Swine Flu Epidemic

3M N95 Breathing Masks

All over the news on Monday morning are medical alerts about the swine flu epidemic; medical experts listing the symptoms and advising people how to stay flu-free.

Here’s what the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) has to say about the symptoms of swine flu:

“The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.”

How can you lessen your chances of getting sick in this swine flu? Again the experts at CDC offer some practical advice:

• 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 cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

If we are indeed seeing the beginnings of a swine flu epidemic, there are steps you need to take now to keep you and your family safe. Get to the store today and pick up some face masks, however, chances are that they may have already disappeared off the store shelves. Stock up on hand sanitizers, especially the small bottles that can be carried in your pocket or purse…and use it!

Feed your family

If this swine flu outbreak does turn into a swine flu epidemic then it is very possible that as services shut down to avoid spreading the disease that you may need to stay at home for an extended period of time. Do you have the food that you need? Do you have quality face masks designed to protect the wearer from just the type of contaminants spread by an air-borne virus?

The main thing you can do to protect yourself is to stay calm, take steps to protect yourself and stay alert. This swine flu epidemic is survivable. By following the guidelines above and being proactive in your preparations you do not have to become a victim of this mysterious flu outbreak.