Swine Flu Prevention

There is currently no vaccine or other way to immunize against swine flu. The virus has shown itself to be a highly contagious form of influenza, easily spread through the usual channels: coughing, sneezing, and contact with infected surfaces—touching a surface contaminated with viruses and then touching the eyes, nose, or mouth.

It is clear that there is no risk of catching the swine flu by consuming pork products.

Quarantine and containment (closing schools, airports, etc) have been largely dismissed by the World Health Organization and other authorities. The spread of the virus is already too extensive for such measures to have any significant effect. This means that the overall course of the outbreak cannot be changed: it is and will continue to be worldwide. However, on the individual, family, and community level, there are basic prevention guidelines that may make a difference. This stance by the WHO has not prevented some countries from implementing containment measures: thermal screening (to detect fever), increased airline cabin cleaning procedures, quarantine of foreigners arriving with flu-like symptoms, etc.

Prevention of swine flu infection is largely a matter of chance and hygiene. There is no way to completely ensure infection prevention, but frequent hand-washing (with soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizers) and minimization of contact with infected persons can go a long way. The effectiveness of wearing surgical masks is unclear, especially for the general public.

Swine flu prevention is a two-way street: there are important steps for both uninfected and infected persons to take to minimize the spread of the disease. Infected persons should stay home and minimize contact with others until the disease runs its course, or unless medical care is needed.