• Limit your contact with other person or rather stay home if you are sick.
• Cover your nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing.
• Regularly wash your hands with soap and running water . Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, if you are in a public place like mall or airport etc.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Keep yourself updated with the health activities in your vicinity.
• Keep educating children about swine flu and avoid taking them to public places.

At last keep your self healthy by eating good nutritious diet, bit of exercise and living healthy life style.

Some health tips for you -
*Beetroots contains good amount of foliate, potassium and manganese. They are less in calories and are effective in curing skin problems.

*Mangoes are a very rich in potassium and is very good antioxidant.

*Adequate use of Coconuts very good for health as it have many natural antibacterial & antifsungal properties.

*Banana are very good for treating Anemia,Constipation, Blood Pressure & Depression.

*Adequate consumption of Almond can lowers cholesterol levels in body and reduces the risk of lifestyle diseases (heart attack, depression, hyper tension) and gives overall wellness.

*Oats are very good source of reducing ageing, they contains some unique fatty acids and antioxidants which slows cell damage.

*Papaya is rich in Anti-oxidants, Minerals and Fibre, it also helps in Skin Treatments.

*Walking is very good exercise .Walking on hills is good, uphill provides cardiovascular benefits and the downhill is known for reducing the blood sugar levels.

*Complex breakfast is very important for better mental health in kids. It could protect them from depression, anxiety and disobedience.

* Fat is essential to meet the daily metabolic requirements & poly-unsaturated fats are as important as carbohydrates or proteins.

*In rains bath twice a day isimportant to prevent skin infectious and inflammation or skin irruptions.

*In monsoon season, root vegetables (like radish, potatoes) and also the leafy vegetables(like spinach and cabbage) should be avoided to prevent infections related to worms etc. Grams, paneer and sprouts should be added to diet.

H1N1 virus is a subtype of influenza A virus. H1N1(also known as”swine Flu virus”) is a new influenza virus, first detected in some of the people in the USA (April 2009). This virus was spreading in the pattern similar to that of seasonal influenza. It is believed that H1N1 virus started spreading in Mexico first and than almost whole world was effected.

H1N1 Nomenclature

World Health Organization (WHO) has renamed the swineflu Virus as - influenza N1H1 virus. the name H1N1 came because of the two main proteins found in this virus, they are Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase. These H protein (hemagglutinin) and N protein(neuraminidase) are important as they are responsible for infecting human beings. Each and every Viral strain has these H and N proteins, they are of many type and the number that follows H and N type on the strain describe there specific type. In influenza H1N1 virus they are present on 1st position. Hence the name given to them is H1N1. These two proteins are important because they are the main reason for causing infections in humans. The H protein (hemagglutinin) allows the virus to attach to human host cells and the other one i.e. N protein(neuraminidase) destroys mucous thus causing infection.

In the initial phases of outbreak this virus was called as “swine flu virus”as the lab test found that many genes of this virus are similar to swine influenza virus found in North American pigs. Later studies shows that this virus is very much different from that found in pigs. Its composition consist of genes of human, birds(avian) and pigs(swine)and so is is called “quadruple reassortant” by the scientists.

The CDC named it as - “Novel influenza A (H1N1)” and World Health Organization (WHO) named it influenza A(H1N1).

H1N1 virus was initially called ’swine flu virus’ and this outbreak was called “Swine flu” but many people and groups objected this name due to social and economical reasons related to swine or pork usiness,
therefore the name was changed by C.D.C and W.H.O.This virus is called by different names in different parts of the world - Israel & South Korea called it the “Mexican virus”. Later the South Korean press used “SI”, for “swine influenza”. Taiwan suggested the names “H1N1 flu” or “new flu”.

• Trying to stay healthy
• Keeping hands germ free by regularly washing hands with soap and alchohal based disinfectants
• keeping house floor and surroundings clean
• Taking plenty of sleep and rest
• Doing plenty of exercise
• Avoiding stress
• Taking a well balanced diet and drinking plenty of liquids
• Avoiding surfaces which may have virus on them
• Not going close to people who are sick or infected with swineflu virus with influenza symptoms
• Avoiding crowded places if there is a swineflu outbreak in your area

Que: If I am infected with swine flu virus, how can I stop others from becoming infected?
Ans: Following measures should be taken if a person is infected with swine flu virus:-

• One should limit his/her contact with other people
• One should not go to work, school or college
• Should always cover mouth or nose with tissue while coughing or sneezing or with hands if tissue is not available
• Used tissues should always be destroyed properly
• Proper cleanliness should be maintained by regularly washing hands and face
• All the surfaces which an infected person have touched should be kept clean
• Doctor’s instructions should be strictly followed

Que: Can swine flu be treated?
Ans: swine flu can be treated if proper medical help is taken with start of symptoms. Studies have shown that swine flu can be cured with the antiviral medicines oseltamavir Tamiflu (oseltamavir) and Relenza (zanamivir). However, the drugs must be given at the onset of sympotms.

Que: How does a human catch swine influenza?
Ans: It is mostly by direct contact with infected person and sometimes through indirect contact.Sometimes it may be caused by direct contact with pigs.

Viruses and bacteria attacks you when your immune system is weak, hence increasing resistance power is good precaution against all kind of diseases. As healthy immune system allows the body to heal itself naturally.

Here are some of the home remedies that will help in curing any kind of flu, including swine flu.

	Home remedies for Swine Flu #1: Take washed Tulsi leaves( popularly known as Basil) regularly in the morning. The leaves contain therapeutic elements. It keeps the lungs and the throat clear and helps in clearing the infections.
	Home remedies for Swine Flu #2: Take few cloves of garlic as it has powerful antibiotic, antiviral and antifungal characteristics. It significantly boosts your immune system and protects your body from various diseases such as the flu.
	Home remedies for Swine Flu #3: Take Vitamin C to boost immune system and increase the number of white blood cells.
	Home remedies for Swine Flu #4:Take a teaspoonful of Aleo Vera gel. It is an Immune System Booster and encourages the body to heal itself naturally.
	Home remedies for Swine Flu #5:Try using Turmeric daily in whatever way you can as it is an anti-bacterial herb and also helps boost immunity system .

Home remedies for Swine Flu #6: Take Zinc lozenges, it boosts the immune system as soon the symptoms develop.

Home remedies for Swine Flu #7:Do Pranayam regularly in morning to keep your throat and lungs healthy.

do and don’ts:
- Maintain a safe distance from people who are showing signs of nasal congestion or flu symptoms.
- Do no share food, glasses or forks.
- Open and ventilate enclosed rooms.
- Visit your doctor immediately if you experience sudden high fever and cough, with headache and muscle pain.
- Avoid sudden temperature change.
- Take fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin A and C (Carrots,papaya, orange,lime lemon and pineapple).
-Swine flu is transmitted into the body through the mouth and nose. Frequently wash hands thoroughly with plenty of soap and water, especially before a meal, helps in preventing swine flu.

Disclaimer: Information presented on this site is for educational purposes. and is not given as medical advice. Nor is it intended to propose or offer to propose a cure for any disease or condition. Before starting any medical treatment, please consult your physician.

Get medicalcare right away for the sick person at home:

1. If he/she has difficulty breathing or chest pain.

2. The person has purple or blue discoloration of the lips.

3. If the infected person is vomiting and unable to keep liquids down.

4. If he/she has signs of dehydration such as dizziness when standing, absence of urination.

5. Infants have lack of tears when they cry.

6. The infected person is less responsive than normal or becomes confused.

Is the current influenza vaccine effective against the current outbreak of H1N1 virus?

This virus is antigenically very different from human H1N1 viruses and, therefore, vaccines for human seasonal influenza would not provide protection from it.

For more information please visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
http://www.who.int/csr/don/en/