BASIC PRECATUIONS to Keep Away SWINE FLU

Swine flu in India is spreading like wildfire, taking the toll to ten. Officials say there are currently more than 1000 cases of the H1N1 flu strain in India. Governments from all around the world are finding ways to combat this deadly disease. So what can you do to protect yourself? Stay calm and practice these 10 effective prevention tips.
1. Wash your hands frequently
Use the antibacterial soaps to cleanse your hands. Wash them often, at least 15 seconds and rinse with running water.
2. Get enough sleep
Try to get 8 hours of good sleep every night to keep your immune system in top flu-fighting shape..
3. Keep hydrated
Drink 8 to10 glasses of water each day to flush toxins from your system and maintain good moisture and mucous production in your sinuses.
4. Boost your immune system
Keeping your body strong, nourished, and ready to fight infection is important in flu prevention. So stick with whole grains, colorful vegetables, and vitamin-rich fruits.
5. Keep informed
The government is taking necessary steps to prevent the pandemic and periodically release guidelines to keep the pandemic away. Please make sure to keep up to date on the information and act in a calm manner.
6. Avoid alcohol
Apart from being a mood depressant, alcohol is an immune suppressant that can actually decrease your resistance to viral infections like swine flu. So stay away from alcoholic drinks so that your immune system may be strong.
7. Be physically active
Moderate exercise can support the immune system by increasing circulation and oxygenating the body. For example brisk walking for 30-40 minutes 3-4 times a week will significantly perk up your immunity.
8. Keep away from sick people

Flu virus spreads when particles dispersed into the air through a cough or sneeze reach someone else’s nose. So if you have to be around someone who is sick, try to stay a few feet away from them and especially, avoid physical contact.
9. Know when to get help
Consult your doctor if you have a cough and fever and follow their instructions, including taking medicine as prescribed.
10. Avoid crowded areas
Try to avoid unnecessary trips outside. Moreover, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

SWINE FLU

The World Health Organization has recently raised the level of Swine Flu to the little known and used ‘Mega Pandemic’ level. This is the fifth time in a month that the World Health organization has raised the warning level for Swine Flu, or H1N1 as it’s now referred to as. Earlier this month, the Swine flu has gone through multiple classification changes, going from ‘Pre Pandemic’, ‘Demi Pandemic’ to ‘Pretty Much a Pandemic’ to ‘Pandemic Pandemic’ and now ‘Mega Pandemic’. “It’s important that we keep the public up-to-date about the Swine Flu,” Said World Health Organization spokesperson Craig Samuelson, “Plus it’s pretty good publicity for us. People pay attention when they hear the word ‘Pandemic’. For example, in one press release, we mentioned the word ‘Pandemic’ over 50 times. We think that with all the hard work we do, we deserve a little bit more government cheese, and you do that by making people care about you.”

The World Health Organization has been wildly successful with their Swine Flu campaign, capturing tons of worldwide headlines by renaming the disease, classifying it with many different frightening warnings and even creating a new H1N1 mascot called “Oinker” to help integrate themselves into the children’s market. “What they’ve done is absolutely brilliant.” Said Marketing Analyst Suzanne Prichard, “They’ve re-vamped their organization from a boring, sterile group of scientists into a hip, headline-capturing marketing force. People are scared stiff about this Swine Flu thing, and they’ve used that to their full advantage. Nobody is asking ‘who are WHO?’ anymore, or ‘what is WHO?’, but now the questions are more like ‘Why is WHO doing this?’. They’ve really broken into the 5-W market. That’s what we in marketing like to call the ‘money cow’ or in this case, the ‘money pig’!” She said before laughing uncontrolably and stomping her feet against the ground.

Citizens have been less enthusiastic, especially in the Hypochondriac community. Steven Malkakis has been a hypochondriac his entire life, and he believes he is suffering from a wide assortment of assorted maladies on a daily basis. We interviewed him over the phone. “It’s fucking bullshit. I’ve been afraid to leave my house for weeks. I’ve taken 5 Xanaxes today and I’m still afraid to do anything other than lie in bed and look at tenticle porn on the internet. I’m just dreading the day they update the level to ‘I am Legend Pandemic’. I think I’d just kill myself if that happened; that was a really stupid movie.”

The WHO is working on new methods of prolonging their newfound stardom. “Listen, we know that this Swine Flu thing isn’t going to last forever.” Samuelson beamed, “So we’ve undertaken new steps on how to find the next up-and-coming disease to promote. The bird flu was a big flop for us, and SARS was a flash in the pan. Identifying a real winner is hard, but we’re working on it. We’ve found some sexy stuff recently, in the Amazon we found a type of herpes you can get from an iguana, and in Chile there’s an intestinal worm that spreads through sneezing. Now that we’ve got the marketing side figured out, I think these guys could be big news in only a matter of years!”

WHAT IS SWINE INFLUENZA (FLU) ?

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza that regularly cause outbreaks of influenza among pigs. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans, however, human infections with swine flu do occur, and cases of human-to-human spread of swine flu viruses has been documented. See General Information about Swine Flu.

From December 2005 through February 2009, a total of 12 human infections with swine influenza were reported from 10 states in the United States. Since March 2009, a number of confirmed human cases of a new strain of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in California, Texas, and Mexico have been identified. An investigation into these cases is ongoing. For more information see Human Swine Flu Investigation.

Is the current swine flu virus contagious?

•Various international agencies (US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, World Health Organization) have determined that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human.
•WHO has escalated the world Pandemic Phase from Phase 3 to Phase 4 (in a 6-scale Phase), indicating that a worldwide pandemic due to swine flu H1N1 is possible.

What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?

•The 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.
•Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people.
•Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

How does swine flu spread?

•Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads.
•Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza.
•Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with live flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

How are human infections with swine influenza diagnosed?

•To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness (when an infected person is most likely to be shedding virus).
•However, some persons, especially children, may shed virus for 10 days or longer.
•Identification as a swine flu influenza A virus requires sending the specimen to a hospital laboratory for testing.

How can someone with the flu infect someone else?

•Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick.
•That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

How long can an infected person spread swine flu to others?

•People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to 7 days following illness onset.
•Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

Is there a vaccine for Pandemic Flu?

•Because the virus is new, there will be no vaccine ready to protect against pandemic flu.
•Vaccine against Swine Flu virus H1N1 needs at least 6-12 months to be produced.
•Seasonal flu vaccine or past flu immunization will not provide protection.

Are there medicines to treat swine flu?

•Yes. The US CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir(Tamiflu®) or zanamivir(Relenza®) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses. To be taken only if prescribed by Doctor.
•Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body.
•If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications.
•For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?

•The virus can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with the virus and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
•Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. The virus can then be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk, doorknob, child’s toy or phone handset and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

How long can viruses live outside the body?

•We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks.

•Frequent handwashingwill help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?

•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. The virus can spread this way.
•Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
•If you get sick with influenza, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?

•If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill.
•Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket.
•Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?

•Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner.
•When you wash your hands --with soap and warm water --that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores.
•If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

What should I do if I get sick?

•If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact their health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.
•If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.
•If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs (next 2 slides), seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

•Fast breathing or trouble breathing
•Bluish skin color
•Not drinking enough fluids
•Not waking up or not interacting
•Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
•Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
•Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

•Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
•Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
•Sudden dizziness
•Confusion
•Severe or persistent vomiting

Household Cleaning, Laundry, and Waste Disposal

•Throw away tissues and other disposable items used by the sick person in the trash. Wash your hands after touching used tissues and similar waste.
•Keep surfaces (espbedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, children’s toys, phone handles, doorknobs) clean by wiping them down with ahousehold disinfectant according to directions on the product label.
•Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick do not need to be cleaned separately, but importantly these items should not be shared without washing thoroughly first.
•Wash linens (such as bed sheets and towels) by using household laundry soap and tumble dry on a hot setting. Avoid "hugging"laundry prior to washing it to prevent contaminating yourself. Clean your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub right after handling dirty laundry.
•Eating utensils should be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with water and soap.

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WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS OF MESOTHELIOMA ?

A risk factor is anything that increases your chance of getting a disease such as cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. For example, exposing skin to strong sunlight is a risk factor for skin cancer. Smoking is a risk factor for cancers of the lung, mouth, larynx, bladder, kidney, and several other organs. Individuals exposed to asbestos should be encouraged to avoid tobacco exposure because together the risk for lung cancer is significantly higher than from smoking without a history of asbestos exposure. But having a risk factor, or even several, does not mean that you will get the disease.

MESOTHELIOMA RISKS AND CAUSES

Mesothelioma cancer is a rare but insreasingly become more common. More than 2000 people have been told that their mesothelioma each year in the UK. Men 4 times more likely than women diagnosed because the thought that many cases have been caused by exposure to asbestos in the workplace. Pleural mesothelioma more than peritoneal mesothelioma.

What is not known as a cause of most cases of mesothelioma but the most often linked to exposure to asbestos. Links have been identified since the early 18 th century between asbestos and lung disease. However, mesothelioma has a relationship with the only known since 1960. The number of mesothelioma cases are expected to increase for two decades because of heavy use of asbestos in industry in the years after the second world war.

70% - 80% of those diagnosed with mesothelioma say they have been in contact with asbestos, which means that the risk is greater if you are exposed to asbestos from a large number of early and / or very long period of time. This does not always happen because some people have said that they do not have any history of asbestos exposure.

Asbestos insulating material which is heat resistant and fire. In the past, asbestos which is used widely in the building industry, ship building industry, manufacturing of household and industrial motor
A large number of cases of mesothelioma occur in men who have worked in manufacturing using asbestos or asbestos products used, especially in the construction or engineering. Use of asbestos is very heavy in the years after 1945. Mesothelioma symptoms may not be detected until 15 - 40 years after exposure to asbestos and the number of cases is expected to peak around 2018, then began to decrease.

Of the three types of asbestos (blue, brown and white), blue and brown asbestos is associated with mesothelioma and have been banned since the late 1980s in the UK and all use of asbestos banned in 1999 in the UK.
You can breathe in asbestos fibres when you come into contact with asbestos because it consists of small asbestos fibres. Fibres work their way into the pleura, the lung layer and pleura that irritate and damage cells that are made from the pleura. Some of the fibres that have been breathed in can be coughed up and swallowed. This is probably the cause of peritoneal Mesothelioma.

MALIGNANT MESOTHELIOMA

Malignant Mesothelioma is an uncommon form of cancer and of all asbestos related diseases, the most serious. The symptoms associated with the disease make it difficult for doctors to diagnose. Often, by the time that a proper diagnosis is made, the disease has progressed to a point where patients do not respond well to treatment therapy. Malignant Mesothelioma is caused almost exclusively by the inhalation of airborne asbestos particles. Another unique factor associated with the disease is that there can be a long latency period between the time an individual is exposed to asbestos and the actual manifestation of the disease in the form of malignant.

BENIGN MESOTHELIOMA

Cystic Mesothelioma primarily affects women of younger age and affects the peritoneum. This type of Mesothelioma is not frequently diagnosed and is also not a malignant form of the disease. It is, however, extremely difficult to identify and requires specialized microscopes and immunologic techniques to aid in diagnosis.

PERICARDIAL MESOTHELIOMA

Pericardial Mesothelioma is the least common form of Mesothelioma. Pericardial mesothelioma, as the name suggests, involves the heart. This rare type of Mesothelioma invades the pericardium, the sac that surrounds the heart. As the cancer progresses, the heart is not able to deliver oxygen as efficiently to the body causing further decline in health at an increasingly rapid rate. The symptoms most commonly associated with pericardial Mesothelioma mimic those of a heart attack: nausea, pain in the chest and shortness of breath.

PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA

Peritoneal Mesothelioma originates in the abdomen and will frequently spread to other organs in area including the liver, spleen or bowel. Severe abdominal pain is the most common complaint that patients present to their doctor. There may also be a discomfort level with fluid build up in the abdomen as well. Other symptoms of peritoneal Mesothelioma may include difficult bowel movements, nausea and vomiting, fever and swollen feet.
The survival rate is even worse for those diagnosed with peritoneal Mesothelioma will patients typically surviving only ten months from time that they first started experiencing the symptoms noted above.

PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA

Pleural Mesothelioma is not always easily detectable. Frequently, in the early stages of the disease, symptoms may be mild. Patients usually report pain in one area of the chest that never seems to go away, weight loss and fever. Occasionally, other symptoms are more severe and include problems with breathing due to fluid build up in the chest. A CT Scan of the chest area has proven to be the best test for identifying how far along the disease has progressed.

Malignant pleural Mesothelioma often originates within the chest cavity and can, at times, involve the lung. This particular form of Mesothelioma can metastasize to numerous organs in the body – even the brain - and tends to do so more frequently than not.

Frequently serum markers are used to diagnose of various forms of cancer. Mesothelioma cannot be diagnosed using this method as no serum markers currently exist. If high levels of Hyaluronic Acid are present it may be possible to distinguish Mesothelioma from other types of cancer or to determine the effectiveness of a treatment protocol.

WHAT IS MESOTHELIOMA?

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart,[1] the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis.

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. Washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can also put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma.[2] Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking.[3] Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma (see asbestos and the law).
The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be used to take biopsies. It allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (called pleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.