In the News

Swine Flu Myths and Facts 

What you need to know about the breakout right away

-Susan Crandell

There's a lot of information being reported about the swine flu outbreak that started in Mexico, and has been found in the U.S. and Canada, Spain and New Zealand, among others.

Below, swine flu myths and facts:

Myth: You can catch swine flu from eating pork.

Fact: This isn't true, although the Russians don't seem to know this. They banned pork imports from Mexico, where the virus is thought to have originated.
This virus spreads like other influenza strains, through coughing or sneezing. People can become infected by touching something that has flu virus on it and then touching their own nose or mouth. The CDC reports that people can transmit the disease from a day before symptoms appear until 7 or more days after. The incubation period is 48 hours.

Myth: If you had a flu shot, you're safe.

Fact: Richard Besser, acting head of the Centers for Disease Control, has said that this year's flu shot does not include the A strain (H1N1), which is causing the current cases.

If this outbreak grows and worsens, a vaccine could be developed. This was done in 1976, when soldiers at Fort Dix got sick. Forty million Americans received it, but the outbreak never spread beyond the military base, and the vaccination program was halted after 500 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome were reported, a condition that can cause paralysis.

Myth: You're only at risk if you're very old or very young.

Fact: This flu is an equal-opportunity disease, striking at all ages, but especially among the young and healthy. More than 100 students at a high school in Queens became sick last week, and as of yesterday morning, eight cases were confirmed.

Should you be more worried about swine flu if you're pregnant?

Myth: We could all die.

Fact: Even the deadliest flu on record, the 1918 pandemic, killed only one in 10 affected, and scientists speculate that many of those deaths could have been prevented with the anti-viral drugs we have today.

Alternate Myth: Since nobody has died in the U.S., we're pretty safe.

Fact: The flu virus is notorious for mutating. It could become more deadly, as it is in Mexico, or it could sputter out. Note that while more than 100 people have died in Mexico, the known cases may be just the iceberg's tip. It's possible that many more people were mildly sick and recovered without going to the doctor, meaning that the virus is less lethal that the current statistics suggest.

The CDC reports that the A/H1N1 virus combines genetic sequences from North American pigs, Eurasian pigs, birds and humans. Pigs are notorious incubators, since they can be infected by various strains that then swap genes and mutate.

Myth: It's wise to take antibiotics as a precaution.

Fact: Antibiotics attack bacteria, not viruses, so they offer no advantage against the flu, though they could be used to treat secondary bacterial infections.

Myth: I'd better get some anti-virals now before supplies run out.

Fact: The globe seems pretty well supplied, particularly since the anti-virals would be used to treat, not prevent, cases of the flu. The U.S. has stockpiled 50 million courses of anti-flu drugs, and the World Health Organization has five million courses of Tamiflu. It's comforting to know that Tamiflu and Relenza, two leading anti-viral drugs, are effective against the new strain in the lab.

To protect yourself, the CDC recommends:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Do not reuse tissues.
• Wash your hands often. Use soap and warm water; wash for 15-20 seconds. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes.
• Avoid contact with anybody who is sick.
• If you get sick, stay home from work or school; limit contact with others.
• Call your doctor if you have a fever over 102 or typical flu symptoms (headache, aches and pains, chills, cough). Nausea, diarrhea and vomiting have also been reported with this strain.

For further information on swine flu myths and facts, go to the CDC Centers for Disease Control website.