Pig Flu – Facts About This Nasty Pandemic

N1H1 influenza is a virus that attacks the human immune system which in turn causes serious secondary illnesses (usually respiratory in nature). In a few cases the victim can die. This influenza virus gets its name from a type of flu virus that affects swine. Of course swine influenza resembles that of the one that infects swine. The abbreviation H1N1 is the official World Health Organization name of the virus and is derived from the medical terms hemaglutinin type 1 and neuraminidase type 1.

There was a misconception that human beings could catch swine influenza virus through the intake of pork and though the name is derived from the animal, cooked pork products are safe to eat .

N1H1 virus is transmitted in the same fashion as any other type of influenza virus. You can contract the virus from contaminated surfaces, particles in the surroundings, direct contact with infected persons or their belongings. Due to this fact, it isn’t enough to simply wear a face mask alone – you should also thoroughly wash your hands before eating so you do not pick up the virus. N1H1 influenza can stay on clothing for over 11 hours and on harder surfaces for up to 48 hours. The normal emphasis on flu masks is due to the fact that you can avoid holding an object but you cannot avoid breathing the air around you.

If someone has swine influenza they will show the symptoms of seasonal influenza. They will display fever and sore throat. They may suffer from respiratory difficulties and may have a headache. In many cases, they will feel cool and clammy and may vomit.

For medical staff in endemic areas or in areas where they will be working in close proximity with contaminated victims, an N95 mask will provide the best protection from airborne transmission as it has tiny fibers to sieve off the virus and neutralize it.

Since flu virus is principally spread through the air, overcrowding should be mitigated in those areas where there are a number of reported cases. If you are not a part of the emergency response then you should keep clear of such places.

There are many types of face masks used to prevent contamination. The kind you choose will depend on your situation and how comfortable you will be in using one. You can try to go for the design that has 2 straps for attachment to the head. There are also those with an adjustable nose bridge. There are yet others that have a long bill to allow you to breathe easily. Another type has a pair of ear loops.

There are numerous ways to influenza virus. The most common are with the use of retro viral medications such as Tamiflu. Most people are able to recover without an kind of medication at all. Serious efforts are being made to develop a vaccination so that people can be protected effectively, but that is expected to take a year or two, as research is ongoing.

In the event of swine influenza virus epidemic, you should stay calm and keep yourself updated with local updates. Follow any directives given by local health officials and keep away from overcrowded locations.

Tags: Adware & Spyware Security, diseases, flu masks, health, influenza, n95 masks, swine flu, viruses

This entry was posted on June 29, 2009 at June 29, 2009 and is filed under Adware & Spyware Security. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.