Influenza viruses are thought to spread from person to person by respiratory droplets coming from coughs and sneezes of an infected person. This can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person are spread through the air and settles on the mouth or nose of someone close by.  Influenza viruses may also be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets that may be on another person or an object and then touches their own mouth or nose before washing their hands.

The preferred course of action, of course, would be to avoid close contact with persons infected with the flu as much as humanly possible.  Close contact would be considered less than about 6 feet away from the infected person.  If you must come into contact with a sick person spend the least amount of time possible near them and try to wear a facemask or surgical mask or N95 disposable respirator if at all possible. An N95 respirator that fits snugly on your face can filter out small particles that can be inhaled around the edges of a facemask. It may harder to breathe through an N95 mask for long periods of time compared to a facemask. Facemasks and respirators can be found for purchase at a pharmacy, building supply or hardware store.

Some helpful hints to keep in mind if you find yourself in need of wearing a facemask or N95 respirator are the following:

• Wear an N95 respirator if you help a sick person with respiratory treatments using a nebulizer or inhaler, as directed by their doctor. Respiratory treatments should be performed in a separate room away from common areas of the house when at all possible.
• Used facemasks and N95 respirators should be taken off and placed immediately in the regular trash so they don’t touch anything else.
• Avoid re-using disposable facemasks and N95 respirators, if possible. If a reusable fabric facemask is used, it should be laundered with normal laundry detergent and tumble-dried in a hot dryer.
• After you take off a facemask or N95 respirator, clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Produced by www.puracleenrx.com . The Swine Flu Pandemic is becoming a major problem all over the world. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) is already showing 77 countries affected with the influenza A (H1N1) virus as of November 5, 2009. Some good and bad information has been published about the H1N1 influenza virus including tips on prevention and controlling H1N1 outbreaks once they occur. We have decided to do some research on these facts and myths about the H1N1 Swine Flu Virus. We want to provide you with the best and most factual information available to keep you and your family as safe and healthy as possible.

Swine Flu Facts-V2

In a number of instances, people have developed the swine flu infection when they are closely associated with pigs and likewise, pig populations have occasionally been infected with the human flu infection. Farmers and pork processors are at the highest risk. In most instances, the cross-species infections (swine virus to man; human flu virus to pigs) have remained in local areas and have not caused national or worldwide infections in either pigs or humans.

Regrettably, this cross-species infection with influenza viruses has had the capability to transform. Researchers think the 2009 swine flu strain, first seen in Mexico, should be called novel H1N1 flu since it is predominately found infecting people and exhibits two main surface antigens, H1 (hemagglutinin type 1) and N1 (neuraminidase type1). Current research shows the eight RNA strands from novel H1N1 flu have one strand derived from human flu strains, two from avian (bird) strains, and five from swine strains.

In areas with confirmed human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, the possibility of infection can be lessened through a combination of actions. No single action will provide complete protection, but an approach combining the following steps can help decrease the likelihood of transmission. These steps include frequent washing hands frequently, covering coughs, and having ill persons remain at home, except to seek medical care, and minimize contact with others in the household. Additional measures that can limit transmission of a new influenza strain include voluntary home quarantine of members of households with confirmed or probable swine influenza cases, reduction of unnecessary social contacts, and avoidance whenever possible of crowded settings.

A confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with an acute respiratory illness with laboratory confirmed swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection at CDC by either a real-time RT-PCR or viral culture test.

For antiviral treatment of a confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, either oseltamivir or zanamivir may be administered. The recommended length of treatment is five days. These same antivirals should be considered for treatment of cases that test positive for influenza A but test negative for seasonal influenza viruses H3 and H1.