Swine Flu - How You Can Protect Yourself

Swine flu is a very much feared virus at the present time. There is a tendency for some people to panic especially because a certain number of people are dieing from this H1N1 virus. There is also a rise in people suffering from swine flu as it spreads around the globe. Governments of various countries acknowledge that there is a need for world wide awareness but absolutely no need for panic.

The good news is that there are a few measures you can undertake to protect yourself from this virus. One of the best and easiest ways to do this is to use surgical masks which will help cough and sneeze droplets from spreading around. If you know someone is infected make sure that he/she as well as yourself wears a mask. However this is not a fool proof method of keeping yourself away from this nasty virus.

You might also contract swine flu if an infected person sneezes or even coughs in their own hands. The reason being that when their hand touches something and you happen to touch the same thing you will be infected . This is what really makes this virus hard to contain.

In places where there is a high rate of infection its imperative that you take all preventive measures. You need to be especially careful in places such as offices, and public transportation. You also need to keep yourself from touching anything while you are in public areas and to make sure that you don't touch your face. Use tissue paper to handle possibly infected items, such as door handles, and then discard it immediately.

If you want to avoid catching any virus its always best to wash your hands with soap and water for a full minute and then dry with a paper towel. Use a paper towel also to take hold of the door handle in public washroom facilities and discard it right away.

You need to protect your children, especially those just a few months old. The reason being that their immune system is still not fully developed and they are susceptible to infection. This goes even for those who are in their teens who tend to feel invincible. They need to be just as cautious as you are to avoid the H1N1 virus.

Make sure that everyone in your family takes all necessary precautions to avoid infection by this virus as well as the usual seasonal flu virus . Wash your hands frequently and carry a small bottle of hand sanitiser for use where you cannot wash.