As fall approaches public officials and the media continue to raise the level of concern for a potential pandemic of the swine flu. So what are the facts and what can a person do to minimize the risk of infection?

The swine flu or H1N1 originated in pigs but humans can contract it from contact with swine or other infected people, but not from eating pork products according to the US Department of Agriculture.

The swine flu is a form of Type A flu that commonly occurs each year and is treatable. William Sutker, M.D., chief of infectious diseases at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas reported, “Although the type of flu we saw this season was not sensitive to some of the common antivirals that were available, swine flu is.” He says two prescription drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza, are effective but must be started in the first 1 to 2 days when symptoms begin. Individuals close to infected persons can take Tamaflu once a day for 10 days as a preventive measure.

Symptoms of the swine flu are primarily respiratory: coughing, fever, sneezing, sore throat, runny nose. Patients also experience muscle aches, weakness and fatigue. “However, there seems to be an increase in nausea and vomiting amongst those infected with swine flu. Again, these symptoms can be associated with the regular strains of the flu as well”, says Sutker. In other words, there is no distinguishing symptom of the swine flu that allows a person to know what kind of flu they may have. The symptoms of the swine flu are common to most other flu illnesses.

Dr. Sutker offers several recommendations to minimize the risk for swine flu infection. First and foremost is to wash your hands.

“Hand hygiene can not be stressed enough. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer. As always this is the single most important prevention technique that we have available”, states Dr. Sutker. The swine virus can live for several hours on common surfaces: door knobs, gym equipment, airplane seats, grocery carts, telephones, hotel room furniture. Infection most commonly occurs when contaminated surfaces are touched and then the person touches his face, nose or lips.

Second, minimize the exposure to others by covering your mouth or nose when you cough or sneeze. “Flu, like any other contagious respiratory disease, is spread by contact with infected droplets such as those released during a cough or sneeze,” said Sutker. Covering your mouth or nose is the first step. Next, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly.

Third, if you think you have been exposed Dr. Sutker says, “Do your friends and co-workers a favor and stay home. You will not only spare them becoming infected too, but you’ll need the rest in order to get better.”

Finally, Dr. Sutker states, “As of now, there is no need for people to panic…at this point, it is unclear if the swine flu outbreak will develop in to a full blown pandemic.”

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