正文
http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bal-fluquestions0427,0,4870408.story
Don\'t panic over the swine flu, government officials are urging, but they want people to be cautious, especially those who have recently traveled to Mexico or who are in contact with someone who has.
Here are some things you should know, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
* How can I protect myself?
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Avoid sick people and if you are sick, stay home.
* What if I get sick?
Two antiviral drugs — marketed as Tamiflu and Relenza — appear to be effective against this strain of the swine flu. If you get sick, the drugs can make the illness milder, make you feel better faster and may prevent serious complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started as soon after getting sick as possible, and might not work if started more than 48 hours after illness starts.
* How dangerous is it?
Experts don\'t know how deadly swine flu is because they don\'t know how many people have been infected. The World Health Organization says the overall mortality rate is 1 to 4 percent.
* Should I avoid travel to Mexico?
The CDC has yet to recommend against traveling to Mexico, but the European Union\'s health commissioner is advising against any non-urgent travel to the United States or Mexico.
* Why are people dying in Mexico and not here?
That\'s a huge mystery. First, understand that no one really knows just how many people in Mexico are dying of this flu strain, or how many have it. Only a fraction of the suspected deaths have been tested and confirmed as swine flu, and some initially suspected cases were caused by something else.
* What are the symptoms?
They\'re similar to regular human flu — a fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also have diarrhea and vomiting.
* How do I know if I should see a doctor?
Health authorities say if you live in places where swine flu cases have been confirmed, or you recently traveled to Mexico, and you have those symptoms, your doctor can decide whether you need treatment or to be tested.
* Did last winter\'s flu shot protect me?
Probably not. Even though it did protect against the Type A family of flu viruses that this new swine flu belongs to, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ran some preliminary tests and doesn\'t think it offered any cross protection.
* Why are people calling it swine flu if it\'s not just from pigs? Did it really come from pigs?
Pigs do spread their own strains of influenza and every so often people catch one, usually after contact with the animals. This new virus is a mix of human, pig and bird viruses but the name, for ease, was shortened to swine flu — and unlike typical swine flu, it is spreading person-to-person.
* So is it safe to eat pork?
Yes. Swine influenza viruses don\'t spread through food.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Don\'t panic over the swine flu, government officials are urging, but they want people to be cautious, especially those who have recently traveled to Mexico or who are in contact with someone who has.
Here are some things you should know, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
* How can I protect myself?
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Avoid sick people and if you are sick, stay home.
* What if I get sick?
Two antiviral drugs — marketed as Tamiflu and Relenza — appear to be effective against this strain of the swine flu. If you get sick, the drugs can make the illness milder, make you feel better faster and may prevent serious complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started as soon after getting sick as possible, and might not work if started more than 48 hours after illness starts.
* How dangerous is it?
Experts don\'t know how deadly swine flu is because they don\'t know how many people have been infected. The World Health Organization says the overall mortality rate is 1 to 4 percent.
* Should I avoid travel to Mexico?
The CDC has yet to recommend against traveling to Mexico, but the European Union\'s health commissioner is advising against any non-urgent travel to the United States or Mexico.
* Why are people dying in Mexico and not here?
That\'s a huge mystery. First, understand that no one really knows just how many people in Mexico are dying of this flu strain, or how many have it. Only a fraction of the suspected deaths have been tested and confirmed as swine flu, and some initially suspected cases were caused by something else.
* What are the symptoms?
They\'re similar to regular human flu — a fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also have diarrhea and vomiting.
* How do I know if I should see a doctor?
Health authorities say if you live in places where swine flu cases have been confirmed, or you recently traveled to Mexico, and you have those symptoms, your doctor can decide whether you need treatment or to be tested.
* Did last winter\'s flu shot protect me?
Probably not. Even though it did protect against the Type A family of flu viruses that this new swine flu belongs to, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ran some preliminary tests and doesn\'t think it offered any cross protection.
* Why are people calling it swine flu if it\'s not just from pigs? Did it really come from pigs?
Pigs do spread their own strains of influenza and every so often people catch one, usually after contact with the animals. This new virus is a mix of human, pig and bird viruses but the name, for ease, was shortened to swine flu — and unlike typical swine flu, it is spreading person-to-person.
* So is it safe to eat pork?
Yes. Swine influenza viruses don\'t spread through food.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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