BEST SKY

Swine Flu is very big news indeed right now, and more and more cases are being confirmed daily all over the world. The amount of swine flu cases could be hugely reduced if people can be a little more careful in their day to day lives. Before you are able to figure out a way to combat the spread of this awful virus, you need to know how it can be transmitted between people in an everyday environment.

So to that end, here’s a look at what it is and how the virus is spread around people. Be mindful of your conduct and that of others when out and about, and you can play your part in slowing the spread of this awful virus.

Basically, Swine Flu is a respiratory disease that first became known in pigs. The strain of Swine Flu that is currently infecting humans is a mutated strain dubbed H1N1 by the American government. Ordinarily, this particular virus would not affect humans, but the different strain has proven top be lethal for many people, and very difficult to deal with for others.

The strain that is passed between humans is airborne, and is passed on by contact with infected people. It has an incubation period of roughly 7 days, thus it may not manifest itself until a week after you come into contact with an infected person.

The name ‘Swine Flu’ doesn’t mean you can become infected with the virus by eating pork. It is caleld Swine Flu as it primarily attacked pigs before mutating. That said, you can be certain to destroy bacteria and viruses (including Swine Flu) in food by cooking things at a temperature of 160 degrees Farenheit.

Unfortunately it may well be impossible to contain the pathogen , thus you must be on your guard from this invisible menace. Put your hand over your mouth when coughing or sneezing (or ideally, use a tissue or handkerchief) to stop the spread of germs.

Wash your hands at every opportunity. Also, it would be beneficial if you carried around some form of hand cleanser gel or similar product. There are a selection of these products available on the market that are inexpensive and very effective. A small price to pay to help you secure your health.

Be sure to keep yourself as safe as possible by concentrating on hygiene and not spreading germs, and together we can all make a difference and slow the spread of Swine Flu across the planet. Think of the friends you have and your family as well as everyone else. Help everybody to stay clean of Swine Flu.

With the possibility of contracting the H1N1 virus looking this flu season, it’s a good idea to get sickness etiquette under wraps. It’s only when you get pregnant with your first child that you learn this very important lesson in etiquette: you do not hang around pregnant women, babies or children when you are sick. But is this etiquette practice some times used as a very god excuse to skip out on play dates or responsibilities?

As hard-working as you may be, it is 100 percent an okay excuse to stay away from any activity that may include pregnant women or children when you are sick. This is a hard concept to grasp for someone who has grown up with the experience of facing any work or activity through sickness and in health, but your boss, friend, or coworker would much rather you stay away when they are pregnant or have children.

For example, if you are a photographer but maybe one of your subjects is a pregnant woman or child, it is the correct etiquette to cancel the shoot even on the same day, rather than showing up as planned with the chance of getting your subject sick.

Or, say that you hair stylist is pregnant. She would much rather you cancel last minute because you think you’ve caught a bug, that her than show up and get her sick.

This is because pregnant women, kids and babies have less options ate flu and cold remedies than others due to their weaker immune system. Also parents hate getting sick because they don

Continuing with information to prepare for the H1N1 virus, swine flu, outbreak, the first task you face is to build up your immune system. In the first part 1 discussed using elderberry concentrate, also known as sambucus. You can use elderberry in liquid, pill or extract form. Remember before you begin any medicinal regime, natural or otherwise, you should always consult your physician.

 Part 2 will contain outbreak information of swine flu, H1N1 virus to prepare you in case you do contract it, and what you might consider as your next step in your personal line of defense—probiotics. As you use the elderberry concentrate daily, use probiotics, too. You can find probiotics online or at most health stores.

 The probiotics you are looking for are made up of specific strains. Be sure the probiotics has “B. bifdum and L. acidophilus and L. bulgaricus” in them. These strains in probiotics have proven to work best as an overall health preventive.

 However, if symptoms do show up, you might consider the following. Diffuse essential oils. It will clear germs out of the air. Put diffuser in the living room or den while everyone is together. Diffuse essential oils through out the areas you spend the most time in. It’s good for your pets, too.

 Other things you might consider are to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Eat chicken soup for electrolytes, and get plenty of rest. Sanitize your hands often, and teach your children to do the same.

 Now also is the time to use Echinecia. Although Echinecia does build the immune system, I don’t recommend taking the herb Echinecia for the long term, only short term, once flu symptoms set in.

Follow instructions on the package label, and you can take Echinecia for seven days. Don’t stop after two or three doses. As with any medicine, take it for the intended time frame. Do not give Echinecia to children! Be sure to check with your physician before you begin taking it.

 Use the information to prepare yourself before swine flu, H1N1 virus has an outbreak. Use probiotics as your the first line of defense. They also have numerous functions such as helping us digest our food and creating serotonin. Take them as directed to build the immune system in preparation for the flu season. Probiotics are available in pills, chewable, liquid and dairy-free. As always, eat healthy my friends.

 

The illness caused by the various influenza viruses are known as flu. Some of the types of flu include H1N1 (swine flu), H5N1 (bird flu) and seasonal flu. The swine flu virus is similar to that of the seasonal flu. The only difference is that most of the people do not have immunity since the H1N1 virus is new. The symptoms of the swine flu virus include fever, cough, body aches, sore throat, headache, chills and fatigue. Some of the other symptoms reported by the people are diarrhea and vomiting.

These viruses also lead to severe illness, respiratory failure, pneumonia and finally results in death. Some of the symptoms of the swine flu virus in children include fast breathing, severe vomiting, bluish or gray skin color, extreme tiredness, worse cough and fever. Proper medical treatment should be given to children when these symptoms are found in them. The symptoms of swine flu virus in adult include sudden dizziness, persistent vomiting, and pain in the chest region followed by bluish nails, continuous sneeze, cough and cold. Swine flu is highly risky to pregnant women, children and adults with obesity, people with chronic medical problems like lung disease, asthma, immunosuppresion, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Some of the symptoms found in the children are fall allergies, strep throat, common cold and sinus infection. Swine flu spreads from one person to another through continuous coughing and sneezing. Droplets from a sneeze or cough may prevail in the glasses, doors, wash basins, television and telephones. These germs prevail only for a short span of time.

Statewide vaccination clinics beginning tomorrow, Dec. 7, will offer free H1N1 vaccinations for everyone, not just those at risk, according to the Arkansas Department of Health.

The free clinics will be offered for two-weeks, beginning tomorrow and ending on Dec. 18, and will be held in nearly every county in the state, according to Randy Lee, Director of the ADH’s Center for Local Public Health.

The clinics will be administering the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccine at no charge to everyone — not just those at risk for serious complications from the H1N1 influenza vaccine, Lee said in a press release.

Health officials decided to open the clinics free of charge to all comers because “it appears that we will have adequate H1N1 vaccine to offer to everyone and substantial amounts of seasonal vaccine to offer also,” said Lee.

The vaccine will be available while supplies last and will also be offered to children needing a second shot for full protection from the H1N1 virus.

The dates, times and locations of the mass flu clinics are posted on the ADH Web site, www.healthyarkansas.com

Although there is no charge for the vaccine, people vaccinated at the clinics are asked to bring their health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, or ARKids First cards so the health department can file with their insurance providers.

Children less than 10 years old should have a second H1N1 vaccine shot and children less than 9 years old who have never before been vaccinated for the seasonal flu should have a second seasonal flu shot, according to the ADH. The first and second shots should be given at least four weeks apart.

The H1N1 vaccine is produced in the same manner as regular seasonal flu vaccine and in the same manufacturing plants, and simply contains a different strain of the influenza virus, according to the ADH.

Reactions to all flu vaccines may include a mild soreness or redness near the site of the shot and perhaps slight fever or headache. The flu shot cannot give you the flu.

Persons with severe allergies, such as anaphylactic allergic reaction, to hen’s eggs and individuals who previously had Guillain-Barre syndrome, should not receive flu vaccinations.

Infants less than 6 months old cannot be vaccinated.

Symptoms for seasonal and H1N1 flu are the same and include fever greater than 100 degrees, headaches and body aches, coughing, sore throat, chills, fatigue, respiratory congestion and in some cases diarrhea and vomiting.

This is the second round of statewide clinics offered since the H1N1 swine flu pandemic began. Thousands more individuals have been vaccinated at school clinics in districts throughout the state and will continue until schools recess for the holidays, according to the ADH.

Unless you have been totally away from the news you know about influenza A (H1N1) flu that has been in the headlines. Though cases have been reported to be mild it has hospitalized many who have contracted the flu. And, has you know a hospital stay can be costly if you don’t have the right health plan. Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina (BCBSNC) has some of the best plans you can find.

Health insurance or not the best thing is to avoid influenza A (H1N1) flu. Since most people come in contact in the work place the CDC has issued some common since rules to either prevent catching this flu or prevent spreading it to others.

Businesses and employers, in general, can play a key role in protecting employees’ health and safety, as well as in limiting the negative impact of the outbreak on the individual, the community, and the nation’s economy. This interim guidance is meant to inform and educate management and employees about appropriate precautions and work practices to minimize the risk of potential employee exposure, illness, and the spread of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) flu in the workplace through general prevention and preparedness strategies

Prevention of Illness in Well Employees

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

What can employers do to protect employees?

Encourage sick workers to stay home and away from the workplace, and provide flexible leave policies. Encourage infection control practices in the workplace by displaying posters that address and remind workers about proper hand washing, respiratory hygiene, and cough etiquette. Provide written guidance (email, etc.) on pandemic influenza A (H1N1) flu appropriate for the language and literacy levels of everyone in the workplace. Employers should work closely with local and state public health officials to ensure they are providing the most appropriate and up-to-date information (e.g., the CDC H1N1 Flu website http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/). Provide sufficient facilities for hand washing and alcohol-based (at least 60%) hand sanitizers (or wipes) in common workplace areas such as lobbies, corridors, and restrooms. Provide tissues, disinfectants, and disposable towels for employees to clean their work surfaces, as well as appropriate disposal receptacles for use by employees. One study showed that influenza virus can survive on environmental surfaces and can infect a person for up to 2-8 hours after being deposited on the surface.  To reduce the chance of spread of the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus, disinfect commonly-touched hard surfaces in the workplace, such as work stations, counter tops, door knobs, and bathroom surfaces by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.

What can employees do to reduce the spread of novel influenza A (H1N1) flu in the workplace?

Stay home if you are sick. If you have symptoms of influenza-like illness, stay home for 7 days after symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. Following these recommendations will help keep you from infecting others and spreading the virus. Employees who are well but who have an ill family member at home with pandemic H1N1 flu can go to work as usual. These employees should monitor their health every day, notify their supervisor and stay home if they become ill. Employees who have an underlying medical condition or who are pregnant should call their health care provider for advice, because they might need to receive influenza antiviral drugs to prevent illness. 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 sanitizers can be used if soap and water are not available. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way. These employees should monitor their health every day and should notify their supervisor and stay home if they become ill

The CDC has issued these guidelines in an effort to prevent the spread of the influenza A (H1N1) but it never hurts to be prepared. Direct Marketing Associates in Asheville NC has friendly, experienced and award winning agents that can help you choose the right health plan whether it is individual, family or business. Contact them today.