A mere week ago I had never even considered contracting anything from a pig, my dating life excluded.
Now, all I hear about is Swine Flu. By the way, “swine flu” has to be just about the least awesome name for a disease, ever. What ever happened to diseases like Scarlet Fever? Now, that’s a romantic disease.
“Pig flu” may not roll off the tongue, but it IS taking over the news. Flight and oil sales are down and, with them, so is the already unstable stock market. Oh yeah, and there are all those people that are getting sick and sometimes dying from this thing. Mexico City has totally shut down. And, just like a tourist from Nebraska clogging up the sidewalk, it’s in the Big Apple too. Lucky us!
According to the Center for Disease Control swine flu symptoms include: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue and possible vomiting. So, standard flu symptoms. This oh-so-special brand of flu-y-ness is spread in the standard disease spreading way… through germs passed by coughing and sneezing and touching things that have had contact with it then rubbing your eyes, mouth, nose, etc…
Do the obvious to avoid it by avoiding sick people, covering your mouth when you sneeze, cough and avoid rubbing your nose, mouth and eyes. Oh, and wash your hands. A lot. The powers that be, that we like to call “officials”, say not to rush to the hospital for every cough and sniffle, but heck… I say if you feel sick, go to the friggin’ doctor.
I for one will be make it my own personal mission to give dirty looks to every single person who so much as sniffles on the subway.
The Swine Virus: Facts and Information
What It Is:
It is a respiratory disease in pigs caused by a certain strain of type A influenza that occurs yearly for pigs. It has now been found in humans. It’s a new strain of the H1N1 virus, a mix of the human and the animal versions.
How You Get It:
The virus used to be obtained primarily from being around pigs, but now it can be spread from human to human contact. This is done through one person with the virus coughing or sneezing towards another person, or someone touching an infected area and then touching their nose, eyes, or mouth.
Symptoms:
They are very similar to those of the common flu, including; fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills, and fever. Vomiting and diarrhea have also been included in some cases.
How To Treat It:
The best treatment is through antiviral drugs which include Oseltamivir or Zanamivir. These work best if taken within the first two days of the illness.
Why People Are Worried:
The newer strain of the virus that’s transmitted through human to human contact is a mutation of the older strain. It seems to be stronger and harder for the body to fight off, especially because our bodies are not used to it, so it is not as equipped to fight it. Those infected are more susceptible to other severe illness like pneumonia.
How Many It’s Affected And Where:
According to CNN.com, 73 cases have been confirmed throughout the world, 40 in the United States, 26 in Mexico, 6 in Canada, and 1 in Spain, but hundreds more are suspected, especially in Mexico, where over 1,700 cases have been reported. In the U-S, New York has been hit the hardest with 8 students in Queens, New York being confirmed as having the virus.
What President Obama Is Saying:
According to the NYPost.com, President Obama is saying the swine flu epidemic is a cause for “concern but not alarm”. He says he declared a national emergency as a precautionary tool to make sure the United States was prepared to respond quickly.
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