About Swine Flu and What You Should Do

by: Newswire (MCT Campus) • April 27, 2009 

HEALTH & SCIENCE: News

About Swine Flu:
A respiratory disease of pigs, swine influenza infections occur most commonly among humans who are in close proximity to pigs. However, the disease also can spread from person to person. Highly contagious, swine flu has the same symptoms as regular human flu, including fever, cough, sore throat, headache, chills and fatigue.

What You Should Do:
Health officials … say all people also should cover their noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing or sneezing; wash hands often with soap and water, especially after a cough or sneeze and use alcohol-based hand cleaners when possible. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth since germs cans easily spread that way. The CDC also advises avoiding contact with sick people.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano urged all citizens to help curb the spread of the disease. She said Sunday, “… If you are sick, stay home. Wash your hands, take all of those reasonable measures; that will help us mitigate, contain how many people actually get sick in our country.”
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© 2009, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

by Tony Pugh
McClatchy Newspapers / MCT CAMPUS

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