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September 10, 2009

Swine Flu

My niece is one of the many who have come down with H1N1. Luckily, her case is mild and she began to feel better with 24 to 48 hours. She likely picked it up at school. Around my school we have signs up warning us about swine flu. They list recommendations about coughing and sneezing, staying home if you're sick, and washing your hands frequently. Smartly, on the stands holding the signs they've mounted hand sanitizer dispensers.

The flu shot is not for everyone, however. Certain people are considered at "high risk":
This includes people 65 years and older, children younger than five years old, pregnant women, and people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions. About 70 percent of people who have been hospitalized with this 2009 H1N1 virus have had one or more medical conditions previously recognized as placing people at “high risk” of serious seasonal flu-related complications. This includes pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease, asthma and kidney disease.

Walgreens and CVS pharmacies have flu shots available starting in October. CVS has the free flu shot program to help 100,000 people who are unemployed get free flu shots.

If you work in contact with lots of people, it may be a good idea to take precautions to protect yourself from swine flu.
* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners* are also effective.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
* Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
* If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.

Be well, stay well.

tags: massage massagetherapy wellness massage therapy bodywork health

Posted by linda at September 10, 2009 6:09 PM