swineflu

We hosted a family function for my son and my nephew this past weekend.  These are normally well attended events.  My parents flew in.  Other family members drive several hours to make sure they were able to participate.  One family drove two cars for about two hours.

My brother in law Thad is married to my wife’s sister.  They live a couple of hours away from us.  It is not convenient, or inexpensive, for them to come all that way, and to do it in two cars makes matters worse.  Thad works for a multinational manufacturing firm, and had to leave early in order to catch a flight to Brazil.  He just returned from Mexico two days ago.  As he told me this, the entire crowd took a step backwards.  Did he catch it?  Was he contagious?  Would all of our families now get sick?  Should we call the authorities and have him locked up in quarantine?

If you are reading this article, you already know that the concern everyone had was over the recent outbreak of swine flu.  Mexico shut down its government functions to prevent any further spread.  Travelers in airports are wearing surgical masks.  My sister in law demanded that Thad wear a surgical mask on his trip to Brazil, and may quarantine him on the couch when he gets back home again. 

Fortunately, the World Health Organization (WHO) has already found a way to stop the spread of swine flu.  They renamed the disease.  From now on, swine flu is no longer a threat.  However, you will need to protect yourself against influenza A (H1N1).  Apparently the intent is to limit the blame being placed in pigs, and pig farmers, for the new disease.  Personally, I prefer the old name.

Our current version of swine flu, or influenza A (H1N1), is a combination of an older version of swine flu and an avian flu virus. The combination causes flulike symptoms in humans, which include fever, coughing, weakness, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. Most people who actually do contract swine flu will go undiagnosed, because their symptoms will be so mild that they do not cause any concern at all. Others will have symptoms severe enough to treat, either with over the counter cold remedies or with a visit to a doctor. Doctors can treat swine flu cases with antiviral medications, and even the most virulent infections most likely will pass without more suffering than is normally experienced with a simple case of the flu.

Even my sister in law does not believe that this flu will turn people into mindless zombies, bloodthirsty vampires, or simply kill off most of the human population like a Stephen King story. And, I believe, she is right. The same kinds of precautions that we tell our kids to take to avoid catching a cold apply here. Wash your hands. Cover your mouth when you cough. Don’t get too close to the kids with the coughs and runny noses. These are all very simple, everyday precautions.

 Pregnant women should be VERY careful........