Say It Ain't So Porky!

I really wanted to do a piece about Ol’ Dirty Bastard, unfortunately the threat of a Swine Flu pandemic possibly bringing on the apocalypse trumps the dirty fatherless one for right now. Initially, I wasn’t really all that worried about the threat of the N1H1, or "Swin", influenza strain spreading across the world.  But shit started to get real when I heard that the World Health Organization's pandemic meter rose from 3 to 4 in just one day. Now that might not seem like a lot until you consider the fact that we are only 2 levels from the same type of all encompassing pandemic that killed off 20 to 40 million in the influenza pandemic of 1918. Shook yet? Well if your not consider the fact that in Mexico City, where this particular strain of the Swine Flu began, the number of already confirmed dead from the Swine Flu has reached 149. In reaction to this, Mexican officials have shut down all schools throughout the country and have limited public gatherings. I know news like this can seem stark, but the possibility of a Swine Flu pandemic is very real. The only good news is that out of the 40 confirmed cases being reported in the United States, the CDC states that all those infected have survived and will more than likely make full recoveries. But, and I hate being the pessimistic dude in the room, it is still too early to really tell what the eventual outcome will be. This thing could turn out to be as frivolous as the West Nile scare was a few years ago or we could be looking at pandemic the likes we haven’t seen in modern time. Who really knows? In the mean time, here is a list of some of the symptoms and precautions we should all take until all the facts are known:

 

 The disease's symptoms resemble those of seasonal flu – fever, sore throat, cough, congestion, chills, headache, body aches and fatigue. Some patients also report diarrhea and vomiting.

 Swine flu can lead to pneumonia or respiratory failure and worsen chronic health problems.

 If you have symptoms, see your doctor. A medical provider's diagnosis is important, and prescription antiviral drugs are most effective when given within 48 hours of the appearance of symptoms.

 If you are ill, avoid travel and don't go to work or school.

 Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol-based cleansers.

 Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then discard the tissue. Or use your upper sleeve – not your hands.

 If you're healthy, wash your hands often and avoid ill people. The flu's incubation period is 24 to 48 hours.

 

If you have any further questions please log on to cdc.gov/flu/swine.