My hospital preparing for the Swine Influenza Virus (SIV) got a shock when i went down for break.... did not know the situation was so serious. Scary, remind me of SARS days...
What:
- Common respiratory ailment in pigs that dun usually spread to humans.
- This strain is a subtype never seen before in humans n pigs.
- When pigs get this flu they get very sick and up to 4% dies.
- In the past, people get this flu if they worked directly with pigs.
- However this strain unlike most cases of swine flu can spread from person to person.
- The genetic makeup of the virus is that of pigs, bird n humans.
- This may be the case: pigs caught a strain of the bird flu->virus mutate inside the pig-> which allow the virus to spread too humans.
Swine flu from eating pork?
- No, pigs going to the slaughter are check for flu symptoms and those who are ill are not allow to enter.
- Cooking also kills the virus.
- However people working with pigs can catch the virus.
Symptoms:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Lack of appetite
- Coughing
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
How can u protect yourself:
- Wash your hands frequently (7 steps)
- Wear surgical mask if u need to go a crowded place.
- N95 mask filters out 95% of particles if fitted properly around the nose creating a tight seal.
