

AHHH I HAVE IT :'O! I have all the symptoms :'( except vomit and diahrreha

[MonkeyBoy]

The thing I don't understand is that when Foot and Mouth was in Britain killing all the cows, sheep etc that wasn't killing people everyone was making a big fuss about, then swine flu comes that can kill humans and be passed from person to person and it's not as serious

[GabrielleGonzalez]

ah. Okay. Yea I wasn't sure. Thanks.

[kandikorn]

Watch out for pigs coughing up red arrows!!! If you do, make sure you buy some floating pill capsules in multiple colors from some guy with a plus sign shirt.

[traceycrosss]

I had swine flu in April 2016. I thought I was dying. My children got it too. One of the worst illnesses I've ever had. I just get the flu shot every single year now.

[magri]

how can you possibly tell the difference between the swine flu and a regular flu?