The Official RJWestmore Blog

Part 3 in a 4-Part Series

A common misconception is that a standard seasonal flu shot will prevent you from contracting the hybrid strain of H1N1, commonly referred to as the swine flu. Unfortunately, a standard flu shot alone will not offer complete protection from the virus.

According to Jonathan E. Fielding, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, “This new strain of influenza is pandemic and is the predominant strain circulating in our community.”

The good news is that, as of October 1, 2009, the flu shot and nasal spray treatments, developed specifically for H1N1 become available on a limited basis. According to information released at a Center for Disease Control press conference on October 2, approximately 600,000 doses are expected to be administered within the following few days in selected states across the country.

What’s more, 300,000 pediatric, liquid doses of the antiviral drug Tamiflu have been released from a national medicine stockpile. Both of these medications have been developed specifically for the swine flu.

Schedule an appointment for the vaccine today to avoid—

• Discomfort
• Spreading the disease
• A trip to the hospital

While this vaccine will prevent thousands of potential swine flu cases, some individuals across the country have already contracted H1N1. If you have been professionally diagnosed or just suspect you might have the infection, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. At highest risk are pregnant women, children and young adults, people with conditions like asthma and diabetes, and caregivers of infants.

Since the initial H1N1 outbreak in the spring of 2009, health care professionals have had plenty of time to treat swine flu cases up close and personal. Familiar with this particular strain and armed with the new vaccine and nasal spray, medical practitioners will soon be well-prepared to diagnose and help those who are infected.

Although some may be wary of taking a trip to the doctor’s offices because of the risk of contracting contagious diseases as well as encountering needles, most cases do not require intravenous or fluid-IV administration. Common treatment options for swine flu include drinking plenty of water, bed rest, and over-the-counter medication.

Though the swine flu can last for up to two weeks, patients are contagious for only about 8 to 10 days. During this time, they are encouraged to avoid public places, and, most importantly, to follow doctors’ instructions.

The threat of swine flu can stop with you. For more helpful tips about health and welfare, contact RJ Westmore, Inc., where we encourage everyone to BE SAFE!

Part 1 of a 4-part series

Though H1N1 (also known as the Swine Flu) is, ultimately, just another flu bug, it’s hard to avoid panic when bombarded with forecasts that the entire population may fall victim to a global pandemic.

Fortunately, getting the swine flu is not a sudden death sentence. In fact, a very small percentage of people who contract it die from it. Nevertheless, there remain several legitimate reasons that it is better to avoid contracting it at all, the least of which is that dealing with any flu virus is uncomfortable and inconvenient. More importantly, more people die from the swine flu than from any other known strain.

H1N1 was first discovered in La Gloria, a small town in Southern Mexico in March of 2009. Soon thereafter, more cases were reported in the United States and Europe, inspiring people to wear masks and gloves in public. Fear spread, as thousands worried about contracting the “deadly virus.” Surprisingly enough, the much-feared swine flu has a mortality rate of just 0.01%. This is, admittedly, a much larger percentage than the seasonal flu, which claims only %0.001 of its victims. So, it’s important to recognize the symptoms associated with every strain of the flu.

Unlike a common cold, Influenza usually starts suddenly and may include the following:

• High Fever
• Headache
• Extreme Fatigue
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or congested nose
• Body aches
• Diarrhea and vomiting

Having these symptoms does not always mean that you have the flu. Many illnesses, including the common cold, can cause similar symptoms. Although most of the symptoms of the seasonal flu and the swine flu are similar, the swine flu almost always includes vomiting and diarrhea, in every age group. And while a common cold can knock you out for a few days, a flu bug will usually persist for up to a week or more. If your symptoms seem more intense than a typical cold, seek medical attention.

Though people usually recover completely from the swine flu, the mortality rate seems to be the highest in people under age 25. Young children and babies also need to be careful when going out in public, where they could possibly contract H1N1. And while, oddly enough, elderly people seem to be more immune to swine flu than younger folks, they need to take special precautions, because the swine flu can cause respiratory problems, which can also lead to death.

RJWestmore, Inc. is dedicated to safety, and preparedness. If you are armed with information about the flu, it may be easier to avoid catching it in the first place. For more more information about the H1N1 virus, visit WebMD or the CDC website.

Next week in our special series about the swine flu, we’ll look at what you should do to stay healthy and prevent the spread of the Influenza.

In the meantime, BE SAFE!!!

http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-guide/flu-cold-symptoms

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/health/01plague.html

http://scienceblogs.com/effectmeasure/2009/04/swine_flu_what_do_cfr_virulenc.php

http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/antibiotic-use/URI/colds.html