Flu season 2009 is almost here, and it brings with it a new and potentially strain known around the world as H1N1, or Swine Flu. Since being discovered earlier this year, Swine Flu has become an official pandemic, spreading around the globe with speed and ferocity; as of July 2009 there were nearly 90,000 confirmed cases of the novel virus around the world, with almost 400 of these cases resulting in death. Because the Swine Flu is a novel virus, virtually no widespread immunities to the illness exist; and with flu season just around the corner, panic is really starting to set in.
If you are like most people in America and around the world, you are wondering how to protect yourself from this new and potentially deadly flu strain. Fortunately, while Swine Flu is clearly very contagious, most people who have been infected had symptoms that were as mild as or milder than the seasonal flu. Despite this fact, people have died, and if current trends continue, many more will lose their lives to this virus before flu season comes to a close. Because of this, it is imperative that we all do our part to protect ourselves and slow the spread of this virus.
Perhaps the most proactive step that you can take to protect yourself from the Swine Flu is to get vaccinated. The FDA has approved an H1N1 vaccine which is scheduled for distribution beginning in mid October, with those who have been deemed most at risk being first in line. High risk groups for contracting the Swine Flu include the elderly, young children and infants, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions. Because this was very much a fast-tracked vaccine, many people are apprehensive about being inoculated against H1N1; however, under the circumstances, with a global pandemic having already been declared and the potential for millions or even billions of people to get sick, it really is the best option on the table right now.
If you do choose to get the Swine Flu vaccine, it is imperative that you understand that it does not protect against seasonal flu. Additionally, just because you have been vaccinated does not mean that contracting the illness is impossible, so good hygiene and proper sanitation are absolutely essential in order to keep this virus in check. This means such basic, fundamental practices as proper hand washing, covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, covering your mouth with your arm rather than your hand, and staying home when you are sick may be the very things that keep you healthy and ahead of the curve this flu season.
Finally, if you do find yourself presenting Swine Flu symptoms, it is very important that you do not go to the ER or even the doctor unless it is absolutely necessary. As the flu is a viral infection, it will generally clear up on its own over the course of a few days. Medical intervention is generally only required in very extreme cases, and staying home while contagious is the best way to prevent the spread of the virus to others.
