Flu is short for influenza.  It is a viral disease that affects the upper respiratory tract.  Flu is spread by contaminated droplets from coughing and sneezing.  Three different types of viruses cause the flu and once caught you gain immunity to it.  But the flu viruses constantly mutate so next flu season you may catch it again since it is different.

Symptoms of the flu are high fever and shivering, sore throat and sometimes a dry hacking cough, runny nose – sneezing, general weakness, headache, aching joints, sometimes breathlessness, nausea, insomnia, depression, and loss of appetite.

Home treatments include warm apple juice, hot lemon and honey with a cup of warm water, barley water is a traditional treatment for fever -> 2 tablespoons of pearl barley to a pint of water.  Boil 10 minutes, strain the barley and serve the water with lemon and honey.  You can also add ginseng to herbal tea.

Swine flu: The second wave

First swine flu deaths reported in Gaza

netIn the occupied West Bank, at least 1250 cases of swine flu have been reported, with nine deaths, according to government figures. In Israel, 67 people have …Swine Flu Hits Gaza StripVoice of AmericaSwine flu hits Gaza, …

New ad campaign pushes swine flu vaccinations

The CDC estimates some 22 million people have been infected with swine flu and 3900 have died from it.

Swine flu update: note from District Council

Swine flu is continuing to spread throughout the UK. So far, most swine flu cases have been mild, with symptoms similar to those of seasonal flu. Only a small number of people have had more serious symptoms. …

College Students Urged To Get Swine Flu Vaccine

The efforts to encourage vaccination come even though swine flu infection rates at U.S. colleges and universities recently dropped. On November 25, Bloomberg reported that swine flu infection rates at colleges and universities fell 37 …

Swine flu related articles

• Funeral for Toronto teen with H1N1 (cbc.ca)
• Study: Kids 14 Times More Likely than Elderly to Get Swine Flu (blogs.wsj.com)
• Swine flu: updates on vaccine thoughts (notratched.wordpress.com)
• H1N1 Tips for Real Life (fitnesstipsforlife.com)

This seasons Swine Flu is a Hybrid Flu.  The Mayo Clinic tells us it contains genetic aspects of human, swine, and avion flu viruses.  This flu spreads quickly and easily, the World Health Organization has declared it a global pandemic.

Swine flu shot – lives endangered?

H1N1 Web News Round Up

• Some Parents Say No to Swine Flu Vaccines | Testing It Up – Drug … – While the virus that caused this swine flu pandemic is, indeed, new, the concept of a vaccine against the flu in general is not new. Swine flu vaccine is manufactured using the same process used in manufacturing seasonal flu vaccine.
• the truth behind swine flu: have cheap drugs & greed created a mass hysteria – refining the swine problem. even if global coverage on the potential swine flu pandemic may be an over-reaction and another sign of media manipulation, it’s clear that the outbreak is still a serious issue.
• ($GSK) GlaxoSmithKline Announces Swine Flu Vaccine Orders Increase – The current outbreak of swine flu pandemic can prove to be a major opportunity for vaccine manufacturers. In addition to GlaxoSmithKline, other major players in the vaccine segment such as Sanofi-Aventis (SNY), Novartis (NVS).

A new nasal spray vaccine has begun distribution and as before there are those with dire predictions and those who believe the vaccine in nothing more than a windfall for big pharmaceuticals. 

Dr. Mercola and others say that big doses of vitamin D are a safe alternative to vaccine.

Here is a round up of information about H1N1 Swine Flu.

Vaccine & Antivirals – H1N1 Flu Press Conference (CDC): 10/01/2009

• Swine flu death on Long Island, NY – US  Health officials say an adult on Long Island has died after suffering from swine flu. The Nassau County resident was over the age of 55 and had serious underlying medical conditions.
• president announces plan to expand fight against global h1n1 pandemic- today, President Obama announced the united states will continue to act aggressively to stop the global spread of the pandemic 2009-h1n1 influenza virus and is prepared to make 10 percent of its h1n1 vaccine supply available to others.
• Swine Flu Vaccine Arriving, But Don’t Line Up Yet  WASHINGTON — Swine flu vaccinations begin with squirts in the noses scheduled for some doctors, nurses and other health workers in Indiana and Tennessee. Monday, October 5, 2009. … A: Even though Sunday was the official start of flu season, this H1N1 wasn’t heeding the calendar — it’s already causing illness in nearly every state. That means getting vaccine to the people at highest risk is a race. So each week, states will distribute however much they have on hand. 
•  CDC reports widespread H1N1 influenza swine flu half nation CDC reported this morning that 26 states have been infected with widespread H1N1 influenza (swine flu). CDC map.
• H1N1 Swine Flu Quarantine of Navy Ships and Crew On September 30, 2009 at 10:24 pm UPDATE: H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine Test Reportedly Infects Entire U.S. Naval Vessel, Kills Captain and Chief Petty Officer – also THREE OTHER U.S. NAVAL SHIPS reported to be under similar at-sea quarantine.
• Chen Qi -The World of Micro-Organism Virus | Swine flu | H5N1  NEW DELHI — Nine swine flu deaths in the country on Friday, including five from Maharashtra, took the toll due to influenza A (H1N1) in India to 286, health authorities said.

Symptoms of Swine Flu – Know the Difference Between H1N1 Flu and Regular Flu
By Arunraj V.S.

Swine Flu is a number one health concern the world over. The HI1N1 flu or Swine Flu was first detected in US in April 2009. The worst affected areas initially were Canada and Mexico before H1N1 flu cases began to emerge in other areas of the world. In a short span of four months, the disease has spread to almost all regions in the world. World Health Organization has called H1N1 as pandemic which means a big epidemic that involves the entire country or perhaps the world. Usually, the signs of a pandemic are when a virus without any immunity to stop it, spreads across various parts of the world.

Risk factors of Swine Flu
Swine Flu spreads from person to person in the same way as regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. People with high risk for seasonal flu are also at high risk for H1N1 flu. For example, people above 65 years of age, pregnant women, children below 5 years of age and those with chronic medical conditions and lifestyle diseases like diabetes are at high risk.

Symptoms of Swine Flu
In children, the symptoms of H1N1 virus include:
1. Rapid Breathing or Difficulty in breathing.
2. Grayish or Bluish Skin Color
3. Dehydration
4. Persistent of severe vomiting
5. Not able to interact properly with people, become irritable
6. Flu like symptoms, bad cough and fever

In adults, the symptoms of swine flu include:
1. Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing
2. Pain in chest or abdomen
3. Sudden dizziness or loss of energy
4. Severe or continuous vomiting
6. Flu like symptoms, bad cough and fever

The symptoms of H1N1 is similar to the ones that people get in regular, seasonal flu and so things like fever, sneezing, cough, body ache, head ache, shivering, sore throat and fatigue are common. Diarrhea and vomiting are also symptoms that have been associated with some cases of this flu, also known as Influenza A.

How do I catch swine flu?
H1N1 is transmitted the same way like seasonal flu. Flu viruses are spread usually from person to person through sneezing or coughing by people who have influenza. Some people may become infected with the deadly H1N1 by touching something that has virus on it and then bringing to their nose or mouth.

How can someone with swine flu infect it to someone else?
Infected people can actually infect others from the first day itself, even before they themselves get any symptoms. This means there are also chances that one can pass on the symptoms of flu even before she or he knows that she or he is sick.

How do I protect myself from swine flu? How can I take precautions against H1N1virus?
There is no vaccine that can protect you or be prevention against H1N1 Flu. You can only maintain hygiene and take care to prevent spread of germs that can lead to illnesses like influenza. Here are the ways in which you can prevent yourself against the flu:

1. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough. Throw the tissue in the trash after you sneeze into it.

2. Wash your hands with a liquid handwash like Dettol or Lifebuoy, especially after you cough or sneeze.

3. Do not touch your mouth, eyes or nose. Germs can spread in this manner.

4. Avoid contact with people who are infected. This is sad but then the disease is highly infective.

5. If you are sick with influenza, stay at home and do not go to school or work. Limit your contact with people so that they do not get infected.

6. Do not venture into crowded spaces.

7. Increase the airflow in your room by opening the windows for proper ventilation.

8. Sleep well, eat nutritious food and practise healthy habits so that you are physically active and immune to the flu.

How long can the Swine Flu virus stay on things like doorknobs and furniture?
According to medical experts, the influenza virus can stay on environmental surfaces and infect people from 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on things like door knobs, books etc. Germs of H1N1 can spread when a person touches infected areas or infected people and then touches their eyes, ears, nose or mouth. Cough droplets or sneeze from an infected person can travel through the area. When a person comes in contact with droplets of sneeze of another person or touches things like books or desk of that person that is contaminated with sneeze droplets, and touches his or her own eyes, mouth, nose etc; before washing hands, one can contract the virus.

What are the medicines and treatment options?
Taking oseltamivir(Tamiflu) or zanamivir(Relenza) can treat H1N1 but they should be taken in the early stages of the disease. Antiviral drugs or prescription medicines can make your immune system strong and keep the flu viruses at bay and stop them from reproducing in your body. So, you should start taking antiviral drugs within two days of getting H1N1 or influenza symptoms.

How do I prevent getting H1N1 in high risk areas?
If you live in places where people have been infected with H1N1 virus or have influenza like symptoms mentioned above, then you should stay home and avoid contact with these people. If you develop flu like symptoms, do not leave things to chance and take instant medical care. Your health care provider or doctor will be able to tell you whether H1N1 flu testing is required.

Does WHO recommend using a MASK?
If you are not sick or if you are not living in high risk areas, it is not required to wear a mask. If a near and dear one is sick with H1N1, you need to wear a mask since you will be in close contact with the ill person. Dispose the mask after contact and wash and clean your hands thoroughly. Using the mask correctly is important because using it incorrectly will spread infection.

How can I differentiate between H1N1 Swine Flu and seasonal flu?
You cannot tell the difference without a medical verdict on it. Since symptoms for both the diseases are same like cough, headache, sneezing, fever, runny nose etc, only your doctor will be able to say if you have H1N1 virus. In case, your doctor suspects symptoms, they will have your blood sample, nasopharyngeal (nose to mouth) and throat swab to laboratories.

Home remedies for swine flu:
There are no home remedies, especially when you have to figure out if it is H1N1 or season flu. The H1N1 requires anti-viral drugs because treating it is an emergency issue. However you can prevent the spread of swine flu and strengthen your immune system by doing the following:
1. Wash your hands properly before having a meal, not just with soap and water.
2. Wear face mask before going outside. If someone is coughing or sneezing near you, cover your nose and mouth with palms or a hanky. Swine flu gets into the body through the mouth and nose.
3. Drink lemon balm tea because it has anti-viral properties.
4. Chew fresh garlic cloves because they have antiviral properties as well.
5. Steam inhalation with chamomile or eucalyptus thrice a day can relieve lung congestion and prevent swine flu symptoms.

Know more about Swine Flu treatment and also discuss Swine Flu Precautions

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arunraj_V.S.
http://EzineArticles.com/?Symptoms-of-Swine-Flu—Know-the-Difference-Between-H1N1-Flu-and-Regular-Flu&id=2748043

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• Swine flu: 10 things you need to know – Swine flu: 10 things you need to know.
• The TB crisis that gets ignored – The national media covered tuberculosis carrier Andrew Speaker wall-to-wall earlier this month. […] Read the rest »
• Follow The Money – Seeker401 | Swine Flu vaccine makers get total … – In 2006, PREPA was passed due to fear of an avian flu pandemic, in the event the avian flu virus mutated to enable person-to-person spread. Avian flu then had a 70% death rate. EVEN BEFORE THE VACCINE’S SAFETY, OR THE SAFETY OF THE VACCINE ADJUVANTS HAVE BEEN TESTED.

Is Swine Flu dangerous, if you’ve read through these resources you can at least begin to answer that question for yourself.

Keep in mind the best practices of clean hands and caution around people coughing as the best methods of preventing spread.

Congressman Ron Paul on the Recent Swine Flu Scare. 

Congressman Paul always has a unique perspective – and remember the Congressman is also a Doctor.

Riehl World View: Two New Mothers Succumb To Swine Flu In San Francisco

Well, this isn’t good news. Pregnant Mothers are at risk and they’re recommending vaccination. Unfortunately, I’ll assume the lawsuits from some vaccinated mothers for every conceivable birth defect will likely follow next year.

Thimerosal and the Swine Flu Vaccine

Today at the CDC in Atlanta, health officials are huddled, trying to game plan the best way to dole out a vaccine for swine flu. The race is on to develop a vaccine before the flu season kicks into high…, The World Newser is the daily …

Pregnancy Raises Swine Flu Death Risk

CDC: Healthy pregnant women are at high risk of hospitalization and death from H1N1 swine flu. Tamiflu or Relenza is recommended for pregnant women with flu symptoms.

Swine Flu News & Information: Swine Flu – Has it peaked?

Swine Flu – Has it peaked? The swine flu pandemic appears to have peaked for the moment but the virus will return with “a very big surge” in the autumn, the UK’s chief medical officer said today.

Cobden’s Comments: Swine flu strategy called into question

Now I’m no Doctor, and perhaps this chap is a bit of a maverick who underestimates the danger of swine flu and the effectiveness of the medicine. But if true, it certainly calls into question the way the Government are dealing with the flu.

WalMart and swine flu vaccine: a perfect match?

swine flu At least once a month, the typical American shopper trudges to the local WalMart (NYSE:WMT) to stock up on groceries, dry goods, entertainment, and … vaccines? The company is in talks with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about what role it can play in the CDC’s ambitious immunization process for the H1N1 (swine) influenza outbreak.