Spring Break
Swine Flu Update
Rachel King
Issue date: 11/25/09 Section: Science and Health
In case you've been living in a bubble, you are hereby informed that the influenza season is upon us. In particular, you may have heard of the virus du jour, the H1N1 virus, colloquially dubbed "swine flu." While in many ways H1N1 is very similar to the seasonal flu, there are several key differences between the two. Getting the facts on swine flu straight will help you stay healthy this season.
The disease has spread swiftly throughout the United States, prompting President Obama, at the end of October, to declare it a national emergency. This new status means that the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, now has the authority to define new, temporary regulations that will alleviate overcrowding in emergency rooms and prevent the spread of disease in hospitals.
On the individual scale, though, swine flu is not as scary as the public's reactions make it seem. The main concerns about swine flu are how quickly it spreads and that it affects healthy adults nearly as much as the elderly, the chronically ill, and children. However, swine flu is preventable. Even if you do get sick, as long as you are treated properly you probably will have nothing to worry about.
Swine flu manifests with symptoms similar to those of the seasonal flu. Besides fatigue, sore throat, coughing, and sneezing, a sick person may experience muscle aches, and chills. One of the hallmarks of the H1N1 is a high fever (over 100° Fahrenheit). Also, swine flu can sometimes be characterized by breathing difficulties. This is especially dangerous for people with pre-existing respiratory conditions (for example, asthma or severe allergies), and should be addressed immediately. In addition, people with compromised immune systems should be particularly vigilant, since the virus can escalate quickly and dangerously if the patient can't properly fight off the infection.
If you suspect you have swine flu-or seasonal flu-go to the doctor. That's right. Skip class. Tell the professor you can't make the meeting. Give the movie tickets away. The best way to recover from swine flu is through treatment and rest. If you catch the virus in the first 48 hours, your doctor may prescribe Tamiflu, an antiviral medication that can reduce the duration of swine flu by one to two days.
The disease has spread swiftly throughout the United States, prompting President Obama, at the end of October, to declare it a national emergency. This new status means that the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, now has the authority to define new, temporary regulations that will alleviate overcrowding in emergency rooms and prevent the spread of disease in hospitals.
On the individual scale, though, swine flu is not as scary as the public's reactions make it seem. The main concerns about swine flu are how quickly it spreads and that it affects healthy adults nearly as much as the elderly, the chronically ill, and children. However, swine flu is preventable. Even if you do get sick, as long as you are treated properly you probably will have nothing to worry about.
Swine flu manifests with symptoms similar to those of the seasonal flu. Besides fatigue, sore throat, coughing, and sneezing, a sick person may experience muscle aches, and chills. One of the hallmarks of the H1N1 is a high fever (over 100° Fahrenheit). Also, swine flu can sometimes be characterized by breathing difficulties. This is especially dangerous for people with pre-existing respiratory conditions (for example, asthma or severe allergies), and should be addressed immediately. In addition, people with compromised immune systems should be particularly vigilant, since the virus can escalate quickly and dangerously if the patient can't properly fight off the infection.
If you suspect you have swine flu-or seasonal flu-go to the doctor. That's right. Skip class. Tell the professor you can't make the meeting. Give the movie tickets away. The best way to recover from swine flu is through treatment and rest. If you catch the virus in the first 48 hours, your doctor may prescribe Tamiflu, an antiviral medication that can reduce the duration of swine flu by one to two days.
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