What should I do if I think I have swine flu?
If you think you have the swine flu, the WHO recommends staying home from work or school, getting plenty of rest and drinking lots of fluids and, if possible, calling a health professional before going to a health care facility to discuss whether or not you need a medical examination.
According to the WHO, you should seek medical care if you're short of breath or have difficulty breathing, or if you have a fever for more than three days. For parents with a young child who is sick, seek medical care if your child has a continuing fever, fast or laboured breathing, or convulsions (seizures).
Information is power
In a statement to the press by WHO director-general Dr. Margaret Chan, announcing the designation of swine flu as a pandemic, she explains that no previous pandemic has ever been detected so early or watched so closely. "The world can now reap the benefits of investments, over the last five years, in pandemic preparedness," she says.
The WHO has been consulting with influenza vaccine manufacturers to fight this flu strain by developing a new vaccine. "I understand that production of vaccines for seasonal influenza will be completed soon, and that full capacity will be available to ensure the largest possible supply of pandemic vaccine in the months to come," she says.
Swine flu prevention
In the meantime, your best defense against the swine flu is to prevent infection by washing your hands frequently, especially before meals, and keeping your hands out of your mouth and away from your face. Remember to sneeze or cough into a tissue or your elbow -– covering your mouth and nose.
Swine flu, and other viruses that affect your respiratory system, are transmitted via droplets that are expelled with a sneeze or cough. A healthy person may inhale those droplets or touch a infected surface and then touch their mouth or nose, sending the virus into their body, where it incubates for a couple of days before presenting symptoms.
Fighting off a cold or flu? Here's help:
-Is it a cold or flu? How to tell the difference
-Natural cold and flu relief
-Brand vs. generic cold medication
-Hand-washing 101
Visit our sister site, canadianliving.com for more on swine flu and you.
