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Today we are ever more at at more risk from various mutations of the influenza virus than we have previously. First we had concerns over bird flu, and more recently swine flu has manifested as a major concern. Swine flu is a greater concern than bird flu. It was feared that bird flu could mutate into a form that could become infectious in humans, apart from a few cases, this has not occurred.

Swine flu is a greater problem, it is able to pass from human to human making it a very serious health problem.  Swine flu or influenza A (H1N1) is a flu virus which infects pigs. Outbreaks of swine flu in pigs doesn’t usually infect humans but can occur sometimes.

Swine flu is very dangerous to people as it is a previously unknown type of virus. No one has been in contact with this particular strain previously, which means no one has built up any immunity. It is our built in immunity that prevents infections from becoming life threatening, with no built in immunity we are unable to defend ourselves from the virus. Everyone is vulnerable, this includes healthy adults as well as young children and elderly citizens.

Swine flu could easily result in a pandemic influenza situation. A pandemic flu situation occurs when an influenza virus develops that is different from previous flu types that few, if any, people have any immunity to. This allows the influenza virus to spread rapidly throughout the population.

Pandemic flu differs from ordinary flu as explained below.  Seasonal influenza happens annually during the winter period, 10 to 15 percent of people will be infected and the majority of people recover within one to two weeks with no medical treatment. It is usually only of risk to the elderly and people with conditions that result in them being more open to complications from the infection.

A pandemic outbreak of flu affects many more of the population with up to half the population affected. It affects people of all ages.

Swine flu symptoms are similar to the symptoms of ordinary flu. These symptoms can include a sudden onset of fever, cough or a shortness of breath. Symptoms that may also be present may include headaches, sore throat, muscle aches, sneezing, chills, runny nose, loss of appetite and tiredness.

Precautions that can be taken. First, anyone with flu or cold symptoms should take a few simple, but very important precautions. The influenza virus spreads between people by the tiny droplets from the mouth and nose when someone coughs or sneezes. This is how viruses like swine flu are spread among the population. Covering your mouth or nose with your hands when you cough or sneeze is not effective enough. The virus remain on your hands, then everything you touch becomes contaminated with germs. Other people can touch these surfaces and pick up the virus. Always use a handkerchief or disposable tissue. A disposable tissue is far better, this should be disposed safely as soon as possible, and always use a new tissue when you cough or sneeze again.

There are currently no vaccinations to prevent anyone contracting swine flu. Swine flu is an unknown type of virus. The annual vaccination against seasonal flu is not effective for swine flu. When the strain of flu causing swine flu is found, it will take several months to manufacture. By this time, it could have mutated into a different strain again.

The best precaution against swine flu is Tamiflu. Tamiflu is not guaranteed to prevent flu, but if you have been exposed to someone else who has the flu virus, Tamiflu will help in stopping the flu virus making you sick. If Tamiflu is administered in the first 2 days of getting the flu virus, Tamiflu will help to stop the virus from spreading throughout the body, thereby reducing the symptoms and risk associated with the virus. Governments are stockpiling Tamiflu, these supplies will be used to treat important workers and individuals before the general population.

You can buy Tamiflu online, if the situation arises you can protect yourself and family as much as possible. It cannot be emphasized enough, Tamiflu does need to be taken as early as is possible for it to be effective, delays in treatment will diminish the effectiveness of Tamiflu.

Remember that swine flu is a worldwide problem. Should a pandemic outbreak become global it is a possibility that supplies of Tamiflu could be diminished and may not meet a huge global demand.  Until such time that a vaccine is found and manufactured in the amounts required, Tamiflu is the only really effective treatment for the swine flu virus, it would therefore be prudent to buy Tamiflu in advance if you think you or your loved ones may be at risk.

Disclaimer: This posting is based on information available in {the popular#the} press and medical journals concerned with swine flu. Nothing herein is intended to be or should be construed to be any sort of medical advice. For medical advice you should consult with your own physician.