Don’t be fooled by the name “Swine Flu.” Many people hear this and think that they can get this infection by eating pork, and that isn’t true. Like other forms of influenza, this new strain of swine flu is a respiratory infection and is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
So, if you want to eat pork chops for dinner, go right ahead. Just be sure that you follow safe food preparation guidelines. If you want trustworthy information on the current swine flu outbreak and some tips on ways to protect yourself and your family, read on.
Basic Tips to Prevent the Spread of Influenza
- Wash your hands – thoroughly and often.This may sound simple, but it is the best thing you can do to protect yourself, and others, against the spread of viruses.
- Wet hands with warm running water before applying soap.
- Rub hands together to make the soap lather. Do this away from the running water so that the lather isn’t rinsed away.
- Wash the front and back of your hands, between fingers and under the nails.
- Wash for AT LEAST 20 seconds.
- Rinse hands well under warm running water.
- Dry hands thoroughly with a clean towel or air dryer.
- Alcohol based hand sanitizers are useful alternatives when soap and water aren’t available for hand washing.
- Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Use a tissue if you can, and throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If you don’t have a tissue handy, try covering your cough/sneeze with the inside of your elbow instead of your hand. This will reduce the likelihood that you will spread the virus to surfaces around your work or home, or to other people.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs and viruses are easily spread this way.
- Help contain the spread of infection. If you get sick, the CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
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