Novel H1N1 or “swine flu” as it is recently called, is a growing worry and threat to many families around the world.  It is a new virus found in April of 2009 and since, the CDC has declared it a public health emergency.  Normally this influenza is found in pigs, however, the flu has recently infected humans causing health officials to fret it will spread globally.

Swine flu contains the basic symptoms of a normal influenza, or flu such as fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough, etc.  It is contagious.  The World Health Organization has raised the pandemic level to a six level threat scale meaning the virus is capable of being passed from human to human. 

There is no proven risk that the disease can be contracted through eating pork, drinking water, or from recreational water venues such a swimming pools or water parks.  However, it is a respiratory disease spread through coughing or sneezing and the bacteria can live on a service for up to 8 hours. 

How can you help prevent contracting this disease?  The most important thing you can do is to wash, wash, wash!  Wash your hands after a sneeze or cough with an alcohol based cleanser.  Try not to touch your mouth, eyes, or nose, this is the main way germs enter the body.  Try not to be in contact with someone who is sick, and if you are sick, stay home for at  least seven days.

A vaccine is being worked on and could be ready as soon as September of 2009.  The CDC recently presented a press conference expressing the importance of five target groups for the initial focus for immunization.  These include pregnant women, household contacts of children who are under 6 months of age, health care workers and emergency medical personnel, children and young people between 6 months-24 years of age, and non elderly adults with underlying medical conditions that have increased risk from influenza.

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