Swine Flu and Fear: the Doctor’s Verdict

Yesterday, I had swine flu on my mind — I’ve been running a low-grade temperature since Wednesday, and was worried that it was an indicator of something serious. I decided yesterday that if I still had a fever today (Saturday), I’d go to the local walk-in clinic. I woke up this morning still feeling that old familiar body ache and headache. A check of the digital thermometer showed that sure enough, I was still running a fever. Off to the clinic I went! There was a big sign on the door saying that if a patient was experiencing a cough … Continue reading →

Swine Flu and Fear

I’m writing this on day three of a fever, so I apologize if it isn’t as coherent as I’d like. I’m sick. It started off feeling like my usual sinus troubles, so I treated it in the usual way: irrigating my sinuses with salt water. This plan has worked in the past, fending off several sinus infections before they got to the point where I’d need a doctor or antibiotics. But while the sinus problem cleared up, the feeling of not-good stuck around. My head was still pounding. Two days ago, the headache was joined by an all-over body ache … Continue reading →

Swine Flu Vaccine and Side Effects

As promised, October has arrived with the first batches of the swine flu vaccine. The World Health Organization rolled out the first doses of the vaccine in China, soon to be followed by Australia, the United States, and parts of Europe. Four out of the thirty-nine thousand people vaccinated in China reported mild side effects. That works out to approximately one in every ten thousand people getting the shot — not surprising, according to WHO officials. When large numbers of people are getting a vaccine, side effects are to be expected. Once the swine flu vaccine hits the United States, … Continue reading →

Swine Flu Vaccine For Everybody… but Seniors

The swine flu vaccine is coming soon — the first doses will be available the first week of October. But doctors are telling seniors to hold off on getting a swine flu vaccine. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that three point four million doses of swine flu vaccine will be available the first week of October — in nasal spray form. Shots will soon follow, for a total of nearly 200 million doses of swine flu vaccine available by the end of 2009. Once the distribution is in full swing, you can expect to see twenty … Continue reading →

What to Expect From the Swine Flu this Fall and Winter

Swine flu has been in the news this year, starting with an April outbreak. The disease stuck around for the summer — a time when most strains of flu go away. Now health experts are predicting a surge in cases as schools reopen. One report suggests that between a third and a half of the U.S. population will contract swine flu, and October is probably the earliest we’ll see a swine flu vaccine. The normal seasonal flu vaccine does not include protection against swine flu. The World Health Organization says that as much as one third of the world’s population … Continue reading →

U.S. Drugstores Are Starting the Flu Shot Early

Flu season is quickly approaching for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. While many chain drugstores typically offer flu shots during the fall, this year the flu shots are out early. CVS is offering flu shots a few weeks earlier than usual — they told the Associated Press that normally the flu shot campaign starts three to four weeks later. Walgreens started giving flu shots on October 1st last year — but is making flu shots available as of September 1st this year. Some Rite Aid stores are already giving flu vaccines. Drugstore chains are expecting higher demand for … Continue reading →

Will the Swine Flu Shot Be Ready by October?

We’re not done with swine flu yet… or maybe swine flu isn’t done with us. As of the beginning of June, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control are reporting more than 8,500 probable and confirmed cases of swine flu in the United States; the World Health Organization puts the global number of cases just over twenty thousand. The virus has been confirmed in sixty-six different countries. More than one hundred people have died at the time of writing. But we may see a swine flu vaccine in the United States as early as October — right around the start of … Continue reading →

Flu Kits

With all the talk about swine flu in the news lately, you may have heard mention of a “flu kit” — basically, a bunch of stuff to keep handy in case you come down with some form of influenza. The things in your flu kit can help keep you comfortable while the virus runs its course. So what might you want to put in your flu kit? Medical-Type Stuff A thermometer. Fever may be your most noticeable (and bothersome) flu symptom. Fever/pain medication, like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil). Avoid giving aspirin to children. Tissues. The flu can spread quickly … Continue reading →

U.S. Declares Swine Flu a Public Health Emergency

On Sunday, April 26, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Department of Homeland Security declared a public health emergency for swine influenza. This sounds a lot scarier than it actually is. The government declares public health emergencies more often than you’d think — for things like hurricanes, flooding, and even the recent inauguration. Basically, a public health emergency is more like a warning to be prepared, according to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. The CDC has reported twenty cases of swine flu in the United States so far, spread over five states: California Texas Kansas Ohio New York … Continue reading →

Swine Flu: Overview

The flu is back in the news lately — specifically an outbreak of swine influenza in Mexico and parts of the United States. What is swine flu? It is a type A influenza virus that infects pigs. In general, swine flu has a high infection rate but a low death rate; it is most commonly seen in late fall and winter (similar to human influenza). Pigs can be infected by other strains of flu — including avian influenza and human influenza. When viruses are passed between different species, they can swap genes — known as reassorting — and create new … Continue reading →