This year, there have not been any cases reported in Goa. Swine Flu was witnessed in Goa two years ago with 92 cases reported, out of which 9 were fatal. But…., there’s nothing holding ‘Porky back from spreading Swine Flu’ in Goa!
Mumbai is infected
Mumbai seems to be reeling under an epidemic of the H1N1 virus, Swine Flu. Though not declared as an epidemic by the Health authorities, many cases have been reported in Malad and surrounding areas. A case of a 4-year-old child being infected and being treated on time has also come to light.
What is H1N1 (Swine Flu)? Is Porky responsible? Are you a victim?
A respiratory illness, swine flu is caused by the swine influenza virus (SIV) subtype H1N1. Originally from swine or pigs, this virus is now being spread by humans. So pigs cannot be held responsible for spreading swine flu. (http://www.thehealthsite.com/news/is-swine-flu-curable-da0215/)
Symptoms :
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Running nose or stuffy nose
- Body ache
- Headache
- Chills
- Fatigue
Also, watch for:
- Drowsiness
- Breathlessness
- Irritability (especially in children)
- Confusion
- Sudden dizziness
Prevention is better than cure and depends on the level of infection. H1N1 can in severe cases lead to brain damage and cardiac arrest. Maintaining high immunity level and timely treatment can prevent contraction.
Basic steps to prevent contracting the H1N1 Virus:
Staying fit, drinking lots of water and eating fruits are a must to build immunity.
- Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze.
- Use disposable tissues instead of a handkerchief if you have a cold and throw the tissue in the dustbin after use.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth too often as this can lead to you contracting the disease.
- Wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub (hand sanitizer).
- Viruses also spread by droplet infection which might have deposited on common objects like phones, laptops, common desk, and chairs so avoid touching too many objects and wash your hands if you do.
- Try and avoid close contact especially with people who have the flu. Maintain a minimum distance of 6-10 feet to avoid airborne transmission.
- If someone at home is suffering from swine flu, clean the surfaces frequently to prevent it from spreading. Patients suffering from flu should stay indoors one day post the last episode of fever (without any fever-reducing drugs as they may blot out the symptoms).
- If someone in your family has swine flu, they should wear a mask, cover their mouth and nose before sneezing, maintain thorough hand hygiene before touching common objects. All these measures will help reduce the spread of disease to others.
- Children less than five years of age and elderly should avoid crowded places.
- Wear a surgical mask if there is an outbreak of swine flu in your area.
AND ABOVE ALL, SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE IN ANY CASE! STAY HEALTHY AND KEEP FIT!
