How to Prevent Getting H1N1 Flu or Swine Flu

On June 10, 2009 the World Health Organization finally raised the level of concern about the H1N1 Flu to a level 6. H1N1 Flu has become the first 21st century flu pandemic. WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan was quoted as saying "With today's announcement, WHO moves from an emergency to a longer-term response. Based on past experience, this pandemic will be with us for some months, if not years, to come."

Now that the H!N1 flu has become an official global epidemic and claimed many lives, many people are likely to become anxious that they might catch the H1N1 flu otherwise known as the Swine Flu.

The CDC reminds us that the "WHO's decision to raise the pandemic alert level to Phase 6 is a reflection of the spread of the virus, not the severity of illness caused by the virus."

There are several very simple things one can do to prevent or minimize your chances of getting the swine flu and the regular flu.

These include finding out more about the illness from reliable sources, learning how serious swine flu is, learn what can be done prevent it, discovering what symptoms to watch for and when to seek additional treatment.

Also included is some interesting information about the history of Swine Influenza and Swine Flu as a Zoonosis or an infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans.

Image Source: CDC. Swine Influenza in Pigs and People. Brochure.

The four key things to do that will help in preventing you from getting the H1N1 Flu or Swine Flu:

1. Wash Your Hands

2. Cover Your Cough

3. Don't Touch Your Face

4. Stay Away from People Who are Sick

If you do get sick, stay home so you won't pass it on to anyone else.

Source: CDC H1N1 Flu.

These recommendations for keeping students healthy during H1N1 outbreak come from my friend, Dr. Jennifer Shu of CNN.com:

1. Follow healthy basic hygiene practices.

Encourage students to wash their hands or use a hand sanitizer frequently and to avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth, where germs can easily enter the body.

2. Keep surfaces clean.

Use a disinfectant to clean commonly shared surfaces at least daily and when visibly soiled.

3. Keep sick students at a distance.

Try spacing desks as far apart as possible to avoid close contact between students. It may also be helpful, especially for individuals at high risk for complications from the flu, to stay at least 6 feet away from sick people.

4. Go home.

Sick students and teachers should go home or stay home if they are too ill to participate in classroom activities. In addition, they should not return until any fever has been gone for at least 24 hours.

5. Follow the latest health recommendations.

H1N1 guidelines may be a moving target since it is still not well known how the virus will affect individuals and communities.

6. Play down perfect attendance.

Some kids (and parents) try so hard for an end-of-the-year perfect attendance award that it can be tempting to go to school even for a few hours to avoid being counted as "absent."

7. Promote home-based learning.

If children feel well enough to study while they're recovering, send some schoolwork home or use an online learning program so they can keep up with lessons.

Source: Dr. Jennifer Shu. CNN.com

The H1N1 Rap was written, composed, produced, and performed by John D. Clarke, MD, FAAFP. This music video is a fun, highly educational, and entertaining way to learn about prevention of the H1N1 virus.

On July 9th of this year, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a video PSA contest on flu prevention. Americans were called to create a 15, 30, or 60 second video promoting good hygienic practices and submit this video over YouTube. This video was to inform people about the flu and motivate them to take steps that help prevent the spread of the flu.

The winner received $2500 in cash and is featured on national television. Congratulations to Dr. John Clarke of Baldwin, New York for his video entitled H1N1 Rap by Dr. Clarke.

Secretary Sebelius and Elmo encouraged kids to practice good habits like hand washing to stay healthy and happy.

A series of public services announcements featuring Elmo aimed at teaching children how to stay happy and healthy this flu season by washing their hands and sneezing into their elbow.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met today to make recommendations for use of vaccine against novel influenza A (H1N1).

The committee recommended the vaccination efforts focus on five key populations. The key populations include those who are at higher risk of disease or complications, those who are likely to come in contact with novel H1N1, and those who could infect young infants.

The total number of people in the United States that make up these groups is approximately 159 million people.

When vaccine is first available, the committee recommended that programs and providers try to vaccinate the groups listed below.

Source: CDC. July 29, 2009. CDC Advisers Make Recommendations for Use of Vaccine Against Novel H1N1.

• Pregnant women
• People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age,
• Health care and emergency services personnel,
• Persons between the ages of 6 months through 24 years of age, and
• People from ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk for novel H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

A CDC control advisory committee made it clear who should be first in line to receive the H1N1 vaccine, including pregnant women and child care providers. Dr. Jennifer Ashton reports.

When vaccine is first available, the CDC recommends that the following groups be vaccinated:

* Pregnant women

* People who live with or care for children < 6 months

* Health care and emergency services personnel

* Persons between the ages of 6 months - 24 years of age

* People from ages 25 - 64 years who are at higher risk for novel H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

Source: CDC. July 29, 2009. CDC Advisors Make Recommendations for Use of Vaccine Against Novel H1N1.

It is known that that pregnant women are more likely to get sick than others and have more serious problems with seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu because of their lowered immune systems with the pregnancy. Because of this the CDC is recommending that pregnant women be the first group immunized against the H1N1 virus.

The CDC is recommending that pregnant women who will likely be in direct contact with patients with confirmed, probable, or suspected influenza A (H1N1) (e.g., a nurse, physician, or respiratory therapist caring for hospitalized patients), should consider reassignment to lower-risk activities, such as telephone triage.

If reassignment is not possible, pregnant women should avoid participating in procedures that may generate increased small-particle aerosols of respiratory secretions in patients with known or suspected influenza.

The official video announcement from the WHO.

Dr Margaret Chan speaks to the media at the agency's headquarters in Geneva, on the 11th of June 2009. On the basis of available evidence and expert assessments of the evidence, the scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met. The Director-General of WHO has therefore decided to raise the level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6. "The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic," she said at a press conference today.

The World Health Organization declared a swine flu pandemic Thursday June 10, 2009 as infections in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere climbed to nearly 30,000 cases.

According to the CDC, H1N1 (swine flu) is a type of influenza or flu virus (type A influenza) that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in people. This new strain can spread between people.

Most people infected with this virus in the United States have had mild disease, but some have had more severe illness, and there has been at least one death.

Young children, pregnant women, and people with chronic diseases like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease may be at higher risk for complications from this infection.

The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930.

Image: C. S. Goldsmith and A. Balish, CDC. Swine Flu Virus. Public Domain.

I know that in every state, it's really easy to focus on the numbers, but I think right now, the numbers don't tell us as much as the trends.

Our assessment is that transmission here in the US is ongoing, that this is a very transmissible virus, similar to the seasonal influenza viruses.

Fortunately, the severity of illness that we are seeing at this point doesn't look as terrible as a category five kind of pandemic or the severity of impact that some had feared.

Dr Anne Schuchat

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Dr. Joe Bresee with the CDC Influenza Division describes swine flu - its signs and symptoms, how it's transmitted, medicines to treat it, steps people can take to protect themselves from it, and what people should do if they become ill.

En este video, Ana Rivera, Asesor de Salud Publica para los CDC, describe la influenza o gripe porcina: sus signos y síntomas, cómo se transmite, los medicamentos para su tratamiento, las medidas que las personas pueden tomar para protegerse de esta enfermedad y lo que deben hacer las personas si se enferman.

Translation:

In this video, Ana Rivera, Public Health Advisor for the CDC, described the swine flu, or influenza: signs and symptoms, how it is transmitted, drugs for treatment, measures that people can take to protect themselves from this disease and what to do if people get sick.

In a message sent to all AMA (American Medical Association) Doctors from current President Dr. Nancy Nielson, she urged physicians to be on "alert" rather than "alarm."

• While right now the appropriate stance is "alert" rather than "alarm," let's examine the role of practicing physicians, and our AMA, in this circumstance of a new influenza virus that seems more virulent in young adults and against which we don't have immunity.
• Each of us needs to be vigilant when seeing patients with acute respiratory symptoms
• . Although the clinical illness caused by this swine flu virus has been mild in the U.S., it has not been mild in Mexico, as you know from news reports. In case you are confronted with a patient with possible influenza (recognizing that the "usual" seasonal influenza season is over), here are some important considerations.
• Take a travel history from anyone with significant acute respiratory illness. Take appropriate precautions yourself, wearing an N95 respirator or a surgical mask/gown/gloves. Do a nasopharyngeal swab, put it in viral transport media and send to the appropriate clinical lab at your hospital. Dispose of gown, gloves and goggles in a biohazard bag.
• Pay strict attention to hand washing with soap/water or hand sanitizer
• .
• Note that public health budgets are stretched, so
• don't do swabs for viral isolation on folks who seem to have the common cold!

In the midst of an outbreak such as this it is important to turn to reputable sources of information for updates. Agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PandemicFlu.gov, MedlinePlus and the World Health Organization and Organizations like the American Medical Association and reputable news agencies are good choices.

1. CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2. PandemicFlu.gov
3. WHO - World Health Organization
4. American Medical Association
5. MedlinePlus - From the National Institutes of Health and Department of Health & Human Services
6. Reputable News Agencies - CNN Health, MSNBC Health, WebMD.

With so much news coverage about the Swine Flu in the midst of an outbreak such as this it is important to turn to reputable sources of information for updates.

Information about the H1N1 flu from the latest issue of MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) released early to update people about the Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infections (formerly swine flu).

• Since mid-April 2009, CDC, state and local health authorities in the United States, the World Health Organization (WHO), and health ministries in several countries have been responding to an outbreak of influenza caused by a novel influenza A (H1N1) virus.
• In March and early April 2009, Mexico experienced outbreaks of respiratory illness subsequently confirmed by CDC and Canada to be caused by the novel virus. The influenza strain identified in U.S. patients was genetically similar to viruses isolated from patients in Mexico.
• Since recognition of the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus in Mexico and the United States, as of May 6, a total of 21 additional countries had reported cases, with a total of 1,882 confirmed cases worldwide
• Early surveillance data from this outbreak suggest that the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus has the potential for efficient, rapid spread among countries. Although the illness associated with infection generally seems self-limited and uncomplicated, a substantial number of cases of severe disease and death has been reported in previously healthy young adults and children.
• Several characteristics of this outbreak appear unusual compared with a typical influenza seasonal outbreak.
• First, the percentage of patients requiring hospitalization appears to be higher than would be expected during a typical influenza season.
• Second, the age distribution of hospitalizations for novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is different than that of hospitalizations for seasonal influenza, which typically occur among children aged < 2 years, adults aged > 65 years, and persons with chronic health conditions. In Mexico and the United States, the percentage of patients requiring hospitalization has been particularly high among persons aged 30--44 years.

• The novel influenza A (H1N1) virus has been circulating in North America largely after the peak influenza transmission season. For that reason, the epidemiology and severity of the upcoming influenza season in the southern hemisphere or in the northern hemisphere cannot be predicted.
• The imminent onset of the season for influenza virus transmission in the southern hemisphere, coupled with detection of confirmed cases in several countries in the southern zone, raise concern that spread of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus *might* result in large-scale outbreaks during upcoming months.

MMWR Weekly. Update: Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infections --- Worldwide, May 6, 2009. 58(17);453-458

One of the best places to get started is by reading this brochure on the Swine Influenza (Flu) in Pigs and People comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In this 2 page pdf file brochure information is provided on:

• Swine Flu Virus Infections in Pigs
• Qs & As about Swine Flu
• What You Can Do
• Flu Can Spread from Pigs to People and from People to Pigs

You can download the brochure from the CDC's website or from News 10 in Sacramento, CA if the CDC's site is busy.

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.

It is important to realize that many people who have Swine Flu are better in a couple of days.

The human symptoms of swine flu are similar to the symptoms of seasonal influenza. The symptoms may include:

1. Fever (greater than 100°F or 37.8°C)
2. Sore throat
3. Cough
4. Stuffy nose
5. Chills
6. Headache and body aches
7. Fatigue
8. Some people have reported diarrhea.
9. Some have reported vomiting.

Dr. Joe Bresee, with CDC's Influenza Division, describes the symptoms of swine flu and warning signs to look for that indicate the need for urgent medical attention.

Image Source: Mikael Häggström. Symptoms of Swine Flu. Wikimedia. Public Domain.

According to the CDC - swine flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Between 2005 until January 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu were detected in the U.S. with no deaths occurring.

Swine flu infection can be serious. In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman in Wisconsin was hospitalized for pneumonia after being infected with swine flu and died 8 days later.

A swine flu outbreak in Fort Dix, New Jersey occurred in 1976 that caused more than 200 cases with serious illness in several people and one death.

The 2009 outbreak has already claimed one death in the United States as of April 29, 2009.

A Medscape article from April 29, 2009 on Swine Flu One Step Closer to Pandemic reviews the different alert levels used by the WHO's to determine if something is a pandemic:

• Phase 1: A virus in animals has caused no known infections in humans.
• Phase 2: An animal flu virus has caused infection in humans.
• Phase 3: Sporadic cases or small clusters of disease occur in humans. Human-to-human transmission, if any, is insufficient to cause community-level outbreaks.
• Phase 4: The risk for a pandemic is greatly increased but not certain. The disease-causing virus is able to cause community-level outbreaks.
• Phase 5: Still not a pandemic, but spread of disease between humans is occurring in more than one country of one WHO region.
• Phase 6: This is the pandemic level. Community-level outbreaks are in at least one additional country in a different WHO region from phase 5. A global pandemic is under way.

The CDC reminds us that preventing getting the Swine Flu involves taking some very simple precautions that people would normally take to stay healthy.

Influenza spreads mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people, so you want to minimize coughing and sneezing and minimize contact with infected people.

1. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.

   Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.

2. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

   Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

   Germs spread that way.

4. When possible avoid close contact with sick people.

One of the most effective way to prevent getting a virus is to practice good hand washing and hand hygiene.

The Method brand hand soap cleans your hands safely and effectively without harsh chemicals. The soap is made from naturally derived, biodegradable ingredients, including Vitamin E and aloe that are safe for your skin and the environment.

Hand Sanitizers work well if you don't have access to soap and water. You can carry some in your bag or pack and keep some on your desk.

The H1N1 influenza virus spreads the same way that seasonal flu spreads--from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza.

People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick. This means that people can pass on the flu to someone else before knowing they are sick as well as passing on the flu while they are sick.

People are being advised to avoid close contact with sick people and stay at least six feet away from people who are sick.

One of the images associated with the H1N1 Flu is that of people wearing masks over their faces. It appears that the real value of wearing a mask is to keep those who have the virus from spreading it to others.

People are currently advised to avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of the flu and to stay at least 6 feet away.

The CDC has helpful information for those who need to take care of a sick person in the home. If one must have close contact with a sick person like when holding a sick infant, the CDC advises spending the least amount of time possible in close contact and wear a surgical mask or N95 disposable respirator.

Image: CDC. Interim Guidance for H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu): Taking Care of a Sick Person in Your Home. Government Website.

More articles on the Swine Flu from the General Medicine and the Parenting Resources sections of Suite 101.

Swine flu is an acute respiratory disease of pigs caused by a tiny spheroid virus that belongs to the Influenza A virus group. It is also know as swine influenza, or this variant by the name of the virus H1N1.

Symptoms of swine flu in swine herds include fever, inactivity, nasal discharge, labored breathing, mouth breathing, and paroxysmal coughing when the pigs are moved.

Usually swine flu does not infect people. In the past few human cases that have occurred have been with people who have had direct contact with pigs.

The current swine flu outbreak is different. It has been caused by a new swine flu virus that has spread from person to person, which allows the virus to be transmitted among people who have not had any contact with pigs.

Sources:

Hitti M. Swine Flu FAQ. WebMD.

SEMP Inc. What is Swine Flu?. Biot Report #162: January 09, 2005

Image: Cynthia Turek. Piggy. Royalty Free Use.

Image Source: CDC. Swine Influenza in Pigs and People. Brochure.

Possible mechanisms for the introduction of novel influenza A viruses into the human population including direct transmission of entire bird or swine viruses or transmission of reassortant viruses.

Source: Carolyn Buxton Bridges, MD, Influenza Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia: "Human influenza viruses and the potential for inter-species transmission." Available at: What Is Swine Flu?

The CDC recommends if you get sick with the Swine Flu:

• Stay home from work or school.
• Limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
• Watch for concerning symptoms.

In addition you should follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.

Image: Modified Microsoft Image.

The two things to do if you think it's the flu:

• 1. Take care of yourself (or child).
• 2. Monitor yourself (or child) for worsening of symptoms.

The caregiver will want to make sure that the sick person is drinking enough water and taking food as tolerated.

The CDC advises using anti-pyretic (fever reducing) medications to relieve fever such as acetaminophen or non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Any Aspirin or aspirin-containing products (e.g. bismuth subsalicylate - Pepto Bismol) *should not be* administered to any confirmed or suspected ill case of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.

Source:

CDC: What To Do if You Get Flu-Like Symptoms.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• * Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• * Bluish skin color
• * Not drinking enough fluids
• * Not waking up or not interacting
• * Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• * Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• * Fever with a rash

• * Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• * Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• * Sudden dizziness
• * Confusion
• * Severe or persistent vomiting

It is important to realize that many people who have Swine Flu are better in a couple of days. People with good healthy immune systems should be able to fight off a swine flu infection.

Swine flu may become more of a problem for those who have compromised immune systems, the elderly, children and women who are pregnant; these groups of people are not able to fight off the infection as easily. In addition like the seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions, often seen in the elderly.

Parents and caregivers need to watch those with compromised immune systems, chronic medical conditions, the elderly, children and women who are pregnant.

Image: M Nota. Little girl and grandpa. Royalty Free Use.

The CDC is offering parents some useful advice for helping children understand the H1N1 Flu, which is making a lot of headlines in the news.

They caution that "stressful situations often cause children to worry and have many questions as to why it is happening and how it can be fixed."

They also remind parents of the importance of remembering to take care of your health and well-being as well as the health of your children.

Here are some additional helpful suggestions and information from Advice for Parents on Talking to Children About Novel H1N1 Flu (Formerly Swine Flu) Concerns regarding talking to your child or children about the Swine Flu:

1. Keep activities as consistent and normal as possible even if your normal routine changes (due to daycare or school closures).
2. Ask your children what they have heard about novel H1N1 flu. Answer questions openly and honestly, at a level they can understand. Be concrete and do not avoid difficult questions.
3. Allow your children to express their feelings and concerns. Let them know it is okay to be afraid or mad. Ask questions so you can help them identify and cope with their feelings.
4. Children always need to feel safe and loved. When they are uncertain about situations and afraid they may need even more affection and attention.
5. Limit exposure to media and adult conversations about novel H1N1 flu . If your children are watching T.V. try to watch with them or make sure you are available to answer questions about what they have heard.
6. As appropriate, encourage healthy behaviors: eating well, sleeping well, playing outside.
7. Use their questions as an opportunity to let them know what they can do to avoid getting novel H1N1 flu.

According to the CDC there are four different antiviral drugs that are licensed for use in the US for the treatment of influenza: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir.

It appears that the most recent swine influenza viruses isolated from humans are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine.

Therefore at this time, CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses.

CDC Recommendation

CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses.

• * Oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu ®) is approved to both treat and prevent influenza A and B virus infection in people one year of age and older.
• * Zanamivir (brand name Relenza ®) is approved to treat influenza A and B virus infection in people 7 years and older and to prevent influenza A and B virus infection in people 5 years and older.

Check with your physician to find out if you would need to take one of these medications to prevent or treat Swine Flu.

As we know, Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in the United States and several countries around the world. Traveling from one infected area to another or one country to another can spread the disease.

CDC has NOT recommended that people avoid domestic travel.

CDC recommends that U.S. travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico.

WHO is *not* recommending travel restrictions related to the outbreak of the influenza A (H1N1) virus. Today, international travel moves rapidly, with large numbers of individuals visiting various parts of the world.

They feel based on experience with prior outbreaks that limiting travel and imposing travel restrictions would have very little effect on stopping the virus from spreading, but would be highly disruptive to the global community.

The CDC recommends that U.S. travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico. Changes to this recommendation will be posted at the Travel Section of the CDC website.

You can check their site for updates.

The first death of a U.S. resident with the Swine Flu was reported in Texas. The woman was a 33-year-old school teacher who had recently given birth to a healthy baby.

This woman had a "chronic underlying health conditions" which were made worse by getting exposed to the H1N1 flu.

Clean hands can help prevent the spread of infectious diseases, such as flu. This video explains the proper way to wash your hands.

Image: Modified Microsoft Image

A 2008 article published in the American Society for Microbiology on the "Survival of Influenza Virus on Banknotes" is new being viewed in a new light with the H1N1 virus. The authors concluded that "unusual environmental contamination should be considered in the setting of pandemic preparedness." They found remnants of influenza virus surviving on paper money for 10 or more days.

According to the study, three things need to happen for any flu virus to be transmitted from one person to the next by handling money.

• A person who has the virus needs to sneeze or cough onto the bill or blow their nose so mucus stays on the currency
• A second person needs to touch the money while the virus is still viable (alive)
• The second person then needs to person put his or her contaminated hand in their mouth or pick their nose, getting the virus into their mucous membranes

Other options are to use coins and credit cards. Coins are less likely to carry the virus for long periods of time. Since you keep you credit card it passes through fewer hands than cash does; this helps reduce the chance of contact with an infected individual.

The 4 things you can do that will help in preventing from getting the Swine Flu:

1. Wash Your Hands

2. Cover Your Cough

3. Don't Touch Your Face

4. Stay Away from People Who are Sick

If you get sick, stay home, so you won't pass it on to anyone else.

New books and CD's on the H1N1 Flu.

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' recommends the following steps on their Pandemic Flu website from their Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist to follow to help plan for a pandemic:

• Store a two week supply of water and food.

  During a pandemic, if you cannot get to a store, or if stores are out of supplies, it will be important for you to have extra supplies on hand. This can be useful in other types of emergencies, such as power outages and disasters.

• Periodically check your regular prescription drugs

  This ensures you have a continuous supply in your home.

• Keep any nonprescription drugs and other health supplies on hand

  These over-the-counter drugs include pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold medicines, fluids with electrolytes, and vitamins.

• Continue the four basic steps to prevent from getting the flu.

  1. ) Wash Your Hands 2.) Cover Your Cough 3.) Don't Touch Your Face and 4.) Stay Away from People Who are Sick

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' recommends the following foods to keep in the home to prepare for a pandemic on their Pandemic Flu website from their Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist:

• Ready-to-eat canned meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, beans, and soups
• Protein or fruit bars
• Dry cereal or granola
• Peanut butter or nuts
• Dried fruit
• Crackers
• Canned juices
• Bottled water
• Canned or jarred baby food and formula
• Pet food
• Other non-perishable items

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' recommends the following medical and health supplies to keep in the home to prepare for a pandemic on their Pandemic Flu website from their Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist:

• Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood-pressure monitoring equipment
• Soap and water, or alcohol-based (60-95%) hand wash
• Medicines for fever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen
• Thermometer
• Anti-diarrheal medication
• Vitamins
• Fluids with electrolytes
• Cleansing agent/soap
• Flashlight
• Batteries
• Portable radio
• Manual can opener
• Garbage bags
• Tissues, toilet paper, disposable diapers

Flu or no flu, an emergency survival kit is a good resource to have around...just in case there is a disaster.

Scammers read newspapers, watch TV and surf the Internet and they know that by using a hook from the day's top headlines, that they'll be able to catch lots of fish.

Right now, issues associated with swine flu and a potential pandemic are of global interest and that means scammers have a very large pond to go phishing in.

Steve Cox

BBB Spokesperson

Unfortunately, with all of the media hype over the Swine Flu, also comes the opportunists and the scammers trying to ride the coattails of a frightened public and scaring people to buy useless, ineffective products, resources and services.

As always the onus is on the public to figure out what is legitimate and what is a scam. Make sure you are informed about the Swine Flu and then be on the look out for those who are trying to prey on frightened people.

The BBB offers the following advice to avoid swine flu scams:

• Avoid opening e-mail from an unknown source and do not click on any links in the body of the e-mail or open any attachments. Instead, delete the e-mail or report it to the Federal Trade Commission by forwarding the e-mail to spam@uce.gov.
• Don't believe online offers for vaccinations against swine flu because a vaccine does not exist. For more information on swine flu and updates on progress in fighting the outbreak, go to www.cdc.gov/swineflu
• Make sure your anti-virus and anti-spyware software is up to date and all operating system security patches have been installed. If your computer becomes infected as the result of a spam e-mail about swine flu, you can report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

Source: BBB. April 29, 2009. BBB Warns Against Swine Flu Scams: Scammers are creating their own epidemic of spam e-mails. Better Business Bureau.

In his weekly address President Obama outlines the government actions being taken to address the H1N1 Flu Virus on Saturday May 2, 2009.

In his week's address, President Barack Obama outlined the quick and aggressive steps the federal government is taking to confront the challenge of the H1N1 flu virus.

President Obama noted, "While the strain in the United States has not been as potent as the one in Mexico, it is impossible to say that this virus will not mutate into something more deadly."

The steps the federal government is taking include:

• Urging people with symptoms to stay home from work or school
• Distributing antiviral treatments from the Strategic National Stockpile
• Requesting $1.5 billion from Congress to invest in additional antivirals emergency equipment and the development of a vaccine
• Launching MySpace, Facebook and Twitter pages to update the public as quickly and effectively as possible.

This JIT lecture on H1N1 (Swine Flu) is an exciting and outstanding overview of H1N1 (Swine Flu) from the Supercourse.

The lecture has been translate it into Arabic, Russian, Farsi, Spanish, and Vietnamese and other languages. Follow the links below to access the lecture.

Map of Confirmed H1N1 Flu Cases in United States - July 22, 2009

By comparing this map from July 2009 with the map from May, you can see how many more cases of H1N1 Flu have been reported.

Source: FluTracker. Map of Confirmed cases by US county in quartiles.

This map and the data behind it were compiled by Dr. Henry Niman, a biomedical researcher in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, using technology provided by Rhiza Labs and Google.

The map was compiled using data from official sources, news reports and user-contributions.

Map of Confirmed H1N1 Flu Cases in United States - May 7, 2009

Source: FluTracker. Map of Confirmed cases by US county in quartiles.

The first Swine Flu Map created with Google Maps to track the epidemic.

The Google Map has moved to FluTracker.

According to the Wikipedia Article on Swine Flu, the swine flu is likely a descendant of the Spanish flu or more correctly referred to as the 1918 flu pandemic. This flu virus caused a devastating pandemic in humans in 1918-1919 and resulted in the deaths of 20 million people.

Descendants of this virus have persisted in pigs; they probably circulated in humans until the appearance of the Asian flu in 1957, and re-emerged in 1976.

Direct transmission from pigs to humans is rare, with only 12 cases in the U.S. since 2005.

Image: Public Library of Science Journal. Spanish Flu Hospital. Emergency military hospital during influenza epidemic. 1918 - 1919. Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 license. Wikimedia.

I think the world is infinitely better prepared

than it was 90 years ago.

Gregory Hartl

WHO spokesman

Referring to the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic