Myths About the Swine Flu
Posted by Canadian health care on July 17th, 2009
Myth: Swine flu is a disease that will kill anyone who gets it. That’s what pandemic means.
Truth: Swine flu is actually just a particularly nasty strain of flu. But it’s a flu just the same. Swine flu has the same symptoms as a regular flu, and is treated and spread like a regular flu. This means that you can take medicines that help with normal flu and they will help with swine flu. However, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has advised to avoid aspirin, as it can cause a serious illness when combined with swine flu.
Swine flu information cdc
Further, this new strain of the flu doesn’t kill everyone who gets it. There have been 11,054 confirmed cases in the United States. Out of all of those cases, there have been 17 deaths. The word pandemic actually only describes the number of cases and how wide a disease spreads in a short time. Even if there were no deaths whatsoever, the current flu could almost be a pandemic simply because it has spread quickly and to many different countries.
Myth: There is nothing to do to avoid swine flu besides locking yourself indoors.
Truth: The CDC has advised people to stay indoors…only if you are sick. We don’t need to spread the disease any more than it already has. However, this doesn’t mean healthy people can’t be out and about. We just need to take precautions. Hand-washing is important in stopping the spread of germs, as well as using a hand sanitizer. Also, stay away from people who are coughing and sneezing. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, as germs have more chance of infecting you in those areas.
Swine Flu Symptoms
Myth: If I travel anywhere, I’ll get the swine flu.
Truth: Travel is not the problem. It’s how serious you are about prevention. You need to make sure you clean your hands regularly. If there are no sinks around, bring along a small bottle of hand sanitizer and use it often. Stay away from people who are coughing and sneezing. If you can’t avoid them, take plenty of vitamins in your diet. Take a multi-vitamin or an immune-boosting product. Get plenty of rest, avoid stress, and eat healthy. Does that sound like too much to do? Start now!