Swine Flu: Facts and
Prevention Tips
The recent outbreak of swine flu in
Mexico and the United States is of great
concern to the World Health Organization
(www.who.int/en/) and the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
(www.cdc.gov). On Sunday, April 26, 2009,
the federal government declared the
illness a public health emergency.
Swine flu is a respiratory virus that
typically occurs in pigs. Like the many
forms of influenza virus that occur in
humans, it mutates constantly, creating
new strains, and can sometimes be
transmitted to human beings who have
close contact with the animals (such as
farm workers). The strain that is causing
the outbreak in Mexico and the U.S.
(called swine influenza A or H1N1) has
mutated so that it can now be transmitted
from person to person. Symptoms
associated with swine flu include:
• Fever
• Lethargy and lack of appetite
• Coughing
• Nasal congestion
• Sore throat
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
While the initial source of this outbreak
appears to be Mexico, multiple countries
are now reporting confirmed cases,
including the United States and Canada.
Some of the confirmed cases have been
mild, but others have resulted in serious
illness and death. Given the nature of
international travel, flu can spread
rapidly throughout the globe in a
relatively short period of time.
Health officials are concerned about the
potential for worldwide spread of the
illness (also called "pandemic") because
this strain is new to humans. As a result,
the flu shots that were issued over the
winter provide no immunity to the illness.
In addition, the virus appears to be resistant
to some of the antiviral drugs that
are typically used to treat the flu. The
number of young, seemingly healthy
people who have been affected by the
illness in Mexico is also cause for concern
as the typical flu virus is rarely fatal
except in the elderly or those with
weakened immune systems.
The CDC's recommendation for avoiding
swine flu is to take standard flu season
precautions. These include:
• Avoid touching your eyes,
nose, or mouth. Person to person
transmission of a virus can result
from touching another person, then
absorbing the germs into yourself.
• Wash your hands frequently.
Use warm water and soap (if no warm
water, use alcohol-based soap) and rub
vigorously for at least 30 seconds.
• Keep hand sanitizers in your
car or purse. Use after handling
money, touching items that others also
use (such as a gas pump), and before
eating restaurant food.
©2009 NEAS, Inc.
• Eat healthy. Eating foods rich
in vitamins A, C, and E will
strengthen your immune system.
Try to start each day with a
healthy breakfast.
• Take vitamins and supplements.
A good multi-vitamin can
help strengthen your immune system,
as can drinking green tea.
• Drink at least eight glasses of
water per day. Water flushes
out your system and keeps you
hydrated.
• Practice stress management.
Too much stress can weaken your
immune system. Exercise and find
ways to relax, such as listening
to soothing music, meditating,
practicing yoga, reading, or
watching a comedy show.
• Get plenty of rest. Adults need
at least seven hours of sleep per
night, children more. Insufficient
rest increases your chances of
getting sick.
• Don't share drinking
containers. Shared drinking
containers spread germs fast.
Use disposable paper cups in the
bathroom, and wash water bottles
before refilling them.
• Use a separate set of towels
for each family member.
Give everyone a different color
or pattern.
• Disinfect. Clean doorknobs,
phones, computer keyboards,
bathroom sinks, kitchen counters,
and any other items that are
frequently shared.
• Wash your child's toys with
soap and water regularly,
especially if he or she tends
to chew on them.
• Avoid party dips and food
trays that do not contain
utensils. Others may have
touched the food with their hands
but not taken it, or you may have
had a chip double-dipper in front
of you.
• Keep a scarf or mask over your
nose and mouth. If you are
worried about the spread of germs,
you may want to keep your face
covered in crowded public places.
• Stop smoking. Smoking kills
cilia — the fibers in your nose
and lungs that prevent mucus
from clogging these airways.
Please note: You cannot get the
swine flu by eating pork or ham.
Like other forms of flu, swine flu is a
respiratory illness that is transmitted
by person to person contact.
If you or a family member come down
with flu-like symptoms, it is recommended
that you take the following
steps to care for yourself and prevent
the spread of the illness.
• Stay home. While it may be
difficult to miss time at work or
school, keep in mind that being
out in public when you are
contagious increases the odds
that others will get sick. The
CDC is requesting that anyone
with flu symptoms isolate
themselves by staying at
home, even if they are only
experiencing mild symptoms.
• Cover your nose and mouth
with a tissue when you cough
or sneeze. Throw tissues away
immediately after use.
• Wash your hands after blowing
your nose or coughing. Make
this a consistent habit to avoid
spreading germs.
• Don't share a bed with another
person if you are sick. Wash
bedding and blankets after the
sick person recovers.
• Spray garbage cans with
disinfectant to kill germs and
keep those who handle the garbage
from getting sick.
When to Seek Medical Attention
If you are experiencing flu symptoms
(especially if you live in an area
where swine flu has been reported),
contact your health care provider. He
or she will determine if you need to
come in for testing for swine flu.
Flu symptoms that indicate an urgent
need for medical attention (regardless
of what form of the illness you have)
include:
• Difficulty breathing
• Discomfort or pressure in the
abdomen or chest
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Persistent or severe vomiting
Children who are ill need immediate
attention if they:
• Have a bluish skin color
• Refuse liquids
• Are irritable and refuse to be held
• Have a fever with a rash
• Can't wake up or are lethargic or
unresponsive
When in doubt, contact your
physician.
The scope of the swine flu outbreak
is still being determined. Until more
information is available, it's best to
stay calm and take appropriate
precautions to prevent illness. If
you are feeling worried because of
the news about swine flu, contact
LifeMatters for assistance.
The above information is intended for
educational purposes only and is not
intended to take the place of medical
advice or the instructions of federal
or local authorities.
LifeMatters® has
professional counselors
available 24 hours a day,
every day of the year to
discuss a variety of
lifestyle concerns.
Call anytime.
1-800-634-6433
Toll-Free U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico
From overseas, call collect to
262-574-2500
Visit LifeMatters on the
Internet at:
www.neas.com
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