Prevent Swine Flu

The CDC says that a good way to prevent any flu disease is to avoid exposure to the virus. This is done by frequent hand washing, not touching your hands to your face.  Be especially careful to avoid the nose and mouth and avoiding any close proximity to or touching any person who may have flu symptoms. Since the virus can remain live and infectious for about 48 hours on many surfaces it is essential to practice good hygiene like cleaning with soap and water or alcohol-based hand disinfectants. Some physicians say face masks may help prevent getting airborne flu viruses from a cough or sneeze but others think it would be better for the people who actually have symptoms and sneeze or cough to wear the masks.

The use of Tamiflu or Relenza may help prevent the flu if taken before symptoms develop or reduce symptoms if taken within about 48 hours after symptoms develop. The vaccine recommendations as of October 2009 from the CDC say the following groups should get the vaccine as soon as it is available:

* people who live with or provide care for children younger than 6 months of age,
* pregnant women,
* health-care and emergency medical services personnel,
* people between 6 months and 24 years of age, and
* people from the ages of 25 through 64 who are at higher risk because of chronic health disorders such as asthma, diabetes, or a weakened immune system.

Generally speaking, about 90%-95% of people who get the disease feel dreadful but eventually bounce back with no problems.  This has been seen in patients in both Mexico and the U.S. Caution is still crucial as the swine flu (H1N1) is still spreading and has become a pandemic. So far, young adults been hit hardest, and in Mexico, this group currently has the highest mortality rate. This data however is constantly changing.

At this time the CDC is stating that people ages 10 and above are likely to need only one vaccine shot to provide protection against novel H1N1 swine flu and further suggest that these shots will be effective in about 76% of people who obtain the vaccine. One type of vaccine (currently named Influenza A [H1N1] 2009 Monovalent Vaccine Live, Intranasal) has been made available during the first week in October 2009. It is a live attenuated novel H1N1 flu vaccine that contains no thimerosal.  This vaccine is produced by MedImmune, LLC, and is administered by spraying it into the nostrils. This vaccine is only for healthy people 2-49 years of age. Children 2-9 years of age should receive two doses (0.1 ml in each nostril; total equals 0.2 ml per dose) and the second dose should be given the same way about one month after the first dose.  Children, adolescents and adults, 10-49 years of age should receive one dose (0.1 ml in each nostril; total equals 0.2 ml per dose).

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