However, there has been at least one documented case of human-to-human transmission of swine flu. In March and April 2009, over 1000 cases of suspected swine flu in humans were detected in Mexico and the Southwestern United States of California, Texas, New Mexico? The Mexican 2009 swine flu outbreak, of a new strain H1N1 influenza virus was first detected by in March 2009. As of April 26, 2009, Mexico City schools, universities, and all public events remained closed or suspended while other schools in the U.S. closed due to confirmed cases in students. On April 27, 2009, Mexican government officials announced a nationwide shut down of schools.
This never-before-seen strain of swine flu has turned killer in Mexico and is causing milder illness in the United States and elsewhere. While authorities say it's not time to panic, they are taking steps to stem the spread and also urging people to pay close attention to the latest health warnings. They urge people to take common-sense precautions including covering your coughs and sneezes, with a tissue that you throw away or by sneezing into your elbow rather than your hand. Washing ones hands frequently and if soap and water aren't available, with alcohol-based hand sanitizer or gels is also advised. As a precaution, people are advised to avoid close contact with someone who's sick and avoid crowded gatherings in places where swine flu is known to be spreading.
The good news however is that swine flu is sensitive to and treatable with the flu drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza). Face mask is also advised to effectively cover a person's mouth and nose so that if a person is around someone who is infected, there is a decreased likelihood of transmission. It is said that the available scientific evidence does not support the general wearing of face-masks by those who are not ill, whilst going about their normal activities. Currently there is no vaccine for swine flu but vaccines are available to be given to pigs to prevent swine influenza. There is no vaccine to protect humans from swine flu. The seasonal influenza vaccine will likely help provide partial protection against swine H3N2, but not swine H1N1 viruses. Symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of common influenza and includes fever, cough, sore throat, lethargy, lack of appetite, while runny nose, nausea, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A few other patients have also reported diarrhea and vomiting.
People should avoid touching their mouth, nose or eyes with their hands unless they've washed their hands. If people do cough, they should either cough into a tissue and throw it in the garbage immediately, cough into their elbow, or, if they cough in their hand, they should wash their hands immediately. Generally, swine flu viruses spread through uncovered coughs and sneezes or by touching your mouth or nose with unwashed hands? Swine Flu is spread between humans through coughing or sneezing of infected people and touching something with the virus on it and then touching their own nose or mouth. Flu viruses can live on surfaces for several hours, like a doorknob just touched by someone who sneezed into his hand. The swine flu in humans is most contagious during the first five days of the illness although some people, most commonly children, can remain contagious for up to ten days. Swine flu cannot be spread by pork products, since the virus is not transmitted through food.
This particular Mexican swine flu has unusually been aggressive on healthy young adults, much like the deadly Spanish Flu of 1918, unlike most other influenza strains which devastate young children and elderly adults as well as others with weaker immune systems. Icheoku hopes medical sciences will once again rise up to the challenge and stop this swine flu inn order to save humanity from possible extinction assuming it takes a turn for the worst!
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Christy 'Apena' Essien-Igbokwe , the wife of Jegede Shokoya of the New Masquerade and Nigeria's lady of songs is dead; she was 51years old. Although her family claimed that "brief Illness" killed her like so many Nigerians; Icheoku retorts that it was most likely AKwa Ibom voodoo and remote control that was used to arrest her. It is on record that she had fallen out with the governor of her native Akwa Ibiom State and have been having a relentless war for political turf with the governor? So who knows whether she was sacrificed to Ekpe cult or even Alusi-Okija as an offal; afterall African science is still very much alive and portent. May her soul rest in peace.
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