Image of H1N1 (Swine Flu) strain
Children everywhere, from five to twenty-five, are preparing to return to their classrooms this week to embark upon yet another academic year. In years prior, the greatest of student concerns were what to wear on your first day of class and wondering which teacher you'll end up getting for Physics (please don't let me get Ms. Smith). However, this year marks the start of new concerns for parents and students alike: the first flu season with the H1N1 strain (i.e., the Swine Flu). Let me be the first to say that I don't buy into the hype and flat out BS that is circulating these days regarding this particular strain. Does anyone remember the Avian Flu outbreak just a few seasons ago or the SARS epidemic of 2003? However, with that said, I do acknowledge that, like any flu (or flu season), there are of course dangers associated with it--as, after all, it is a disease. And like many strains we've encountered before, there are some very basic steps we can all take to avoid contracting the flu (or any viral disease for that matter).
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), everyone should follow these preventative measures:
What You Can Do to Stay Healthy
- Stay informed. This website will be updated regularly as information becomes available.
- Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
Take everyday actions to stay healthy
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
- Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
- Find healthy ways to deal with stress and anxiety.
Moreover, while there is a vaccine available, at this stage, like with any flu vaccine, the inoculation will be given on a first come, first serve basis to high-risk (priority) groups. For more information on which groups are being considered for the vaccine, at this time, please visit the following website.
Call 1-800-CDC-INFO for further information.
For more info:
CDC (Centers for Disease Control) 2009 H1N1
Novel H1N1 Vaccination Recommendation
Comments
I heard one third of the world's population is supposed to get the H1N1 virus. Time will tell. As far as the vaccine, I personally am leary about getting it. Always problems with possible side effects, and will they be worse the the actually disease? Last time I got one of the flu vaccines, I was very sick with the flu, within a week or so. With that being said, not sure I'll get this vaccine. Not saying you shouldn't get it, just pay close attention to the possible side effects, weigh them carefully, and then make an educated decision. As a side note, heard you should stay home from work, even if without pay. How many people are willing to do that?
though i haven't seen "inglourious basterds", the following line is a "basterd-ization" from one of the lines apparently in the film:
"we're in the people killin' business. business is a-boomin'!"
if there are controllers of this world, it would benefit them to keep us alternatively complacent and terrified. the controllers will supply information they would deem "necessary" to the media. what follows afterward is our "response-ability" to the information they decide to share (and, more often then not, cram down our throats).
like evelyn c. said, use discernment. we're dealing with constant bullshit artists who will present one story one day, follow through with it the next, then spin it around and forget about it as they move on to the "next big thing".
in the beginning, it was called "swine flu", now it's "h1n1". i noticed in the spanish media they call it "gripe a" ("gri-pe" means "flu"). i suppose pronouncing "h1n1" in spanish can be tedious.
look, we're better than
We've always been at war with Eurasia.
I think if you just follow common cleaniness - like washing your hands - dispose of your used tissues - cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough - you'll be OK. These are things every Mom has
taught their children anyway. However, some will still get sick - if that happens - just stay home.
The current Flu scare is just another way for the Media to frighten the public. Currently there are so many without Health Insurance and they are being frighten even more. I have heard about clinic giving out free flu shots - but as Evelyn mentioned above - A lot of times the Shot is what makes you sick.
Eat healthy - wash your hands and use common sense.
juan has it right. keep people off kilter. and maybe, just maybe, as the esteemed ram emmanual says, there'll be a good crisis that he won't let go to waste. the insane are running the asylum. when everything concrete begins to slip away you have to wonder about the esoteric and believe in God.
personally, i am not worried about myself. i am sad, though, that many of us are becoming sheep. i always pictured Americans as strong and savvy; not itty bitty girlies looking for the big strong leftists to save us from the nasty wasty thing called freedom.
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