Swine Flu Symptoms: CDC Information

Swine flu has dominated the news since the first cases were reported in Mexico. Now that the disease has been documented in North American and there are serious measures to curb it in Asia, people are asking what the symptoms are associated with the global outbreak. See a slideshow of the reaction to swine flu around the world and advice from the CDC underneath:

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Residents wear surgical masks as they exit the subway in Mexico City, Monday, April 27, 2009. Mexico's government is trying to stem the spread of a deadly strain of swine flu as a new work week begins by urging people to stay home Monday if they have any symptoms of the virus believed to have killed more than 100 people. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Here is some basic information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):

What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

How does swine flu spread?
Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

How can someone with the flu infect someone else?
Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

What should I do to keep from getting the flu?
First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Comments

[TazoWolf]

Decent Q&A about Swine flu here, backing up words with scientific explanations people can understand to dispel some fears and explain where the real concerns lie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma7IeWRH7y0

[SunDriedTomato]

As of 9:30 this morning, we officially have influenza at our house. The doctors here don't want you coming anywhere near their offices and they aren't collecting cultures (only statistics) unless the patient has had definite contact with a person diagnosed with swine flu. Stock up on juice and OTC medicines and throat lozenges. Keep your sick kids home. Wash your hands. Keep things sensible and we'll ride this one out just like we've ridden out the other potential pandemics.

[GeoLee]

Sadly, there are probably many anti immigrant US Americans (after all Mexicans are Americans) who are glad this is hitting Mexico. They are the same type who blamed the victims of New Orleans, too. And they are not saying to themselves or others that now that some in the U.S. and elsewhere have it we really have to send all the Mexicans home...regardless of their citizenship status.

[scaredinga]

im glad to see someone out there agrees we need to send all mexicans home do what ever you can but it is time to take a stand!

[kankan]

I'm sure that's what the Native Americans and Aztecs said when Europeans brought their gifts to this continent. And we all know that is what the Vietnamese were saying when American GI's were bringing new diseases to their country too. Maybe we should just nuke Mexico, who needs them anyways? A nice radiation fallout will get rid of this troublesome swine flu...

[KatieMN]

To get some perspective on this:

Keep in mind that Mexico city may be a near perfect place for a virus to spread, and during most the time it developed to where it is now, no precautions to speak of were being taken.

I had cancer some years back. At the time I did the research, and with the type of cancer I had, the stats told me that 25% of those affected would die of within 5 years of diagnosis. I thought that was pretty good odds. Not brilliant, but not that bad. 3 times out of 4 people lived more than 5 years, and after that, well, we were into the long tail and who knew?

If things continued as they are now in Mexico, you could live there for a year, go about your business and have a 0.02 chance of dying of this flu over the next year.

That's about a 49000 in 50000 chance of not dying from it. Pretty good odds.

[rubberstamp]

change the subject and add meaningless stats

Sorry I know you are trying to give perspective but there is no coorelation with infectious disease

[Steve Blake]

Reading comprehension... Not a strong card.

[whitehawk]

Isn't that alone a form of terrorism? I knew he didn't care about any American outside his buddies and family. He didn't do a damn thing in the last year of his Presidency except hurt ordinary Americans.

[Steve Aminoff]

CDC recommendations differ from Mexico's in one VERY important respect. Mexico is telling its people to avoid crowds. How many have to get sick in America before the CDC gets with the program?

[patianneb]

Expect more and more outbreaks of devastating disease as confined animal feeding operations, and the disease, polluted water, air and so on, created by and in these foul places, often located in proximity to the fields of mega vegetable farms proliferate, all in the name of cheap food, free trade and the almighty buck.

[AngieMom57]

Stay away from malls and other crowded areas at this time...

Eat more meals prepared at home...

Great time to unleash the blocked vegetarian in all of us...

Meatless Monday Menu

Vegetable & Yellow Miso Broth

hold that thought...brb

[vagabondvet]

I don't know if you heard about it, but there have been more non-meat related incidents in the past year than there were meat caused illness. Tomatoes, peppers, peanut butter...

[drricklippin]

With due respect ,I'm not sure the US public trusts the CDC which is indeed very sad indeed and very dangerous.

See my blog that I published last week on the CDC -http://medicalcrises.blogspot.com

In the blog I state that THE SINGLE most important task is for our federal health agencies like CDC, FDA.,EPA,OSHA to focus on regaining lost public trust. It may take years.........

Dr. Rick Lippin
Southampton,Pa

[jesuslovesObama]

I used to trust the CDC, before Bushco got ahold of them early on and started gutting the agency's mission and message.

[billygore2000]

Wash your hands and don't vote Republican.

[pgurlatl]

Even though this is very serious, this remark had me laughing out loud.

[frappe]

Shouldn't the latter part of your sentence be the former, and the former, the latter?:

"Don't vote Republican and wash your hands."

...Seems to make more sense that way. :)

[stillable2think]

Republican = swine flu?
That is funny!

On a serious note, the plagues in Europe's dark ages were caused by 1 degree drop in temp climate change (germs in abdomen of the flea flourished, etc.). We are now 3/4 of a degree up. This swine flu may be the tip of the ice burg for what is to come.

[NicasioKid]

No - it's "Wash your hands often and never vote Republican!"

[neumann]

"If you voted for Bush, wash thoroughly."

[AngieMom57]

Laughing the best medicine:

Bodhisattva in metro:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jedd2FiZTqM

[jillsond]

Very cool!

[Mnemanth]

Symptoms also may include national issues we'd prefer to sweep under the rug...
International issues we'd also prefer to distract people from...
A need for mounting fear and a change of focus away from people's daily outrage over greed, corruption, and largesse...
The usual fear tactics employed when people are starting to get motivated to make the changes our government refuses to make on our behalf.

[IsyFleur]

And the earthquake a few hours ago was also fabricated, right?

[Agentprovokatur]

Did they legalize Same Sex Marriage in Mexico? Maybe the fundies god is showing his/her/its incredibly bad aim again.

Target Iowa and Vermont, Hits Mexico.

[janeinmia]

I do agree -- not in a conspiratorial sense, but simply in the way of convenient timing and a hungry, hungry MSM.

[aznurse]

on top of everything else, now there's an 6.0 earthquake in Mexico? Yipes!