SWINEFLU??
My wife works in Public Health Emergency Preparedness, and she sent out this quick note to family and friends yesterday, so I thought I would share:
"The Swine Flu is a serious thing and while the picture is evolving daily at this point, there are some key points to know if you don't already. I'm attaching a couple of documents that we've used in my town and shared with 29 other communities. The messages aren't very different that the stuff you are probably getting, most of it comes directly from the CDC.
Please ask if you have questions. It is likely that your state has cases, even if they haven't been confirmed yet. That won't be the surprise. Also, in the WORST CASE scenario, it could go dormant over the summer, making us all think it's over, and then come back in a new mutation that will infect many people. Depending on how it mutates, it could become more virulent and make people very sick or even die.
1. The H1N1 Influenza A (Swine Flu) seems to be pretty mild right now. You can get it and get better or at least be treated with Tamiflu to try and get better.
2a. Tamiflu: Right now, as the strain is, Swine flu is sensitive to Tamiflu and Relenza. People who get sick can take this and get better.
2b. The concern is that the strain could mutate and become resistant to these antivirals.
2c. It is not really going to help by getting a prescription for Tamiflu now, there isn't currently a shortage and by the time there is, it it may not respond to this medication.
2d. Tamiflu isn't indicated for a preventive (ie. you aren't sick, you haven't been exposed, but you want to protect yourself) because you'd have to take it until the threat of pandemic is over, which could be 6 to 15 months...it's expensive, there isn't a lot out there, and you run the risk of developing a resistance.
3. This should be looked at like the seasonal flu. You get it just the same, mainly by breathing in virus from sneezes, coughs and such from people who have H1N1. The virus can live on objects but not for long. The best things to do are:
A. Stay home if you are sick- keep your kids home from school if they are sick. Wait 48 hours after you/they are better before returning.
B. Cough and sneeze into your sleeve
C. Wash your hands frequently with hot, soapy water for more than 20 seconds
D. Try to avoid large groups of people when you can
I'm not trying to scare anyone, just describing the model based on what happened in 1918. We are overdue for a pandemic. There were 4 in the 1900s, the last one in 1967. There's not much we can do about the mutations but we can work on slowing the spread.
I'm telling you this because you are friends and family and there's a lot of information out there. Like most public health emergencies, a lot is up in the air. We don't have all the answers because the future is kind of up to the virus right now and how it'll mutate. All we can do is help slow the spread of Swine Flu from human to human."
ANSWER: WULFENITES