The highly publicised swine flu virus has made its way to Grahamstown. The Weekend Post reported that health officials have said that the “Eastern Cape is a ticking time bomb for the spread of the H1N1 swine flu virus”.
The highly publicised swine flu virus has made its way to Grahamstown. The Weekend Post reported that health officials have said that the “Eastern Cape is a ticking time bomb for the spread of the H1N1 swine flu virus”.
Swine flu has been diagnosed and treated in two Rhodes University students who were taking part in the University Sports South Africa tournament in Johannesburg last week. The students who took part in the squash tournament were all tested for the H1N1 virus. Numerous other individuals in the Grahamstown area have also been tested. According to a local medical practitioner, people have been rushing to the doctor to get tested as soon as they show any signs or symptoms of flu.
However, “how people react to a pandemic is often more dangerous, if not deadly, than the pandemic itself” said Michael Osterholm, director of the Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota in the USA.
The swine flu virus is a new virus and as such no person is immune to it. Therefore, everyone is at risk. It is similar to ordinary flu in that it is spread from person to person through coughing, sneezing and talking. The symptoms of swine flu is closely associated with that of ordinary flu and includes fever, coughing, headaches, a sore throat, chills and fatigue. What sets it apart however, is a severely aching body, diarrhoea and vomiting.
While the H1N1 swine flu virus should not be taken lightly, a local medical practitioner reminds us that no flu virus should be sneezed at. It is apparent then that the care now being taken with the virus should be taken with any and every case of flu.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) the H1N1 virus seems to spread especially among young people between the ages of 10 and 45. Swine flu cases vary from mild cases to more severe cases which may result in death. However, WHO advises that most people infected with the virus experience a mild case from which they can recover fully without medical or anti-viral treatment. Underlying health conditions or people with weak immune systems seem to be affected more seriously.
The medical practitioner commented that we often don’t cover our mouths when we sneeze or cough, nor do we wash our hands regularly or take care of ourselves when we are sick, which he refers to as “fourth world hygiene practices”. As a community, and as individuals, we should become more vigilant when it comes to our personal hygiene practices.
