Quote:
Originally Posted by lettie
From what I can make of the media muddle that is Swine Flu, our normal Flu Vaccine will not protect against it. Scientists are working on a specific vaccine for Swine Flu but it may be months before it is ready. Chances are Swine Flu will have run its natural course by then anyway.
By far the best ways to protect yourself are to wash your hands frequently, sneeze and cough into a tissue and disposed of the tissue in a lidded bin and keep frequently used surfaces clean eg, door handles, toilet chains, tables etc.
Face masks will not protect you. I remember tons of studies into surgical facemasks coming out in the late 80's/early 90's. These studies showed that as an infection control measure, face masks were next to useless. There are gaps around the sides of them that allow germs in or out and they become damp very quickly rendering them useless. The only thing a face mask will do is protect the user against splashes of bodily fluid into the mouth or nose........hence the use in operating theatres where facemasks protect the Surgeon, not the patient.
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Totally agree with everything you've said lettie, as some one who already has poor health little things like washing the hands has come second nature to me, as is cleaning work surfaces for food prep ect. I think we are seeing the same reaction to swine flu as we did with bird flu a few years ago, I think its just a matter of keeping people on their toes, more than anything else
