We've had 4 children die recently from swine flu. That's the number that our local hospital is reporting although they have recanted about one girl and said it was JUST the flu. In our office one of the contractors son's has it. Across the way one of the bookkeepers has gotten it and she said it almost killed her. It has wiped out her immune system. She's been down with it for 3 weeks. It wiped out her intestinal system and is now in her upper GI system like a bad case of bronchitis - she has blisters in her mouth and the doctor said while it's not H1N1 that is giving her the blisters it IS related to the fact that it has depleted her immune system. SHe sent me this that her doctor gave her.
The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat.It requires hand mouth or hand nostril contamination In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is. While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).
3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at using a Neti pot, but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton swabs dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*
5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C. *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
7. DO NOT shake hands, hold hands. If you must shake hands, clean immediately
8. Don't touch knobs, faucet handles, etc. Use a paper towel to use these publicly touched things
I suggest you pass this on to your entire e-list; you never know who might pay attention to it - and STAY ALIVE because of it -
where we live everyone avoids the local hospitals because they have difficulty identifying a broken arm from sore muscles. LOL DDD
