Swine Flu Symptoms

Swine Flu Symptoms

Swine flu the new human influenza virus A (H1N1) is still very much in the news. Keiji Fukuda the World Health Organisation (WHO) chief says that the disease is has reached 64 countries and infected 19,273 people to date, causing 117 deaths.

Here is the list of the worst affected Countries: the balance made up from 58 countries world-wide

USA: 10,053
Mexico: 5,029
Canada: 1,530
Australia: 501
Japan: 385
UK: 339

The WHO is getting closer to declaring the global outbreak the flu virus and flu-like symptoms now at phase 5 but getting closer to phase 6. Phase 6 is the highest alert on the WHO scale. It signals to the whole world that it is a human pandemic, transferable from human to human, unlike avian flu which has not as yet reached this condition.

So, what are the symptoms? Some are chest infection symptoms the sudden onset of fever, symptoms of bronchitis, a chronic dry cough or shortness of breath. Other symptoms can include headache, sore throat, tiredness, aching muscles, chills, sneezing, runny nose and loss of appetite. Some cases have experienced gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, nausea and or diarrhea.)

How does swine flu spread? Flu viruses are made up of tiny particles that can be spread through droplets that come out of the nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. When you cough or sneeze without covering your nose and mouth with a tissue, these droplets can spread with the risk of others breathing them in.

Always without fail cough or sneeze into a tissue and then bin it and then wash your hands thoroughly. If you cough or sneeze into your hand, the germs and spread from your hand to any surfaces that you touch. Everyday items such as door handles, elevator buttons, computer keyboards, door handles, telephones and TV remote controls are all common surfaces where flu viruses can linger, sometimes for days. If then other people touch these surfaces and then touch their faces, the germs can enter their systems and so become infected.

If swine flu spreads, you need to keep informed and up to date, as the situation changes, check the TV channels and radio, for updates check with my blog and I will keep you posted.