By: Joann Bally CSCS
The U.S. government has declared a public health emergency because of the new strain of H1N1 (swine) flu occurring around the world. The Mexican government has pretty much shut down schools and public gatherings in certain areas because of the cases found there. The situation isn’t as serious in the U.S. because only a few mild cases have been found here. The declaration of emergency is an administrative move that allows quick action if needed.
So what’s all this about the flu, you ask. Isn’t it pretty common, and haven’t we been urged to get flu shots for years? Turns out that influenza is the only virus that has the potential to be a world-wide epidemic (a pandemic). It can travel very fast, so what we are seeing now is preventive steps, which hopefully will turn out to be for a false alarm. New strains of flu keep evolving, and those flu shots don’t always keep up with the latest. There are antiviral medicines available, so check with your doctor if you think you have the flu, especially with a high fever.
The reason people are so worried about a flu pandemic is the swine flu pandemic of 1918-19. This affected about half the people in the world and killed around 50 million. Unlike more familiar strains, it killed people who were young and healthy, not just infants and the old and infirm. Cities ordered all public events cancelled, and in some places it was required to wear a mask if you went out. Nobody wants a repeat of that, so officials are planning ahead. See the CDC web site for more info: www.pandemicflu.gov.
Here are some general cold and flu guidelines you should follow even in a run-of-the-mill flu season. If you’re sick, stay home. Don’t go to work or school and spread it around. Don’t sneeze or cough into your hand. It puts the germs where you can transfer them to everything you touch for several hours. If you don’t have a tissue at hand, sneeze into your sleeve or armpit. It won’t transfer easily from fabric. Wash your hands a lot, especially before touching your face, and you should avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth anyway. You’re supposed to wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds, rinse and repeat, then do that again. Probably not going to do that? Well, at least wash for more than you have been, and wash your whole hand. Most people skip the back of the hand and the fingertips (which you do much of your touching with). If your hands aren’t visibly dirty, which requires soap and water, you can use alcohol based hand sanitizers.
At this point, I don’t see any reason to be too worried about this. Remember, most people who get the flu, even the virulent types, survive, and many have only minor symptoms. Take sensible precautions and stay aware of what’s going on. Keep your distance, about 3 feet, from anyone who seems sick. Be especially careful about hygiene at the gym or when playing contact sports. And don’t complain because the government is trying to get out ahead of a potential problem for a change.
Related Article: The Bird Flu and You
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