As of today, the swine flu virus, also known as H1N1, has rapidly spread all over the world, triggering a deadly pandemic. According to the Health Ministry, 19,972 people have been infected by swine flu as of February 28, while 1075 people have perished from the disease in 2015.
Swine flu is contagious; When an infected person sneezes or coughs, tiny drops of the virus are sprayed into the air. If you come in contact with an infected person or if you touch any object that has the virus droplets, you can get infected by the H1N1 virus.
Most of the symptoms of swine flu are the same as that of seasonal flu. Keep a watch out for the following symptoms:
- Cough
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Body aches
- Headache
- Chills
- Fatigue
It is easier to take a few basic precautions than to fight this deadly virus. Here are a list of preventive measures you can take in order to stay safe:
1. Good hygiene is one of the most important factors for preventing any disease
If you cough or sneeze, use a disposable tissue to cover your nose and mouth, so that it can be thrown into a dustbin after use.
2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth to prevent any infection
3. Keep atleast 6 feet away from a person who is sneezing, or suffering from a bad cough and cold
4. If you have the flu or any of the above listed symptoms, avoid going out and meeting people until you are cured, and consult a doctor as soon as possible
5. Proper hand-washing can prevent infections
Wash your hands properly with soap or a hand-wash when you come home, or an alcohol-based sanitizer when you are outside.
6. Plenty of sleep, a healthy balanced diet, and daily exercise ensures a healthy body
Avoid eating outside.
7. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking atleast 8-10 glasses of water every day
Water flushes out the toxins from your system and maintains good moisture and mucous production in your sinuses.
8. Avoid travelling to areas where swine flu outbreaks have occurred
9. Avoid public places, specially crowded areas
Especially avoid contact with children and the elderly since they are more susceptible to infections.
10. Especially, pregnant women must avoid going to public places, as they are more prone to Swine Flu
11. Farmers and veterinarians are encouraged to use face masks and gloves when dealing with infected animals
The use of vaccines on swine to prevent their infection is a major method of limiting swine-to-human transmission.
12. Vaccination has been recommended by doctors for only 4-5 groups of people
These include healthcare workers who are involved in managing patients, pregnant women, people who have comorbid conditions or those with existing diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, children between the age of six months and five years, persons over 50-60 years, and immunocompromised patients, including those who have autoimmune diseases or cancer patients.
13. Eat foods that will boost your immunity
- Eat five duly washed leaves of Tulsi everyday; Tulsi has a large number of therapeutic properties
- Take a few pods of garlic with warm water. Garlic strengthens immunity
- A glass of hot or warm milk with a pinch of turmeric in it
- A teaspoon of aloevera gel
- Eat fruits that are rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C is great for boosting the immune system
14. Lastly, here is a list of categorized symptoms that will help you identify whether you should get tested for swine flu or not
