Swine flu started off as a bit of a joke. So much so that Ryan air's Michael O leary could make a glib joke about it. But, Swine flu is no joke. And the virus has spread like hell in the UK and will likely spread here. I asked a medic friend of mine for his interpretation of the facts. I asked him to be as blunt as he could. Here is what he wrote me (pasted from email): [LIST]
You DON'T want to get Swine flu.
To avoid getting Swine flu personal hygiene is most important. KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM YOUR MOUTH AND NOSE. WASH YOUR HANDS WITH GOOD SOAP OFTEN
!AVOID USING PUBLIC TOILET FACILITIES, ETC. (Obvious stuff but people never think of obvious stuff)
If you work indoors, keep the place well ventilated.
Cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and encourage others to do the same.
Visit doctors surgeries and hospitals ONLY if you really need to. They are ideal places to pick up infection. (There may be many cases where healthy people going to the doctors with a minor ailment and picking up a swine flu at the clinic. This is stupid behaviour right now , or indeed at any time.)
Mineral and vitamin supplements will in some cases boost your immunity (i.e. if you are deficient in some vitamins).
It might be a good time to join a gym and get fit. Fit people are stronger, more immune to infection and quicker to recover.
You'd think this an obvious one but people dont think of it. PREPARE YOUR OWN FOOD. I DO.
Clean your dishes thoroughly. Hand cleaning dishes far more effective than dish washers if ya really want to get hygiene.
Avoid large crowds in enclosed places.
That said, Lots of people will get the flu. Soon.
The mildest dose of it is NOT NICE. Most people, WHO GET IT, will get this least severe dose; be in bed for several days (a week or so) and recover gradually for the next week.
Many, (probably most) people are capable of recovering well from the flu WITHOUT Tamiflu. Tamiflu helps when you ARE sick with the Swine flu . but it is NOT preventative.
If you see people around you getting the virus DO NOT start tormenting pharmacists and doctors for Tamiflu so you can avoid it. To avoid it all you can do is the sort of things I outlined above.! I EMPHASISE Tamiflu is a TREATMENT for those who have Swine flu. Not a prophylactic. Tamiflu is absolutely NO use to anyone except when they ALREADY have the flu.
If you get the flu, but can manage to nurse yourself a home, then do that. This will avoid your going out and spreading illness to other (perhaps more vulnerable) people and leave health services as much as possible for severe cases who REALLY need help.
Hopefully, many people will be vaccinated before too long which will seriously curtail spread of the Swine flu.
If you keep to the measures above to prevent exposure to infection you will dramatically increase your chances of escaping a bout of sickness.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: vincent,
gee I don t want to start answering medic quetions But the stock way to tell if ya might need medical help is if ya got a temperature consistently over 38 DEGREES, for a period of 24 hours, then might be an idea to get a doctor. If this is not the case then your not too bad whether its the Swine flu or not and ya should weather it on your own, (without medical help)! I think its shocking how laid back everyone in Ireland is about the dam thing; like we don t mind spreading the thing all over the place so that (according to the HSE) half the population migh likely get pretty dam sick over the next 6 months. Remember foot and mouth and all the precautions. But the flu, ah sure its only people getting sick , (some dying) , not cows. What the hell!! Sandra left out one thing I'd have added to the list. Use plastic money, miles cleaner than dirty filthy cash.
I do t know rebel, heard of it alright. But honestly pig prices as long as I can remember are almost always on the floor. When was the last peak of that cycle.? How high did it go relative to a break even price? How long did it last?
last time it was anyway very good was 1996 & then a bunch of advisory heros advised people to get into pigs & messed up the whole thing. down to 325 individual herd owners at the moment & about 400 farms.
went to the total floor about 99 & about 2 0r 3 years ago when grain prices rocketed it was very tough.
swine flu has become a running joke with everyone over the last few months at the sign of any colds or flus, or sick days oh must hav the swin flu but do you see now employers reckon they will have to pay out a fortune on sick pay because of it as you have to be out for a minium of 5 days from the time you first displayed symptons,and even inour place the new sick rule has come in about thurs and fridays off, mondays and fridays and mon & tues you have to provide a sick note for all, hr depts are now scrutinizing peoples sick leave in case you have people using the so called system of 26 sick leave !!
Hardly anybody knows anyone who {really} got the flu yet. Thats going to change. Like lightning. When people around start to get it, perspectives change. To an amazing extent.!People in Luton don't think its funny. At all.
Certainly any income we've managed to receive has been hard earned. As for that swine of a flu, it's actually a spin off of a combination of flus among animals but it seems we got stuck with the unsavoury title.
