Pharmacy in jobs, news, schools » Swine-flu

Swine flu: Answers to your H1N1 questions

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:58:34 +0000

How city officials sorted out who should get the H1N1 flu vaccine at Chicago’s first public clinics was among the questions nagging area residents in the days since President Barack Obama declared swine flu a national emergency. They also want to know why Cook County has been slow to offer its own clinics, and how the flu might affect the holidays.

Below are edited excerpts of some queries sent to the Tribune’s reporting team this week, with the answers:

QI am pregnant with triplets, due to give birth in 10 days. I brought my 2-year-old son, my husband and my mom (our caretaker) to Truman College’s clinic on Saturday. We waited in line for 5 1/2 hours for the vaccine. … What kind of screening are they doing for these shots, just first come, first served?

AWith a limited supply of vaccine at each clinic, Chicago Health Department officials are trying to limit it to high-priority groups. But mostly they are relying on people being honest when asked in line if they fall into one of those groups.

“We’re trusting people to do the right thing,” said Julie Morita, director of the department’s immunization program.

According to Tim Hadac, a department spokesman, officials are confident that nearly everyone who got vaccines at the first clinics was in a high risk group, although a “small percentage” might have slipped through. Some people had asthma, diabetes, immune disorders and other chronic illnesses that would not always be obvious to other people in line, he said.

Overall, those eligible for early vaccines are health care workers; pregnant women; children and young adults ages 6 months to 24 years; people who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months; and people ages 25 to 64 with chronic health conditions. The public clinics are being offered Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at six City Colleges campuses as long as there is demand and supply.

QWe are going to visit my in-laws for Thanksgiving and we were told we can’t see my father-in-law unless we have H1N1 shots. I have chronic sinusitis plus a diminished immune system, so how likely am I to find the vaccine before Thanksgiving? Is there a list of locations that have the vaccine?

AYou should call your doctor or health care provider to see if it is available, and where. Once the vaccine is readily available, a list of health departments and pharmacies will be made available on the Illinois Department of Public Health Web site, www.idph.state.il.us.

The vaccine continues to be in short supply across the country because of production delays. Health officials have said they expect a better supply by mid-November and that by early December, the vaccine should be widely available. Most vaccine is now going to local health departments and hospitals.

QThe city of Chicago has the vaccine. DuPage County has it. Cook County Department of Health — nada. Why is Cook County so behind?

ACook County Health Department officials said they got their initial 20,000 doses of vaccine late last week. Six thousand doses were allocated to hospitals in suburban Cook County and about 5,000 doses to public schools in Palatine, the first district designated for student vaccinations. Other doses have been reserved for health care workers at the county Health Department. No vaccine is currently available for public clinics, a county spokesman said. Officials were “cautiously optimistic” the department will get more vaccine early next week that will allow for public clinics to begin soon in suburban Cook County.

QAre there precautions a family should take regarding trick-or-treat candy this Halloween?

AState and local health officials recommend giving out wrapped candy. Rather than allowing children to reach into a bowl, hand it to them. Children should wash their hands, use sanitizer and wash any fruit or other food.

Swine flu: Answers to your H1N1 questions is a post from: Pharmacy in jobs, news, schools

Pharmacies await swine flu vaccine

admin — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:06:00 +0000

School, Pharmacies, pharmacy, swine flu, Flu, school nurses

As the national swine flu vaccination campaign kicked off Monday in three states — Indiana, Illinois, and Tennessee — there was little new information about when such an effort might start in Taylor County.

While the Abilene Independent School District is seeing an earlier onset of flu season than normal, some Abilene pharmacies struggled Tuesday to provide enough jobs.pharmacy-bg.com/tag/vaccine/”title=”vaccine” >vaccine protecting against seasonal strains.

School, Pharmacies, pharmacy, swine flu, Flu, school nurses

Linda Langston, director of health services with the Abilene Independent School District, said the AISD has not seen a spike in absences, with the number of students out remaining fairly steady over recent weeks. Last week, there were 77 confirmed cases of flu and 135 flu-like cases reported through school nurses, she said.

Flu-related absences are not targeting any particular school but are pretty evenly spread out through the school system, she said.

The number of students out sick has been only about a percentage point or two more than normal, Langston said.

“It’s really not any worse than it was at this time last year,” she said.

What has changed is the mixture of illnesses present on local campuses.

“At this time last year, we weren’t seeing as much flu,” she said. “We’re seeing flu a lot earlier this year than we ever have seen it in the past.”

Joey Light, superintendent of the Wylie Independent School District, said that districtwide absences stand at 249, a figure that represents a 92.6 attendance rate. Average yearly attendance stands around 96 percent, he said.

Light guessed the numbers would be typical for a flu season.

Jody Manuel, a physician assistant at the Minor Emergency Clinic on South 27th Street, said that the clinic was seeing what he would classify as “influenza syndrome,” with not as many positive cases derived from rapid flu tests as one might expect.

“We have about 60 percent actually coming up positive” with a detectable strain of flu, he said.

Rapid tests provide results within 15 minutes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Results depend entirely on the test administered, with some able to identify the difference between common types of influenza, others that can identify such viruses but cannot distinguish between types.

Like many places that have offer seasonal flu injections in Abilene, the clinic had run out of shots Monday evening, though it expected a new shipment possibly today.

Abilene pharmacist James McCoy said that there seems to be a “major shortage” of seasonal flu vaccine.

McCoy said that while some Abilene businesses may have received all of their requested doses, others only got 25 percent to 30 percent of their orders.

“Right now all the focus is going on H1N1,” he said, saying that the shortage seemed to be nationwide.

That means many businesses, McCoy’s included, spent much time on the phone Monday looking for more supply.

“We’re being told that later in October or around the first of November, when all the H1N1 (vaccine) gets sent out, that they may have some more released,” McCoy said.

Steve Owen, owner of Owen Pharmacy, said Monday that he couldn’t satisfy his demand for seasonal flu shots, and was on the phone with a third-party company to buy more.

“The reason there’s a shortage is that the two major manufacturers, thanks to Washington, D.C., are discontinuing their seasonal flu immunizations and going to the H1N1,” he said. “That’s the directive they’ve been given by the CDC in Atlanta from Barack Obama’s office.”

The vaccines cannot be produced at the same time, he said.

“You can’t do both at once,” he said, While the H1N1 flu can be deadly, Owen said that one needs the seasonal flu shot before they get “anything else.”

“That’s what a lot of people aren’t going to get this year, unfortunately,” he said.

More than 200,000 people in the United States are hospitalized from flu-related complications each year, and about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes, according to the CDC Web site.

The city of Abilene recently exhausted its supply of seasonal vaccine for adults, with children’s vaccine in “very limited” supply, said Larry Johnson, health administrator for the Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District.

Additional vaccine may be available later this month, with information released if supplies are replenished, Johnson said.

“Some local providers may receive shipments in October,” Johnson said, meaning people should contact health care providers and/or local pharmacies for availability.

A limited supply of H1N1 nasal mist vaccine — 237,000 doses — will be available to Texas for the week ending Oct. 9, Johnson said.

The vaccine will be allocated by the Texas Department of Health Services to some health care providers who have registered to receive it, he said.

But because allotments are small, supplies are too limited to begin significant vaccination programs. Initial shipments to state health department regions and local health departments will also be very small, he said.

“The health district will provide additional information as it becomes available,” Johnson said.

Pharmacies await swine flu vaccine is a post from: Pharmacy in jobs, news, schools

Santa Clara County opts against free swine flu vaccines for all school children

admin — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 06:59:01 +0000

Even though state health officials are encouraging California counties to offer free swine flu vaccinations to every student in school, Santa Clara County says it simply doesn’t have the staff to handle a program that vast.

And that could mean parents here will be stuck with co-pays or other fees to protect their children from the pandemic expected to hit hard this fall.

Santa Clara, as well as San Mateo and Alameda counties, will be relying on the same distribution system they now use for seasonal flu shots — encouraging people to go to their doctors, medical clinics or pharmacies for the two separate swine flu doses when they become available this fall.

Santa Clara and Alameda are also planning extra free clinics to catch those in high-risk groups — including pregnant women, children and the chronically ill — who might otherwise fall through the cracks.

But they won’t be lining up students in school yards this fall for mass vaccinations like New York City announced last week it will do. Federal health officials also reported last week that the H1N1 virus may be responsible for more deaths among children older than 5 than the usual seasonal flu.

“When you look at the 37 school districts in Santa Clara County and you multiply that by how many schools there are in each,” said county Public Health Officer Marty Fenstersheib, “we don’t have the resources to go to every one of those schools to provide vaccine.

There’s no way we can do that.”Fenstersheib pointed out that because of the county’s unique “Healthy Kids” program that insures nearly every child, he said, most parents have access to these traditional options to get their children vaccinated. The vaccine itself comes free from the federal government, but health providers can tack on a small fee to administer it.

“It’s a matter of getting this vaccine out quickly,” Fenstersheib said. “To me, the best way is getting it out to the medical community that’s used to doing this and has access and knows the patients and can turn this around very quickly.”

In the Bay Area, Contra Costa County appears to be coming close to the New York City model, gearing up for a vaccination program that will target 50 elementary schools with mostly low-income students in October, or about a third of the county’s elementary schools.

It’s the kind of vaccination program the state’s epidemiologist, Dr. Gilberto Chavez, is still hoping to see widespread across the state.

“Like New York City, it is our goal to make vaccine available to all school-age children regardless of ability to pay,” Chavez said in an interview this week. And while he emphasized that individual counties will have discretion over how to distribute the vaccine, he also said, “We believe most counties in the state will have school vaccination programs that will make the vaccine available to children free of charge.”

Even some “small payment,” such as a co-payment at a doctor’s office, he said, “may be a disincentive. That is particularly important for the target population, children specifically.”

While Santa Clara County isn’t planning a schoolwide free vaccination program, it may supply vaccine to some elementary and high schools that already have school nurses or school-based clinics and could administer the vaccine. Some local universities and community colleges with health centers may also receive a supply. Fenstersheib is also making plans to partner with large companies to offer vaccinations on their campuses, targeting pregnant and chronically ill employees who are at risk.

Just how effective the county’s plans will be remains to be seen. Swine flu is already spreading, and a vaccine won’t be ready for distribution until mid-October. Until then, health officers are urging people to wash their hands frequently, cover their mouths when they cough, and stay home from work or school if they are ill.

As Santa Clara County’s deputy public health officer, Dr. Sara Cody, said last week, “I don’t have any illusions this is going to go off without a hitch. It’s always an enormous challenge and this will be an enormous challenge.”

When the virus hit last spring, the county’s efforts to distribute the antiviral drug Tamiflu, which can limit the intensity and shorten the duration of the H1N1, were not as effective as many patients would have liked. The family of the first swine flu victim in the county had told the Mercury News that they were racing from pharmacy to pharmacy across town in search of a dose. Cody says, however, that distributing the vaccine is “an entirely different scenario” than keeping tabs on Tamiflu.

“We have a single objective,” she said, “to get two doses of vaccine into people who are at high risk. It’s a much simpler and clearer problem.”

In Alameda County, health officials will be telling anyone who has health insurance to go to their physicians to request the vaccine, which likely will include a doctor’s fee. Like Santa Clara County, Alameda will also be offering extra clinics for the uninsured or underinsured who have the highest risk of serious illness.

Sherri Willis, spokeswoman for the Alameda County Health Department, said that even though they will target the highest-risk groups for the free vaccinations, “we are well aware of the fact that everyone will come and we would just have to plan accordingly,” she said.

The vast majority of San Mateo County residents have access to a health provider, said county health officer Scott Morrow, so the county will first rely on that network to distribute vaccines to patients. Roughly 100 clinics that provide seasonal flu vaccinations will also have the new vaccine, he said.

Morrow said there are many unknowns surrounding the vaccine, including when it will be available and how much demand there will be.

“If there’s a huge demand,” he said, “we’ll add whatever we need to add to get the job done.”

Bay Area News Group reporters Sandy Kleffman and Aaron Kinney contributed to this report. Contact Julia Prodis Sulek at 408-278-3409.

Using the existing network of health clinics, physicians, hospitals and pharmacies that are already distributing seasonal flu vaccines to also offer swine flu shots when they become available in mid-October.

Providing vaccine to some elementary or high schools that have school nurses or health clinics to administer it.

Establishing free clinics to vaccinate high-risk people who may fall through the cracks.

Partnering with large corporations for on-site vaccinations, targeting pregnant and chronically ill employees.

Santa Clara County opts against free swine flu vaccines for all school children is a post from: Pharmacy in jobs, news, schools

From Mexico to Florida and all the way across America to New York, swine flu has become a hot topic

admin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:53:20 +0000

Ernie Fitzpatrick asked:

From Mexico to Florida and all the way across America to New York, swine flu has become a hot topic. As many as 75 students at St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens got sick on Thursday. More got sick on Friday. What health officials want to know is was it swine flu or something more benign. The hype is on for any large numbers of people getting sick as a pandemic could cause great disruption and thousands of deaths.

There are mounting fears about a deadly swine flu virus that is reported to have killed as many as 60 people in Mexico, one that health officials fear has already seeped into the United States. A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that spreads through populations across a large region; for instance a continent, or even worldwide.

Mexican and U.S. health officials searched on Saturday for signs an outbreak of a new flu strain is spreading further, after it killed up to 68 people in Mexico and infected eight in the United States. As Mexico shut schools and museums and axed public events, global health officials stopped short of declaring a pandemic. But they warned more cases could come to light, making up a major outbreak, as the flu spreads between people and infected some individuals who had no contact with one another.

How’s that work?

Mexico’s deadly swine flu could disrupt trade and travel between the United States and Mexico if it prompts restrictions on the movement of goods across the border or sparks fear in consumers. The potential impact is far from clear as experts race to learn more about the disease, which has claimed the lives of as many as 61 people. But shipping and travel industries are especially vigilant. “If you end up with a significant demand shift, you could end up with a very substantial effect on our products, whether it be government-imposed restrictions or alternatively if the consumers just decide to say ‘no’,” said Bob Young, chief economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Any decision to restrict food shipments due to flu would come from the U.S. Agriculture Department, which has the power to “shut down movement,” said Russell Laird, an executive director representing agricultural and food carriers at the American Trucking Associations. “So far, we haven’t heard anything, but if that call is made we’ll make sure to do our part,” he said.

It could be major or just a blip on the radar screen so due diligence on every front is needful.

From Mexico to Florida and all the way across America to New York, swine flu has become a hot topic is a post from: Pharmacy in jobs, news, schools

Emergency Supplies For Swine Flu

admin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:47:37 +0000

Joshua Mintz asked:

Emergency Supplies For Swine Flu

We are lucky to have the type of fast, up to the minute News Media that keeps us well informed of all outbreaks before they can even reach the 100’s. There is no doubt that the age of Internet news has sped up the news delivery process. But just because we know that swine flu has entered our country, and all the hospitals know as well, doesnt mean that these new diseases will just go away.

Its quite obvioius that these types of airborne viruses will reach higher numbers , before they start to dwindle back down.

We must be prepared for anything that COULD happen.

Emergency Supplies For Swine Flu

Before we know it Swine Flu WILL be in our own backyard. Whether we live in Detroit MI., or in the midwest states like North Dakota or Missouri. See, its not about U.S. citizens going and coming from Mexico. As we all know, there are more Mexicans and other foreign peoples coming inbto our country than ever before. And that will definitely bring more and more cases of these serious virus conditions.. There is a great possibility that almost all of us could avoid even knowing someone with the Swine Flu, but the probability of other diseases and airborne viruses making their way into the U.S. is 100%.

Here is what the newest Swinje Flu Emergency Supply Kit looks like.

The worst case scenario will look like this:

Swine Flu hits all the continental United States. Leaving our houses will put us right in the middle of the Swine Flu’s cross fire so to speak. The number of people that come down with the Swine Flu virus will start to double and triple instead of building up gradually, like its already doing.

We will all be wearing masks or anything we can get to cover up our mouths and noses. Everytime we feel a little tired , or everytime we have a little coughing fit, we will get very worried. The thought of having to go to one of the overcrowded , virus infested hospitals will pretty much put some measure of fear in us as we sit, fixated on our TV screens, waiting for good news.

This is when having the emergency supplies for the airborne flu virus will come in very handy. No price can be put on the peace of mind that comes with feeling safe in our own home during epidemic crisis’.

The first thing that to lok for in the Swine Flu emergency kit will be standard respirator masks.These masks that come in the Nitro Pack emergency kit will not be the same old paper masks we see so often. These masks we protect our nose and mouth completely. With extra padding around the perimeter of the mask, the chances of any kind of air sneaking past the mask or 0%. These masks actually come with a standard breathing valve to ensure our safety. We are talking hospital grade quarantine type masks that are worn by medical staff when dealing with patients that have the most deadliest viruses on earth.

The next thing we need is our emergency food supply. Depending on what kind of kit you get, their will be atleast enough food for a family of four to eat for up to 3 months. That is huge in any type of crisis. Even if you dont use all the food, it lasts for years. Which could definitely come in handy again. The standard food supply comes with :

No prepare, no cooking freeze dried foods Water filters and storage barrels Emergency heating and warmth Sanitation Supplies The food ranges from spaghetti, beefstew, macaroni and otyher main dishes, to fruit , bread , vegetables and desserts.

All can be made by adding water. Just like the military MRE’s. (Meals Ready to Eat)

Some of the other great items that come with the Ultimate Emergency Flu Supplies can be used for other things as well.

Solar Powered Lighting – Simply use the sunshine to charge the lantern and you will always have light, no matter what. Charges very fast.

Solar Powered AM/FM Radio – If we cant get to a store this could be absolutely invaluable for news and entertainment. But the best thing about the emergency radio is the fact that you an actually plug other items into it as well. Like maybe a coffee maker;)

Medical Quality First Aid – Definitely a must during any emergency situation. Bandages, rubbing alcohol, tweezers, and all other main medical first aid supplies.

Emergency Heating and Warmth – From space blankets to solar heaters, the whole family will be able to stay comfortably warm through any situation.

Last but not least there are 2 72 hour evacuation kits. These are the emergency supplies that will ensure our safety and survival in the worst of situations. Just pick up and go with these emergency swine Flu supplies. Complete with emergency lights, blankets, and other necessities.

Every item included has been carefully chosen with the ultimate in preparedness in mind. Many items that come with this unit are in short supply, so we have pulled these items aside to insure that at least a few of you will have the LIMITED OPPORTUNITY to purchase one of these special reserves.

Find out how to get your very own emergency swine flu supplies:

Emergency Supplies For Swine Flu is a post from: Pharmacy in jobs, news, schools

Medical experts watching the Swine Flu

admin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:32:23 +0000

Joshua Mintz asked:

Medical experts watching the Swine Flu tell us that once the flu is detected in an area, the entire community can be QUARANTINED for 6 to 12 weeks, the normal time for the Swine Flu to run its course, IF no further outbreaks are detected.

The “Swine 90 DAY FOOD SUPPLY” unit is compact enough to fit under most large beds, or stow in a large closet. It’s ideal for homes, apartments, businesses, emergency operation centers, etc.

Swine Flu Emergency Readiness Kit

Being prepared for all types of emergencies should be a priority for everyone in the U.S. With more threats than ever before, we know that any number of events can be right around the corner. But lately its completely understandable that many of us probably have our mind on economic worries at the very least. But knowing what we do know about the swine Flu break out, it might be a good time for us to consider investing in our own safety just in case.

As of now there are over 1,000 deaths in the country of Mexico. Granted we are not Mexico, and we do have an outstanding heads up on the current situation, that doesnt mean that we shouldnt take precaution anyways.

But a bigger point can be made – We should be ready for any other crisis that could happen, even if the Swine Flu stays contained.

Swine Flu preparation should be just one state of preparation we should be concerned with. I would say that this Swine Flu problem should be at the least, a wake up call. Preparing for this could end up saving us in the future. If we take action now, and nothing too serious comes of the Swine Flu virus, than we will still be prepared for any future occurences that could happen.

But just because we have caught this virus earlier than Mexico, doesnt mean its going to be O.K. Honestly, we are right nesxt door to the country, and we havnt done a great job of keeping Mexican immigrants out of our country in the past. And it only takes 1 unknowing victim to spread the Swine Flu virus to a large group of unsuspecting colleagues , classmates, or total strangers in a supermarket.

I am definitely not trying to be someone that tries to scare people, but whenever a society takes something like this too lightly , things can spiral out of control in the blink of an eye. It is our responsibility to take stock of situations like these and make honest assesments.

In the coming weeks we will know for sure if the Swine Flu will become epidemic, pandemic, or nothing more than a slight outbreak. I hope that its the latter. But I really hope that we are all prepared for anything and everything.

For more information on Swine Flu preparedness and emergency Food Supplies follow the link below:

Medical experts watching the Swine Flu is a post from: Pharmacy in jobs, news, schools

Swine flu – Wash your hands

admin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:00:28 +0000

Kesja Plecha asked:

Wash your hands

Basic way of preventing getting infected is washing your hands frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing. You can use soap and water, alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective. Hand sanitizers can be used when water isn’t available.

Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth

Germs spread when you touch your eyes, nose or mouth after touching something that’s contaminated.

Avoid close contact with sick people

If possible, avoid contact with possibly infected people. Avoid crowds. Swine flu spreads mainly when people cough or sneeze.

Avoid travel

Try to limit traveling, especially to high risk areas such as Mexico. If you’ve been to Mexico and have flu like symptoms visit a doctor.

Wear facemask or respirator

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing facemask in crowded settings to prevent getting infected and to not infect others. Respirator should be used if you have close contact with infected person (for example you’re caring of sick person at home).

Antiviral drugs

Swine influenza A (H1N1) is sensitive to Oseltamivir (sold under name Tamiflu) and Zanamivir (sold as Relenza). They are effective means of swine flu prevention and treatment. If taken for treatment, Tamiflu and Relenza are most effective if taken within 2 days after illness started. They are also effective for prevention if given to healthy person that had contact with infected people. Antiviral drugs are 70% to 90% effective means of flu prevention. According to CDC, number of days they should be used to prevent H1N1 influenza varies depending on each person’s situation.

Vaccine

Influenza A (H1N1) vaccine isn’t available yet, WHO and CDC are working on it.

Stay home if you feel sick

CDC recommends to stay at home for 7 days after symptoms begin or until you are symptom-free for 24 hours to not spread infection further.

Take care of your health

Sleep well, be active, manage stress, drink lots of fluids, eat healthy. This strengthens your immune system.

Swine flu – Wash your hands is a post from: Pharmacy in jobs, news, schools

You may have heard about Swine Flu in the news and wondered what the disease really was

admin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 06:35:07 +0000

Anna asked:

You may have heard about Swine Flu in the news and wondered what the disease really was, as well as whether you or your family members are at risk, and what can be done about it.

Swine Flu is the newest deadly disease that?s been taking a toll on human lives. There are many misconceptions regarding to the recent outbreak. Here are some basic things you should know about the Swine Influenza.

The Swine Flu epidemic is caused by the spread of the new H1N1 influenza virus strain, which was first detected last March. It was detected in three areas in Mexico, but it took a month for it to be clinically identified. Then strains of the virus were found in various Mexican cities, the USA., and other northern-hemisphere countries.

When the new Swine Flu strain found its way to jobs.pharmacy-bg.com/tag/canada/”title=”canada” >Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, Israel, and New Zealand, the World Health Organization decided to raise its pandemic alert level to 4. This means that the virus has a sustained human-to-human transmission.

But despite its high alert level, the WHO announced that most people who get the Swine Flu virus recover from it without the use of drugs or even medical attention.

The new Swine Flu virus is said to be the combination of several influenza strains. The analysis of the new H1N1 influenza strain, by the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention, found that it is made from one strain which is endemic in humans, two strains endemic in Eurasian and American pigs, and one strain endemic in birds.

The world has been alarmed about the increasing death toll the Swine Flu epidemic has caused in Mexico. Both the WHO and the CDC has expressed concern that it can become a serious flu pandemic, because it can be transferred from human to human. Government agencies across the world are monitoring the situation at the moment and reporting to the World Health Organization about any suspected Swine Flu victims.

For unknown reasons, the only deaths known to occur as a result of the swine flu epidemic occurred in Mexico. It is seen to affect even young and healthy adults. Therefore, in theory, anyone can catch the swine flu. Each one of us must therefore be cautious and try to avoid contact with sick people, even if they?re not affected by swine flu.

New Zealand is the lone southern-hemisphere country that has a confirmed case of swine flu. There are countries that have advised their citizens to refrain from travelling to infected areas, so that they will avoid getting it. Some countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, ban the import of pork products, as a precautionary measure against the epidemic.

You may have heard about Swine Flu in the news and wondered what the disease really was is a post from: Pharmacy in jobs, news, schools

Kid yourself, if you have Swine Flu, you can have the best doctors in the world taking care of you, but the name of the game is Flu Prevention

admin — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:09:41 +0000

Richard Stoyeck asked:

kid yourself, if you have Swine Flu, you can have the best doctors in the world taking care of you, but the name of the game is Flu Prevention, and the question is how do you resist getting the Swine Flu or any other flu for that matter? You need to get the germ into your body in order to contract the Swine Flu, and that means it has to get into an opening.

Even if you get the germ on your skin, it doesn’t guarantee you will contract Swine Flu because it must enter via the mouth, nose, or eyes. Those are the pathways into the body. If you have or are having a surgical procedure done, such as a hospital patient, than the surgical site itself is also a pathway for germs to enter the body.

I am going to give you a few basic ideas about how to prevent the Swine Flu, and for that matter, colds and viruses in general.

- Wash those hands, and keep washing them. Every time, you shake hands with someone, you are shaking hands with everyone else they have shaken hands with, since they last washed their hands. If you do shake hands, then before you touch any other part of your body including your nose, mouth, and eyes, you must get those hands clean.

- A person who is infected can pass the germ to you a day before symptoms appear, and up to 7 days after symptoms appear. You get the virus by contact with such a person directly, or by contact with an object that they touched. It is debatable how long an object such as a doorknob can retain the live germ.

- Beware of door handles. About the most germ infested surface you can touch is a door handle or the faucets you turn the water on and off with, especially in bathrooms that others use. Once you touch either of these objects, it is as though you never washed your hands at all. Our suggestion is to use the same paper towel you dry your hands with as a barrier between your now germ free hand and the door knob or water faucet.

- At work, we keep bottles of Windex handy. Just spray the bathroom doors, and the faucets and the door handles to people’s offices and let the air dry them which only takes a minute or two. If you immediately dry the surface, you destroy most of the germ inhibiting barrier.

- Go to a major discounter like Wal-Mart and stock up on hand sanitizers. Easily carried 2 to 4 oz bottles that can fit in your pocket, are less than a $1 and give one to each member of the family. They are fabulous for cleaning hands, and the residue evaporates within seconds. Doctors use them all the time. It’s cheap insurance.

- If and when the Swine Flu hits your area, than order some masks that are N95 rated. They are recommended by the Center for Disease Control, and are very inexpensive. Go online and Google “Swine Flu Masks”, and check prices.

Follow these simple rules religiously, and we think the Swine Flu will be bypassing you and your house this season. Good luck.

Kid yourself, if you have Swine Flu, you can have the best doctors in the world taking care of you, but the name of the game is Flu Prevention is a post from: Pharmacy in jobs, news, schools

Swine Flu How do I know if I have symptoms of Swine Flu

admin — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 12:46:48 +0000

Arunraj V.S. asked:

How do I know if I have symptoms of Swine Flu? Are the swine flu symptoms of children the same as H1N1 symptoms adults? Let us know the answer to the question “Do I have symptoms of Swine Flu?”

Swine Flu is a number one health concern the world over. The HI1N1 flu or Swine Flu was first detected in US in April 2009. The worst affected areas initially were Canada and Mexico before swine flu cases began to emerge in other areas of the world. In a short span of four months, the disease has spread to almost all regions in the world. World Health Organization has called H1N1 as pandemic which means a big epidemic that involves the entire country or perhaps the world. Usually, the signs of a pandemic are when a virus without any immunity to stop it, spreads across various parts of the world.

Risk factors of Swine Flu

Swine Flu spreads from person to person in the same way as regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. People with high risk for seasonal flu are also at high risk for Swine Flu. For example, people above 65 years of age, pregnant women, children below 5 years of age and those with chronic medical conditions and lifestyle diseases like diabetes are at high risk of getting swine flu.

Symptoms of Swine Flu

In children, the symptoms of swine flu include:

1. Rapid Breathing or Difficulty in breathing.

2. Grayish or Bluish Skin Color

3. Dehydration

4. Persistent of severe vomiting

5. Not able to interact properly with people, become irritable

6. Flu like symptoms, bad cough and fever

In adults, the symptoms of swine flu include:

1. Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing

2. Pain in chest or abdomen

3. Sudden dizziness or loss of energy

4. Severe or continuous vomiting

6. Flu like symptoms, bad cough and fever

The symptoms of H1N1 swine flu is similar to the ones that people get in regular, seasonal flu and so things like fever, sneezing, cough, body ache, head ache, shivering, sore throat and fatigue are common. Diarrhea and vomiting are also symptoms that have been associated with some cases of swine flu.

How do I catch swine flu?

H1N1 Swine Flu is transmitted the same way like seasonal flu. Flu viruses are spread usually from person to person through sneezing or coughing by people who have influenza. Some people may become infected with the deadly H1N1 by touching something that has virus on it and then bringing to their nose or mouth

How can someone with swine flu infect it to someone else?

Infected people can actually infect others from the first day itself, even before they themselves get any symptoms. This means there are also chances that one can pass on the symptoms of swine flu even before she or he knows that she or he is sick.

How do I protect myself from swine flu? How can I take precautions against swine flu?

There is no jobs.pharmacy-bg.com/tag/vaccine/”title=”vaccine” >vaccine that can protect you or be prevention against H1N1 Swine Flu. You can only maintain hygiene and take care to prevent spread of germs that can lead to illnesses like influenza. Here are the ways in which you can prevent yourself against swine flu:

1. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough. Throw the tissue in the trash after you sneeze into it.

2. Wash your hands with a liquid handwash like Dettol or Lifebuoy, especially after you cough or sneeze.

3. Do not touch your mouth, eyes or nose. Germs can spread in this manner.

4. Avoid contact with people who are infected with swine flu. This is sad but then the disease is highly infective.

5. If you are sick with influenza, stay at home and do not go to school or work. Limit your contact with people so that they do not get infected.

6. Do not venture into crowded spaces.

7. Increase the airflow in your room by opening the windows for proper ventilation.

8. Sleep well, eat nutritious food and practise healthy habits so that you are physically active and immune to the flu

How long can the Swine Flu virus stay on things like doorknobs and furniture?

According to medical experts, the influenza virus can stay on environmental surfaces and infect people from 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on things like door knobs, books etc. Germs of swine flu can spread when a person touches infected areas or infected people and then touches their eyes, ears, nose or mouth. Cough droplets or sneeze from an infected person can travel through the area. When a person comes in contact with droplets of sneeze of another person or touches things like books or desk of that person that is contaminated with sneeze droplets, and touches his or her own eyes, mouth, nose etc; before washing hands, one can contract H1N1 virus.

What are the medicines and treatment options for H1N1 swine flu?

Taking oseltamivir(Tamiflu) or zanamivir(Relenza) can treat swine flu or H1N1 but they should be taken in the early stages of the disease. Antiviral drugs or prescription medicines can make your immune system strong and keep the flu viruses at bay and stop them from reproducing in your body. So, you should start taking antiviral drugs within two days of getting H1N1 or influenza symptoms.

How do I prevent getting H1N1 (Swine flu) in high risk areas?

If you live in places where people have been infected with H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus or have influenza like symptoms mentioned above, then you should stay home and avoid contact with these people. If you develop flu like symptoms, do not leave things to chance and take instant medical care. Your health care provider or doctor will be able to tell you whether H1N1 flu testing is required.

Does WHO recommend using a MASK?

If you are not sick or if you are not living in high risk areas, it is not required to wear a mask. If a near and dear one is sick with H1N1, you need to wear a mask since you will be in close contact with the ill person. Dispose the mask after contact and wash and clean your hands thoroughly. Using the mask correctly is important because using it incorrectly will spread infection.

How can I differentiate between H1N1 Swine Flu and seasonal flu?

You cannot tell the difference between HI1N1 Swine Flu and Seasonal Flu without a medical verdict on it. Since symptoms for both the diseases are same like cough, headache, sneezing, fever, runny nose etc, only your doctor will be able to say if you have H1N1 virus. In case, your doctor suspects symptoms, they will have your blood sample, nasopharyngeal (nose to mouth) and throat swab to laboratories.

Home remedies for swine flu:

There are no home remedies for swine flu, especially when you have to figure out if it is swine flu or season flu. Swine Flu requires anti-viral drugs because treating it is an emergency issue. However you can prevent the spread of swine flu and strengthen your immune system by doing the following:

Wash your hands properly before having a meal, not just with soap and water. Wear face mask before going outside. If someone is coughing or sneezing near you, cover your nose and mouth with palms or a hanky. Swine flu gets into the body through the mouth and nose. Drink lemon balm tea because it has anti-viral properties. Chew fresh garlic cloves because they have antiviral properties as well. Steam inhalation with chamomile or eucalyptus thrice a day can relieve lung congestion and prevent swine flu symptoms

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