Most common Swine Flu questions

See your Dr. if you have any flu-like symptoms

• Common sense disease prevention and standard precautions
• Covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze
• Use and throw away tissues for blowing your nose
• Carry hand sanitizer
• Most importantly, wash your hands often and teach your children how to wash their hands properly and when to wash them.
• Don’t go to work sick, and keep your kiddos home if they fall ill
• Go to the Dr. if you have any flu-like symptoms

• In general, Influenza is airborne and spreads through coughs, sneezes, mucus, and touching the mouth or nose then touching other surfaces. Influenza can survive for hours on a surface. 
• Scientists are still studying how easily swine flu is spread. It’s not known whether it is immediate or through prolonged exposure.

• At this time it is not necessary if you follow standard precautions and common sense.
• Keep out of contact with people who are ill, and if you come in contact with some on who is, wash your hands.
• If you feel it is necessary to your sanity, it is okay to wear a face mask, but don’t use them as a substitute for standard disease precautions.

• Yes. Drugs such as Tamiflu or Relenza.
• The governments on both state and federal levels have enough of the drug and are prepared to start the process of inoculation if necessary.
• DO NOT take the drug if you don’t need it. Overusing the drugs cause the virus to mutate and become stronger. A doctor will only prescribe it if absolutely necessary. We learned from the epidemic that didn’t happen in 1976 that putting the cart before the horse in this case is not good.

• If you’re in Mexico, it is higher than other countries.
• If you’re in the U.S., the risk is very low.
• U.S. cases are all linked to recent travel to Mexico, so if you’re planning a trip there, your risk will be higher.
• If you’re visiting family who just came from Mexico, your risk is higher.
• If you fail to use standard disease control precautions, your risk is higher.
• If you work in the medical field, your risk is higher.

• Scientists are still investigating this question.
• Not all of the reported deaths have been caused by the swine flu, some have been confirmed as something else.

• The U.S. issued a travel advisory discouraging nonessential travel to Mexico.

• The U.S is beginning to screen travelers from Mexico.
• The U.S. has closed schools and churches in places with clusters of cases
• Other governments have issued travel warnings and restrictions.
• Mexico has enforced closings that limit crowded gatherings.
• All governments are ready to make changes as the epidemic changes. This is not a pandemic, by any means.
• Stay tuned to your local news shows for updates on your area.

• If you have any flu-like symptoms, such as diarrhea, vomiting, chills, fatigue, headache with fever, any fever, body aches, sore throat, trouble breathing, pain with breathing, wheezing, or just feeling icky. Your doctor can perform tests to see what ails you.
• If you live in an area with infected people, or you just traveled to Mexico, don’t hesitate to see your doctor if you feel ill at all. Allergies won’t cause fever, and stomach bugs won’t cause respiratory symptoms according to Dr. Wayne Reynolds, spokesman for the American Academy of Family Physicians.

• The CDC has something called “seed stock” of the new virus so that manufacturers can start production of more vaccine. At this point, the outbreak hasn’t reached a level where that would be necessary.

• Yes. Swine flu is not spread through food.
  
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