Key Facts about Swine Influenza (Swine Flu) [From the CDC]

CDC ^ | 04/25/09 | CDC

[BunnySlippers]

What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans?

The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?

No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You can not get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.

How does swine flu spread?

Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs. Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can also occur. This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

[BunnySlippers]

Symptoms, etc ...

[BipolarBob]

I think I got a double whammy of that lethargy.

[BunnySlippers]

Also, if anyone knows hpw long from being exposed to the flu until symptoms show, please post.

[BunnySlippers]

Thing is, when I read the symptoms, I begin to imagine I have them.

I’m going to go out and buy some disinfectant tonight and spray it on eveyone and anything in my way.

[AliVeritas]

Excuse me, why are they putting this out when it’s a combo?

Did I miss some news reports or something, because they had matches here.

[novemberslady]

bkmk for the answer when you get it

[tubebender]

Swine flu ping...

[billorites]

Swine flu...you make my lungs blue...
You make everything
Oosing
I said swine flu...

[balch3]

1-5 days, most often about two.

[metalcor]

I don’t know if this is news to anyone other than me, but I just read that Egypt is considering lockdown after 20 bird flu deaths last week. Something is up....

[BunnySlippers]

Pinging to post 9 ...

[cmj328]

The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza

Can someone please explain why this is considered bad enough to put Mexico City under general quarantine?

[BunnySlippers]

Thanks!

[cmj328]

Something is up....

Three possibilities:

• Governments worldwide have conspired to attack their citizens at the same moment using a pretext
• Governments worldwide know something we don't
• I'm so dumb I can't see the national security implications of the yearly flu.

[chemical_boy]

The media reports 1,000 cases in mexico, the reality might be much higher

[cmj328]

And...?

[WomBom]

Great,

I am getting my kids cold.... sore throat, chest and now I will be wigging out all night thinking I have the swine crap..

Thanks Freepers

[goodnesswins]

Doctor (in Mexico) on BBC blog said there were more than 200 deaths this morning....and he really felt there were probably more.

[metalcor]

Who knows what brings about worldwide epidemics. We are past due if history means anything.

[Steve Van Doorn]

is the a practical way to test if you have a normal flu vs this one?

thanks

[cmj328]

So it sounds like the symptoms (i.e., death) might be WORSE than normal flu? Right?

[Dallas59]

I wonder what happens if muslims start catching it???

[novemberslady]

Thanks

[riri]

We are past due if history means anything.

Doesn't seem natural.

[savedbygrace]

In the past 7 to 10 years, I’ve had the flu twice. Both times, within 12 to 18 hours after the first flu symptoms, I was in my D. O.’s office getting a Hydrogen Peroxide IV treatment.

Both times, the peroxide treatment knocked out the flu within a few hours. This last time, a month or so ago, my symptoms had gotten so bad so quick that I almost fainted DURING the IV treatment. Yet, a few hours later, I was well enough to go ahead with a scheduled week-long computer system install.

My wife has had the same positive experience with the peroxide treatment every time she’s gotten the flu.

My daughter suffers through the flu because she’s afraid of the IV syringe.

[BunnySlippers]

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?

There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

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 hand cleaners are
also effective.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread
this way.

What should I do if I get sick?

If you live in San Diego County or Imperial County California or Guadalupe County, Texas and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact their health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.

If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

Sudden dizziness

Confusion

Severe or persistent vomiting

[Cold Heart]

Symptoms are the same, the signs are different, death

[joesjane]

SO why are other threads recommending tamiflu if the article says the following?:

What medications are available to treat swine flu infections in humans?
There are four different antiviral drugs that are licensed for use in the US for the treatment of influenza: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir. While most swine influenza viruses have been susceptible to all four drugs, the most recent swine influenza viruses isolated from humans are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine. At this time, CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses.

Screw it, I’m just gonna make an appointment and get the Doc to hook me up. The CDC can’t even get it straight.

[BunnySlippers]

See post 27

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/life/health/Swine-flu-symptoms-similar-to-those-of-regular-flu_-experts-say-43698472.html

[goodnesswins]

I think Death is a result of the symptoms....the symptoms just seem to complicate the body FASTER for CERTAIN people....like some have said...the Mexican’s might have really strong immune systems....and that means a stronger reaction....seems counterintuitive, but kinda makes sense.

[riri]

maybe Tamiflu is the brand name and those are the “generic” labels?

[cmj328]

Symptoms are the same, the signs are different, death

So you feel like you have the flu, and then you die. Is that pretty much the deal with swine flu?

Are the "normal, healthy" folks dying too?

[~Kim4VRWC's~]

Hey, it’s good to see you bunny! Thanks for posting info and the history.

[BunnySlippers]

... a long time ...

{{{{{{ ~Kim4VRWC’s~ }}}}}}

[metmom]

ping

[neverdem]

thanks, bfl

[Cold Heart]

Another thing that makes this flu different is it is killing the young & healthy just like the 1918 flu.

Lots of info on some of the other very lengthy posts.

[cmj328]

killing the young & healthy

Oh, cool. Thanks.

[Airwinger]

It’s called “leadinassitus”
My son-in-law has a fatal dose!

[SouthTexas]

Seems Canada knew about it before we did.

[PghBaldy]

I would stay away from handling raw pork.

[Nahanni]

Can someone please explain why this is considered bad enough to put Mexico City under general quarantine?

Sure.

This flu is a never seen before combination of avian, swine and human flu's. No one in the WORLD has any true immunity to it because it is (for all intents and purposes) a totally new disease. Highly contagious and operates on the same M.O. of the flu that killed millions (including my grandfather) in 1918-instead of killing the very old, the very young and the already sick it is killing healthy people in their prime (ages 20-44).

In reading about this and monitoring the situation the horse has long ago left the barn. The chance at keeping this being a "unique" thing passed when the Mexican government failed to quarantine the town where the very first case popped up.

Quarantines will be ineffective because it has already traveled quite far and that is only the cases we know about. Expect that for every sick/dead person from this has already infected 5 people before showing signs of any illness. And those 5 people who will be come sick soon have already infected 5 more, etc. You do the math...

In reports I have read over 500 of the medical personnel in Mexico who have treated people for this are now sick with it, too. They were all given the drugs/vaccines that are "supposed to be" effective against this flu and those medicines have proven about as effective as giving them Skittles. That does not bode well.

I am going to guess that within the week we are going to see our southern border overrun with sick and dying Mexicans trying to get to the US to receive medical care here. The government better start sending troops down there immediately with orders to shoot to kill.

[PghBaldy]

because young healthy people are dying? Because it is a new strain, with bird+pig+human components, unseen before by public health officials.

[PghBaldy]

This is NOT the normal flu, which is bad for elderly, very young, and chronically ill. This appears to be more deadly, with mst affected being being in the prime of life. 20-45 or so yrs old. We havent had a pandemic since 1968, and it wasnt so bad. 1918 was worse than WWI. Killed 600,000 mostly young Americans. More killed than WWI. Also, there has NEVER been a “cure” for a virus ever. Preventions yes, and drugs to lessen effects, but no cure ever.

[library user]

Man, are you tripping on acid? LOL.

[buccaneer81]

At this time, CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir

That's the generic name for Tamiflu.

[buccaneer81]

Cytokine Storm

[Smokin' Joe]

I'm so dumb I can't see the national security implications of the yearly flu.

You mean the 'cold and flu season' we have every Fall?

[Prospero]

Who knows what brings about worldwide epidemics. We are past due if history means anything.

True, and I always re-read Barbara Tuchman's description of the Black Plague in her book on the 14th Century A Distant Mirroe every year or so.

Hearing about The Swine Flu has me flashing back to 1975 and 1976, remembering Jerry Ford addressing the nation about it when they were expecting the country to be hit hard the months later, during the summer.

What are still practiced as sanitary health habits, if only from cultural pressure among many, does make a difference.

And one more strange thing... the differences in the age range in Mexico and the U.S., this guy digging up a victim from 1918 in Britain, yesterday, this is all very strange, and may largely be panic-driven.

Flu likes contained spaces, not summer in North America.

[amom]

Tamiflu not recommended for teens...

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Tamiflu+teens&aq=f&oq=