What You Need to Know

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By now, most have seen, heard or read the breathless stories about a Swine Flu outbreak in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed 40 cases in the US already.

There are several reasons why many health professionals are very concerned:

1. The virus is easily spread from human to human
2. The virus is mutating quickly, making it unpredictable. This could be the reason why is has killed dozens in Mexico but only caused minor sickness in the US so far.
3. Those who have died or gotten very sick are largely young and healthy. A typical flu virus usually hits the elderly and sick hardest.

The Swine flu is a version of the influenza virus that we see every year. This strain (called A/H1N1) started in pigs and mutated to infect humans.

The typical signs of sickness are:

• High fever
• Severe body aches
• Headache
• Extreme tiredness
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea (more common in children than in adults)

However, having some or all of these symptoms does not always mean you have the flu. You should check with your doctor if you feel sick. If you do get this flu, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says an anti-viral medication works to combat the illness and is being stockpiled around the country. If you do get sick, the CDC recommends you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

But the best way to stay healthy is to avoid this virus altogether. Here are some steps you can take:

• 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 hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.

In this video, Dr. Joe Bresee with the CDC Influenza Division describes swine flu.