The world is aware and is also in concern, even panic, at the outbreak of Swine Flu in various parts of the planet. With it reaching world-wide pandemic level, people are growing increasingly apprehensive about what they should eat and not, where they should go or not and who they should or shouldn’t meet. Its always better to be precautious, I agree, but just spreading panic without properly understanding something isn’t morally correct. I’m sure quite a lot of us are not even aware of the exact hazards, precautions, even symptoms of Swine flu. Even with this truth in place, I see about 80 percent people in Pune walking the streets with masks tied around their noses and mouths. Is the situation really as terrible or is it blown out of proportion??
Again I say, I’m not completely ruling out the danger. One of-course needs to protect oneself from catching it in every possible way. All I am saying is, lets first take a closer look at what really it is, what are the symptoms, and it is as horrific as claimed or not.
The first cases of human infection with novel H1N1 influenza virus were detected in 2009 in Mexico & USA. The virus has since then, spread rapidly. Symptoms of novel H1N1 flu in people are similar to those associated with seasonal flu including
* fever,
* cough,
* sore throat,
* running or stuffy nose,
* body aches,
* chills,
* headache
In addition, vomiting and diarrhea have been reported. (Higher rate than for seasonal flu.) This virus is thought to spread the same way seasonal flu spreads. Primarily through respiratory droplets,
* Coughing
* Sneezing
Touching respiratory droplets on yourself, another person, or an object, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes without washing hands. The novel H1N1 influenza virus (formerly referred to as Swine flu) is not spread by food. You cannot get novel H1N1 flu from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.
Precautions that should be taken include,
* Wash your hands often with soap and warm water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Wash for 15 – 20 seconds.
* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
* Avoid contact with sick people.
* Stay home if you’re sick for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you’ve been symptom-free and advised to resume work whichever is later.
* If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible.
* Consult a doctor before seeking specialized help and tests.
Apart from whatever I’ve written here, I’d also like to make a special mention of a mail that I received this morning regarding Swine Flu. Do have a look at this, its interesting. Apparently, a doctor called Dr. Deepak Purohit, wrote this letter to our president which is worth reading. It just might bring your restlessness at a little ease.
“My dear President,
I agree with you that swine flu awareness is needed, but there is no need to be panicky and join the publicity propaganda carried out by media and others which acts as a vehicle to spread misconception than to spread scientific information.
These are few facts about swine flu when discussed with the leading epidemiologists.
1) Swine flu, that is H1N1 flu is not new, first detected in 1987
2) Infective stage of flue is 5 days, 1 day before and 4 days after onset of symptoms
3) The best way to prevent it spreading is asking patient having symptoms of flu like fever cough and running nose to take rest at home for 4 days so he does not transmit it
4) Masks are of limited value if any, in this disease, it can spread through droplets on your skin, through contact etc, and I have seen that the masks in Pune are worn as fashion statement, while walking on road today morning I saw people wearing masks coming out for a morning walk with their dogs!, many wearing masks around their necks, and so on, infect these masks shall act as the vehicles to carry the virus, instead, avoiding crowded places or cinema halls or malls where air conditioners are on, is advisable, because you get recalculated air, where the virus density multiplies
5)Death after H1N1 flu is not common, infact infections like measles is taking toll of thousands more every year, and we are oblivious of the facts. Swine flu is being blown out of proportion by media trying to create hysteria among lay people.
6) Fever accompanied by respiratory distress, should be immediately notified which is likely to be a complication of H1N1 flu
7)The mortality is less than .01 percent of those affected, that means may be one in 10,000 affected is likely to suffer the life loss.
If you remember, 2 years ago SARS was blown out of proportion, what happened? Humans develop immunity to the virus, the same is going to happen, we develop immunity in due course of time, the virus is in the air, you can not stop it, our body is already developing the immunity so nothing to panic.
We need to take care of children and elderly who have less immunity and do not let them go to crowded places that are all.
WE MUST START THIS CAMPAIGN OF NOT TO BE AFRAID OF THIS FLU AND LET YOUR DAILY WORK CONTINUE AS NORMAL, NO MASKS FOR ORDINARY CITIZENS, HEALTH CARE WORKERS OR SPECIFIC EXPOSED TO LOT OF CROWDED ENVIRONMENTS MAY BE BENEFITTED, NOT PROVEN.
I am amazed to hear that people are selling masks of RS 20 each which are available to less than Rupee 1 in the market.
See who is getting benefitted?
Please spread the scientific info, do not join the band wagon and stick to science, that should be the order of the day. “
For more information on Swine Flu, check out the links below:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/business/