What is swine flu, what are the symptoms, what can you do to prepare now, and if you are sequestered or asked to stay home, what should your survival kit include?
This is a subject of much concern today. What is it?
Also referred to as swine influenza, h1n1, swine influenza virus,or h1n1 flu, it is defined by the Centers for Disease Control as the following: "This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs (swine) in North America.
But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and bird (avian) genes and human genes. Scientists call this a "quadruple reassortant" virus."
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Swine influenza was first detected in the United States in April 2009. Since then, the virus has gone from epidemic to pandemic status.
Many are aware that the Swine Flu has now reached pandemic status, and The World Health Organization is still warning that the H1N1 Flu has the potential to afflict more people than we could imagine.
The spread of the H1N1 virus to all countries, worldwide, is considered inevitable.
An epidemic means that new cases of a certain disease in the human population during a given period substantially exceed what is "expected," based on recent experience. A pandemic, of a much larger scale, is an epidemic of infectious disease that is spreading through human populations across a large region, or even all over the world. The swine flu pandemic is the most recent pandemic, most recently following
HIV,
the virus that is associated with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
The report from the CDC goes on to say that there are human infections with this swine influenza, and most who have become ill have recovered without requiring medical treatment. The virus that causes it, called H1N1, is considered contagious, and easily spreads from human to human.
Each week, the CDC analyzes information about influenza disease activity in the United States and publishes findings of key flu indicators in a report called Flu View. Since this topic is subject to updates and changes each day, we suggest you check out the Centers For Disease Control (CDC)
swine flu information link here,
(these links open in new windows), and
the World Health Organization (WHO) here.
Swine Flu Symptoms
Many want to know what to look for. The H1N1 Flu symptoms, based on the Centers for Disease Control's website, are as follows:
Fever
Cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Body aches
Headache
Chills
Fatigue
Many who have been infected with the swine flu also have reported swine flu symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting. Severe illness and death have occurred as a result of infection with the swine flu. Please refer to the site for most current statistics for infection and mortality by region and time period.
How To Prevent Swine Flu
According to the Centers for Disease Control, here is a list of the best ways to prevent becoming infected with the swine influenza. Please see their website for full details under "Prevention and Treatment"
here:
Cover your mouth and nose with tissue when you cough or sneeze, then discard tissue.
Wash your hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing.
Don't touch your face or mouth, this will spread germs.
Avoid close contact with sick people.
If you think you are sick, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone.
Follow public health advice.
Be prepared should you need to stay home.
As of September 2009, there is now a vaccine available for H1N1 influenza. It is called the "Sanofi-Pasteur Influenza A H1N1 2009 Monovalent Vaccine".
There is much controversy surrounding the safety and efficacy of this vaccine, but for the facts on this H1N1 vaccine, or Swine Flu vaccine, please consult this document from the FDA's website entitled
Please note on page 4 that the multi-use vials prepared as a Swine Flu vaccine have been prepared with mercury. Here is the quote from page 4:
"Multi-dose vial, 5 mL, for 6 months of age and older, contains thimerosal, a mercury derivative, added as a preservative. Each 0.5 mL dose contains 25 micrograms (mcg) mercury."
For a video put out by the University of Calgary showing mercury effects on brain cells, please view the video below, or for more information, visit my page on
If you or your children of 6 months of age or older are considering getting the H1N1 vaccine or swine flu vaccine and do not want to expose yourself or your children to mercury, make sure to ask if you are getting the vaccine from a single use vial or are receiving an vaccination from a multi use vial. According to this report, the single use vials do not have thimerosal in them.
Besides these well-publicized precautions, is there something else you can do in the meantime?
Swine Flu Prevention - Give Your Immune System a Fighting Chance
There is one very important way to prevent getting sick with the swine influenza that many people are now giving attention to: Strengthening your immune system.
Published
immune system research
has proven the beneficial effect of optimized
glutathione
levels on your
immune system.
And since the last pandemic of HIV involved a compromised immune system, might this be a very important aspect to give consideration to?
Glutathione boosts white blood cells, and specifically T-Cells, a special kind of white blood cell or lymphocyte that is responsible for fighting infection in your body. Boosting your glutathione (GSH) is an excellent way to prepare yourself for possible H1N1 exposure.
There are some respiratory medicines available for those suffering from cystic fibrosis and other lung diseases that boost glutathione in their lungs. There are actually several
ways to raise glutathione
available. Please click on the respective links for more information about glutathione, your immune system, and how to raise glutathione.
The above list from the CDC recommends you stay home if you have swine flu symptoms of think you may be infected with H1N1. You may have to stay home, or you may need to stay home to care for a loved one that is infected with swine influenza. What should you have on hand in a "swine flu survival kit", so that when you need to stay home, you have what you need?
Swine Flu Survival Kit
There are a number of ways to raise glutathione, yet none of these are included in recommended swine flu survival kits.
Interestingly, most survival kits contain the one drug that depletes glutathione. What is that drug? Acetaminophen, such as is found in Tylenol, when taken in excessive quantity, has been in the news recently as being very dangerous to your liver and your life.
Acetaminophen overdose
is the leading cause of liver damage today. This means that acetaminophen overdose is more dangerous to your liver than alcohol abuse and hepatitis. Surprising, isn’t it?
As a matter of fact, if you overdose on acetaminophen, the rescue medicine to save your life is a drug that has the singular purpose of boosting your glutathione.
It is an over the counter drug that is found in certain respiratory medicines. It is called N-acetyl-cysteine or NAC.
This has been used for years in emergency medicine to treat acetaminophen overdose in a hospital setting to save lives. Why does it save lives? Because in massive doses, it quickly raises glutathione, and saves the liver from falling apart and certain death.
You can learn more about the
side effects of NAC here.
So, would you want to take a medicine (acetaminophen) that depletes the one thing in your body that would protect you from H1N1? I wouldn’t.
So, to prepare for swine influenza exposure, you can and should raise and sustain your glutathione levels every day. You should also avoid acetaminophen, as it lowers your glutathione levels. Check and read labels carefully, as Tylenol is not the only medication that contains acetaminophen.
This will build your immune system to mount a defense against any and all threats you may encounter on a daily basis.
OK. So now you know what you shouldn't have in your swine flu survival kit. If you decide to prepare a Swine Flu Survival Kit, what should it have?
Your Swine Flu Survival Kit Should Have :
A clinically proven glutathione enhancer, such as
Immunocal.
Since it is not a drug, this is safe for babies and small children as well as adults. You will need to re-hydrate it with water from your kit.
Zinc lozenges. Zinc has been shown to clinically decrease the duration of a cold. May have found that this helps before the onset to prevent a cold in the first place, and is excellent for a sore throat. Interestingly, zinc is also one of the co-factors of glutathione. This means you need to make sure you are taking in zinc along with your glutathione enhancer to raise your levels of glutathione.
A supply of Brazil Nuts. Each nut is packed with 100 mcg of Selenium. You need 200 mcg or 2 nuts a day to help boost your glutathione with this second essential co-factor.
A two week supply of food for the family. Emergency kits are available online, and they can be grabbed quickly in the event of a disaster. We keep one in our garage for general disaster preparedness.
A two week supply of drinkable water for each person in your home. Remember, water will not maintain its freshness. It only has a shelf life of about 3-6 months. So make sure to cycle any stored cases of water you may have.
Electrolyte drinks, such as Gatorade or Powerade, to keep you hydrated.
A hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol (If water and soap are not available).
Surgical masks (FDA rating of at least N-95) to help prevent spreading the flu. Masks need to be disposed after each use, and should be changed often.
Because healthy or fresh food may not be available, supplements like
multi-vitamins
, Vitamin C,
Calcium,Omega 3 Fish Oil
, and any other supplements that you would routinely take should be included. Make sure the supplements are fresh and rotated in your kit.
Canned fish, like salmon or sardines. These are rich in antioxidant omega oils.
If you make up this Swine Flu Survival Kit today, you can set it and forget it. You can your family can take comfort knowing that you are doing all you can to protect yourselves right now.
In conclusion, what do you need to know about the Swine Flu? Know the symptoms and take the published precautions. Additionally, boost your immune system so you will have a fighting chance if you and your loved ones are exposed.
You can raise and sustain your glutathione levels today, and every day to boost your immune system naturally, and you can prepare a survival kit in your home should you be isolated or quarantined for a period of time.
Should the time come when you are told to stay in your home because you have swine flu symptoms, or are infected with H1N1, in order to contain exposure, you will have what you need.
Taking these precautionary steps ahead of time can do much to alleviate fear and panic that may affect others who are concerned about exposure to the swine flu for themselves and their loved ones. You and your family will be ready!
Swine Flu - Your Health Is In Your Hands. Good Health To You!
Dr. Jimmy Gutman is the world's most published author on the subject of glutathione. His current bestseller is entitled "Glutathione - Your Key To Health."
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