Swine Flu is a highly contagious infection spreading from person to person with potentially deadly results. So what precautions can you easily take to prevent being infected by swine flu?
Swine flu is now widespread in the UK and spreading rapidly, with the number of new cases doubling every seven days. Most of these are because people are catching swine flu in their local community and not as the result of foreign travel.
To be able to prevent against being infected by swine flu you will need to know a little about the influenza virus itself in order to take effective precautions against catching swine flu.
So what is swine flu (or influenza A H1N1)?
Normal flu is an illness caused by an infection of the influenza virus. However, a new highly contagious strain of influenza, known as A (H1N1) or more commonly as swine flu, was confirmed in the UK in April and has spread to more than 100 countries around the world.
How does swine flu spread?
Swine flu appears to be transmitted through respiratory droplets in the same fashion as the common cold. The flu virus can live on a hard surface for up to 24 hours and a soft surface for around 20 minutes.
How to prevent swine flu?
There are a set of guidelines issued by the Government with a simple way to remember them as – CATCH IT. BIN IT. KILL IT. (Download the Swine Flu Information Leaflet)
There are two key elements in containing the spread of swine flu:
Prevent swine flu spreading to other people
To help prevent the spread of any infection, if you sneeze, keep a disposable tissue in front of your mouth and after sneezing or blowing your nose throw the tissue away and then wash your hands. Use an anti-bacterial hand gel and keep a bottle with you at all times for when you cannot wash your hands.
Prevent catching swine flu from other people
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle. The healthier you are, the better your immune system will be at defending your body against any virus. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, drink plenty of fluids, and eat good nutritious food. You may also consider taking a vitamin C supplement, as some people regularly do this (especially during the winter months) to bolster their immune system.
- Practice good personal hygiene. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water since swine flu like other viruses can be contracted by touching objects contaminated by the virus. Clean hard surfaces frequently, such as door handles and remote controls in the home or keyboards, telephones and keypads in the workplace. Use an an anti-bacterial hand gel and keep a bottle with you at all times for when you cannot wash your hands.
- Clean plates, cups and utensils. Don’t use “communal” utensils or cups unless they have been thoroughly washed and cleaned. Never share drinks – even on hot days, avoid taking a sip or a “taste” of someone else’s drink if offered.
- Reduce the risk of exposure. If swine flu infections are prevalent in your area consider avoiding large public gatherings and be particularly careful about indoor gatherings where air circulates poorly.
Just a footnote on face masks. Although face masks were given out in Mexico, there is no actual evidence that proves wearing a face mask will stop you getting the virus. The recognised advice is to use tissues when sneezing and coughing and wash your hands regularly.
Who is at risk?
There are some groups that are known to be at particular risk or more susceptible to catching swine flu, these are:
- pregnant women
- the elderly
- young children (under 5)
- people who have serious illnesses
Although the elderly are deemed to be more susceptible to swine flu it has also been recognised that older people seem to have a natural resistance or an increased immunity from the virus.
What are the symptoms or signs of swine flu?
The symptoms of swine flu are broadly the same as those of ordinary flu, but may be more severe and cause more serious complications. The typical swine flu symptoms are:
- sudden fever (a high body temperature of over 38C or 100.4F)
- sudden cough
Other symptoms may include headache, tiredness, chills, aching muscles, limb or joint pain, diarrhoea or stomach upset, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, and loss of appetite.
What do I do if I think I have got swine flu?
If you think you may have swine flu contact your GP by phone. Do not go to the surgery! There is also an NHS direct swine flu symptom checker to help you diagnose your symptoms.
The latest NHS swine flu alert can be found here.
Anti-bacterial hand gels and wipes are invaluable in containing the spread of germs and infections such as swine flu. They come in all shapes and sizes, small enough to fit any pocket or handbag and used regularly can dramatically reduce the risk of infection by the swine flu virus
