As you may be aware, several states in the United States have confirmed cases of Swine Flu. We want to provide you with information about the virus.
Swine Flu (H1N1) is a virus that causes breathing problems and can easily be spread between people. The symptoms are similar to the regular flu. They include fever, cough, sorethroat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue with occasional vomiting and diarrhea. Infected people may infect others for approximately seven days.
Flu viruses are spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing of an infected person. Flu viruses may also be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with the virus and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth. Currently there is no vaccine to protect against the N1H1 flu. However, here are some preventative actions to help prevent the spread of germs:
- Wash hand frequently with soap and water or use alcohol based hand sanitizer
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
- Stay at least 6 feet away from people who are sick
- Stay home if you get sick
The opinion of the Public Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control is that the Swine Flu is in the United States, and we must work together to reduce the transmission of the virus. Most people will not have immunity to this new virus, and as it continues to spread, more cases are expected in the coming days and weeks.
For the most current information and daily updates, we suggest the following websites:
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