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Archive for April, 2009

You Tube Video on how to wash your hands

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

How to Wash your Hands Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzmYGi
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Cheap Flu Prevention

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

Proper hand washing with soap and water
Follow these instructions for washing with soap and water:

* Wet your hands with warm, running water and apply liquid soap or use clean bar soap. Lather well.
* Rub your hands vigorously together for at least 15 to 20 seconds.
* Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
* Rinse well.
* Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel.
* Use a towel to turn off the faucet.

Proper use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers — which don’t require water — are an excellent alternative to hand washing, particularly when soap and water aren’t available. They’re actually more effective than soap and water in killing bacteria and viruses that cause disease. Commercially prepared hand sanitizers contain ingredients that help prevent skin dryness. Using these products can result in less skin dryness and irritation than hand washing.

Not all hand sanitizers are created equal, though. Some “waterless” hand sanitizers don’t contain alcohol. Use only the alcohol-based products. The CDC recommends choosing products that contain at least 60 percent alcohol.

To use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:

* Apply about 1/2 teaspoon of the product to the palm of your hand.
* Rub your hands together, covering all surfaces of your hands, until they’re dry.

If your hands are visibly dirty, however, wash with soap and water, if available, rather than a sanitizer.
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Antiviral Treatment for Swine Flu

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

Antiviral Treatment
Confirmed, Probable and Suspected Cases of Swine-origin Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection

Recommendations for use of antivirals may change as data on antiviral effectiveness, clinical spectrum of illness, adverse events from antiviral use, and antiviral susceptibility data become available.

Antiviral treatment should be considered for confirmed, probable or suspected cases of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus infection. Treatment of hospitalized patients and patients at higher risk for influenza complications should be prioritized.

Only RT-PCR or viral culture can confirm infection with swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus. The test performance of rapid antigen tests and immunofluorescence tests for detection of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus is unknown. Persons who might have swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus and who test positive for influenza A using one of these tests should have confirmatory RT-PCR or viral culture testing to confirm the presence of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus.   A negative rapid antigen or immunofluorescence test cannot be used to rule out swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.

Antiviral treatment with zanamivir or oseltamivir should be initiated as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms. Evidence for benefits from treatment in studies of seasonal influenza is strongest when treatment is started within 48 hours of illness onset. However, some studies of treatment of seasonal influenza have indicated benefit, including reductions in mortality or duration of hospitalization even for patients whose treatment was started more than 48 hours after illness onset. Recommended duration of treatment is five days. Recommendations for use of antivirals may change as data on antiviral susceptibilities and effectiveness become available.  Antiviral doses recommended for treatment of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in adults or children 1 year of age or older are the same as those recommended for seasonal influenza (Table 1). Oseltamivir use for children < 1 year old was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), and dosing for these children is age-based (Table 2).

Note: Areas that continue to have seasonal influenza activity, especially those with circulation of oseltamivir-resistant human A (H1N1) viruses, might prefer to use either zanamivir or a combination of oseltamivir and rimantadine or amantadine to provide adequate empiric treatment or chemoprophylaxis for patients who might have human influenza A (H1N1) infection.

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Swine Flu Cases in US

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

USA Today  Map of Swine Flu in the US

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First U.S fatality from swine flu

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009


From Web MD
April 29, 2009 ­ The CDC today confirmed the first U.S fatality from swine flu — a 23-month-old child in Texas.

“I can confirm very sad news coming out of Texas that a child has died from the H1N1 virus,” Richard Besser, MD, acting director of the CDC, said in an interview with CNN. “As a parent and a pediatrician, my heart goes out to the family.”

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Swine Flu Tracking on Google Maps

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

Swine Flu Map on Google

Google Map

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