Swine Flu - Symptoms and Prevention!
What is Swine Flu
Swine flu is an infection caused by a virus. It's named for a virus that pigs can affect pigs. People usually do not get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. The virus is contagious and can spread from human to human. Symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.
Swine Flu Symptoms
Usually symptoms of swine flu have generally proved mild. However a small number of patients may develop more serious illness. Many of these people have other underlying health conditions, such as heart or lung disease, that put them at increased risk.
Flu symptoms can include:
•Fever
•Cough
•Headache
•Weakness and fatigue
•Aching muscles and joints
•Sore throat
•Runny nose
As with any sort of influenza, how bad and how long the symptoms last will depend on treatment and the patient's individual circumstances.
How To Protect Yourself from swine flu
• 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.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with people having respiratory illness.
• If one gets sick with influenza, one must stay at home, away from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. However, if one is having any respiratory distress, one should report to a nearby hospital.
What should I do if I Identify Swine Flu Symptoms?
People who have traveled from the affected countries in the past ten days and show symptoms of influenza A (H1N1, swine flu) like fever, cough, sore throat and difficulty in breathing should immediately contact the telephone number given below or the nearby Government Hospital.
IMPORTANT CONTACT NUMBERS:
Outbreak Monitoring Cell (Control Room, NICD): 011-23921401
Websites: www.mohfw.nic.in and www.nicd.nic.in
