The swine flu pandemic has increased misconceptions and myths about it. Many people believe it is not different from a usual bout of flu, and there is nothing to be concerned about. Others worry that it will be as much destroying as the influenza pandemics in 1918-19 that claimed millions lives.
Actually swine flu is really dreadful (this flu has taken about eight thousand lives worldwide), but it evolves moderate problems in the humans it infects. The risk of getting the infection can be reduced providing that you follow necessary precautions.
The present swine flu pandemic is not its first outbreak. Actually there was a global outbreak in 1918, when pigs were infected as much as people during the health crisis after the war. 2009 pandemic represents a new strain, and the current virus is a hybrid of 5 flu viruses including human influenza, North American avian flu, North American swine influenza as well as 2 swine flu viruses normally occurring in Asia and Europe. This strain includes North American and Eurasian genes. It is supposed that the current swine flu virus was provoked through international travelling and contacts among people infected with different viruses.
The swine flu outbreak is considered to have started on the farms in Mexico, Veracruz, though there are facts that the outbreak was noticed first in Asian pigs before they had been transported to America.
Symptoms
Even if you caught the swine virus, it is highly possible that you will have only moderate symptoms like coughing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat and fever. In most cases the virus will pass in six days.
But if you are pregnant or have such diseases as asthma, pneumonia, obesity, diabetes, heart disease and neurodevelopmental conditions, you are highly susceptible.
If you notice mild symptoms, including sore throat, coughing, diarrhea, you should shut the doors, close all the windows and stay at home. The virus is not so severe as the plagues that was the 17 century, but still you will lower the risk of your symptoms spread if you avoid crowded places.
If you have more serious symptoms, or if you fall into the group of people mentioned above, you should seek out a treatment with antibiotics and anti-virals (oseltamivir and zanamivir).
Prevention
A range of vaccines for swine flu are available. They are Influvac, Pandemrix, Fluzone, Optaflu and FluMist (Live attenuated). Acam-flu-a is also a vaccine for this flu. Check with the doctor to choose the best solution.