American Retired Seniors

The Centers for Disease Control and prevention has issued a great deal of information about the new H1N1 strain of the flu, also being referred to as ’swine flu’.  Even though the human H1N1 flu outbreak continues to spread in the United States, this version of the flu is rarely deadly and the CDC reports is not as prolific as the typical flu influenza which Americans suffer from each year which, according to the CDC which results in approximately 36,000 deaths annually.  As of today, May 3, 2009, there are 787 cases of the virus, known as influenza A (H1N1) which has been confirmed in 17 countries, with the number of fatalities growing to 20 according to the World Health Organization, one of those in Texas.President Barack Obama said the virus is a “cause for concern but not alarm,” and added “that the government has anti-viral treatment to treat the current strain of H1N1.”  Some people say the hype over H1N1 has led to undue hysteria.

Cases of this type of influenza will continue to rise however; senior citizens and boomers should be careful but not overly concerned as the H1N1 flu in the U.S. has proven to be less serious than first reported in mid April 2009. 

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy.  There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy with this and any type of influenza or flu:

• 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 hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.  Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.  If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

People cannot catch H1N1 (swine flu) from eating pork or pork products because influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products are safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.

As with any flu Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs.

Human-to-human transmission of swine flu is the main cause of spreading the flu. This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

Infectious disease expert Charles Ericsson, M.D., professor of internal medicine and director of Travel Medicine at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston says the H1N1 flu might include gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea and vomiting), as well as the usual respiratory symptoms. The basic symptoms for swine flu are similar to the seasonal flu we are vaccinated for each year, which may include:

• Fever (greater than 100°F or 37.8°C)
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Stuffy nose
• Chills
• Headache and body aches
• Fatigue

The important point is to call your doctor if you think you have the flu. Prescription anti-viral drugs such as TamiFlu or Relenza can be called in by your doctor. Unless you are:

• exceptionally ill with flu-like symptoms
• are chronically ill
• immune-suppressed
• quite elderly
• or have a very young child, under age 2.

It is best not to report to the hospital, clinic or doctor’s office, where you could risk spreading the disease. Again, call your doctor first to get instructions as to what you need to do next.

Do not confuse over-the-counter “cold and flu” preparations for anti-flu medications that require a prescription.

Stay current with the latest Swine Flu news at the CDC website or visit:

www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm
www.cdc.gov/swineflu/general_info.htm
www.cdc.gov/swineflu/whatsnew.htm
Also check out WebMD

Filed under: Senior Health Care