Swine Flu: What Should You Do?

All the news lately seems to be about swine flu. Every day brings at least 3 new stories about it, and it’s all people on the street can talk about. But how worried should we really be? We know that many of our readers are caregivers for the elderly, and are concerned about swine flu for more than just themselves, so we did a little research on the subject and are pleased to report that so far, in spite of its communicability, swine flu is nothing to panic about.

According webmd.com the worst thing about swine flu is how it is currently being blown out of perspective. The website brings things back to earth by giving 7 Facts to Consider if You’re Fearful About Swine Flu. According to this article, swine flu is still much less dangerous than regular influenza, which even in the U.S. kills about 36,000 people in an average season. “Swine flu hasn’t come anywhere close to that.” This article also reminds us that most people who have been diagnosed with swine flu have recovered without being hospitalized. If you still have concerns after reading this article, webmd.com has an entire page of their website devoted to providing information and answering your questions about swine flu.

If you are a caregiver your concerns about swine flu are greater than just yourself. How can you keep your patients safe? The New Old Age blog has posted a list of 7 Things Caregivers Should Know About Swine Flu, with is filled with good suggestions, including the logical ones such as avoiding large group situations, and phoning the doctor instead of going into the office (or worse, the emergency room) if you suspect you have symptoms. But the most important and comforting information from this post is that “So far, the virus does not seem to have disproportionately affected the elderly” and “The measures normally used to avoid the flu should be effective.” These measures include washing your hands often, and keeping frequently touched household surfaces such as handles, doorknobs, faucets, and telephones clean and sanitized.

We hope all of our readers stay safe and healthy this flu season.