We all heard about the 7 days quarantine in a Hotel in Hong Kong. It generates some complains/critics but It is definitively a useful precautionary measures to reduce the chances for a global pandemic of the disease.

Swine influenza, also called pig flu, refers to influenza caused by those strains of influenza virus, called swine influenza virus (SIV), that usually infect pigs. The 2009 flu outbreak in humans, known as “swine flu”, is due to a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 that contained genes most closely related to swine influenza. The origin of this new strain is unknown, however, and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reports that this strain has not been isolated in pigs. The virus is contagious and can spread from human to human. Symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

I think it is a good idea to summarize some basic precautions that should be taken on a daily basis to help prevent the spread of the germ:

• Keep hands clean and wash hands properly. Alcohol-based hand rub is also effective when hands are not visibly soiled.
• Avoid drinking on public fountains
• Cover nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, wear mask.
• No spitting, always wrap nasal and mouth discharges with tissue paper, and dispose of the tissue paper properly in a lidded rubbish bin.
• Maintain good ventilation of indoor areas.
• Help to prevent influenza infection : through a balanced diet, regular exercise, adequate rest, reducing stress and no smoking.
• Avoid attending crowded and poorly ventilated public places when influenza is prevalent.

Obviously you should seek immediate medical assistance when symptoms of respiratory tract infection or fever develop and refrain from work or school if develop symptoms of influenza.

You can find more information about it on the following website:

• Food and Health Bureau:  http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/healthandcommunity/html/index.htm
• Centre for Health Protection:  http://www.chp.gov.hk/index.asp?lang=en
• World Health Organization:  http://www.who.int/en/
• Advice to travelers:  http://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/Advice_to_travellers_eng_20090429.pdf
• Latest affected areas/countries with confirmed human swine influenza:  http://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/Swine_flu_List_of_affected_areas.pdf
• List of buildings with confirmed cases of swine flu in past 7 days: http://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/Building%20list%20_confirmed%20case.pdf

Here is a real time map of all swine flu cases located all over the world:

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