Avoid crowds and unnecessary travel to reduce the risk of swine flu;  pregnant women are slightly more susceptible to all infections, one of them is swine flu. It is important that pregnant women know that - and particularly other members of the population know that - so that they behave responsibly and if they are sick they don't go and put themselves close to a pregnant woman. Mums-to-be are more vulnerable to any type of flu. Pregnant women are being told to practice good hygiene by washing their hands frequently with soap and water, and to avoid crowded places when possible. Expectant mothers could suffer possible complications if they contract swine flu, such as pneumonia, breathing difficulties and dehydration, because they have suppressed immune systems. Young children are also vulnerable.

SWINE FLU Do not share towel, handkerchief with others. Try to avoid close contact with sick people. Cover your nose and mouth with your handkerchief / towel / tissue paper when sneezing coughing. Keep good hygienic conditions; wash your hands often with soap and water especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based cleaners may be used. Avoid going out when you are ill and also avoid contact with those who are ill.

SYMPTOMS    Fever, Discharge from nose , Sore throat and cough Nausea, vomiting, loose stools.

Treatment
Take following medicines for prevention:

Eupatorium Perfoliatum 30, 1drop in a cup of water in the morning
Thuja 30, 1drop in a cup of water at bed time

[The union health ministry recommended preventive homeopathy medicine, Arsenicum album 30. The decision to advise people to take the preventive medicine was taken after the Central Council for Research in Homeopathy (CCRH), a state-run research wing, gave the suggestion for curbing the spread of the diseases.'It has recommended one doze of the medicine daily on empty stomach for three days. The dose should be repeated after one month by following the same schedule in case flu like conditions prevail in the area,' the ministry said in a statement. http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?a=jjbwacdjjfa ]

INFLUENZA Medicines

Eupatorium perfoliatum Great soreness and aching of the entire body ; hoarseness and cough, with great soreness of the larynx and chest ; a great deal of coryza and thirst, and drinking causes vomiting ; the cough hurts the head and chest and the patient holds the chest with the hands.
Drosera also has this.

Sabadilla Sneezing and lachrymation on going into open air ; throat is swollen and pain is worse on empty swallowing. The sneezing is excessive and shakes the whole body.

Arsenicum iodatum Chills, with flushes of heat and severe fluent coryza ; discharge irritating and corrosive ; sneezing and prostration.

Gelsemium Patient is weak and tired ; aching throughout the body ; chilly, hugs the fire. Paroxysms of sneezing with excoriating discharge.

Dulcamara Suffused eyes, sore throat, cough hurts because of muscular soreness. Fever heat, and restlessness not specially pronounced.

Aconite When the attack comes on suddenly after exposure to dry cold winds, and there is chilliness followed by fever ; no discharge, nose dry and stopped up ; symptoms all better in the open air.

Camphora In the first stage, where the nose is stuffed up and the febrile symptoms of Aconite are wanting, though the patient feels chilly ; there is depression and languor. An indicating symptom is that the inspired air feels cold.

Gelsemium There is a general malaise and a feeling as if a cold were coming on ; the head is hot and full and there is chilliness and a disposition to hug the fire ; colds from relaxing weather ; there is a watery, bland discharge from the nose and sneezing.

Arsenic Where there is a thin, watery discharge from the nose, which excoriates the upper lip, and in spite of this fluent discharge the nose feels stopped up ; the patient is chilly and hugs the fire ; there is frontal headache, photophobia and sneezing, and the sneezing does not relieve the irritation in the slightest ; it is worse going into the open air, though the burning is worse near the fire. The coryza is relieved by warmth and aggravated by cold, which is the opposite of Nux, and the discharge is very thin and burning.

 
Mercurius The Mercurius discharge, though very excoriating, is not watery, but thicker ; it is a thin, mucous discharge.

Arsenicum differs from Phosphorus  The cold of Arsenicum always settles in the nose, while that of Phosphorus settles in the chest.

Allium cepa Allium cepa has excoriating nasal discharge, but there is profuse lachrymation which is bland ; there is prolonged sneezing ; the discharge ceases on going into the open air, but returns again when coming into a warm room.

Sabadilla influenza with violent spasmodic sneezing and lachrymation on going into the open air ; burning, watery discharge from the nose ; eyes swollen and watery ; swelling of the throat and tonsils. Hay fever. Chilly, sensitive to cold air, wants to be wrapped up ; sneezes when in-haling cold air ; desires hot drinks.

Euphrasia has excoriating lachrymation and bland nasal discharge, just the opposite of Allium cepa. The cough of Euphrasia has been described as "measly."

Arum triphyllum There is a stopped up nose with a fluent, acrid discharge, which is most generally yellow, and there is much soreness of the nostrils.

Lycopodium has stoppage of the nose with a discharge. Here there is apt to be posterior dryness ; discharge of yellowish green matter from nose anteriorly.

Ferrum phosphoricum  When the onset of a cold is less sudden than that calling for Aconite and where there is no anxiety or restlessness.

Nux vomica  In the first stage, when brought on by damp, cold weather, sitting on damp steps, etc., associated with sneezing and stuffed up feeling in the nose. The nose is dry, very little discharge ; the eyes water ; there is scraping in the throat, and there is dullness and oppression in the frontal region ; the symptoms are worse in a warm room and better in the open air.

Mercurius It is similar in the rawness and soreness in the nose, and it is worse in damp weather.

Kalium hydriodicum has distress in the frontal region with excoriating coryza, lachrymation, etc.here all discharges are profuse and watery, and the throat is irritated. Patient is alternately hot and cold.

Natrum muriaticum  Watery discharges, which are accompanied by vesicular eruptions about the lips, mouth and nose, dryness of the posterior nares and loss of smell and taste ; sneezing worse in the evening while undressing and in morning on rising.

Sinapis nigra and Arsenicum - Sinapis has the heat of Arsenicum, but there is dryness in the nose and no discharge.

Chamomilla The nose is stopped up, yet runs a watery mucus ; sneezing and inability to sleep ; a dry, teasing cough keeping the child awake, or else a rattling cough, as if the bronchi were full of mucus.

Mercurius Profuse coryza extending to the frontal sinuses, with burning in eyes and nose ; the discharge is a thin mucus, not thick nor yet watery, but excoriating ; worse in damp weather ; ulceration with acrid discharge.

Allium cepa, Arsenic, Euphrasia, Arum triphyllum, Kalium hyd. and Natrum mur have specially watery discharges .

Pulsatilla, Cyclamen, Penthorum, Kalium bich., and Hydrastis have thick discharges from the nose.

Pulsatilla  A ripe cold with a thick, yellow and bland discharge, no sneezing or excoriation, simply a thick, yellow muco-purulent discharge which is bland. Cyclamen has these same symptoms and in addition a great deal of sneezing, what is the remedy.

Penthorum Sedoides The same symptoms as Pulsatilla, but in addition a rawness in the throat and a feeling of wetness in the nose.

Hydrastis Watery, excoriating coryza, with burning and rawness in the nose and a sensation as if a hair were in the nose, the discharge being more profuse out of doors ; later a thick, yellow, tenacious discharge and a constant dropping from the posterior nares into the throat.

Kalium bichromicum With Kalium bich. there is a tendency to deep ulceration, and the mucus is even more tenacious and stringy than under Hydrastis. In Hydrastis there is ulceration, but it is a more superficial ulcerative process than that under Kalium bich.

Spigelia It is useful where the mucus passes off only through the posterior nares.

Kalium bichromicum The chief indication is the expectoration of solid chunks from the posterior nares, plugs or clinkers, so-called ; in the morning lumps of green mucus are hawked from the posterior nares ; the secretion is stringy and difficult to get out, there is dryness and tickling in the nose and sneezing, all worse in the open air.

Kalium carbonicum Coryza, with hoarseness or loss of voice ; catches cold at every exposure to fresh air ; stiff neck ; elongated uvula ; obstruction of nose relieved in open air, but returns on entering warm room.

Aurum The nostrils are sore and cracked, the discharge is fetid and there is caries of the nasal bones ; especially if of a scrofulous or mercurio-syphilitic origin.

Nitricum acidum With Nitric acid there is ulceration and splinter-like pains in the naso-pharynx, the discharge is watery and offensive and very excoriating. Hard plugs in nose, which, when detached, leave a raw surface.

Hepar sulphur Advanced stage when phlegm has formed with sticking in the throat ; colds which are easily re-excited from any exposure.

Ammonium carbonicum The nose is stopped up and the patient is worse about three or four in the morning ; the coryza is scalding and there is burning in the throat.

Ammonium muriaticum There is stoppage of one nostril during the day and both at night ; the coryza is scalding and the burning extends to the throat and trachea.

Bromine Profuse, watery, excoriating discharge with headache and downward pressure at the root of the nose ; the nose is very sore and smarts inside ; ulcers form and scabs and crusts are blown out.

Sambucus The nose is greatly stuffed up, and the child starts up as if suffocating ; snuffles.

Sticta Stuffed up nose ; the secretion drying so rapidly that it cannot be discharged.

Inclination to blow nose, but nothing escapes.

Arsenicum iodatum Violent, acute coryza, with watery, acrid discharge, soreness in the nostrils, heat and burning extending into the eyes and headache.

Lachesis Watery discharge, worse on the left side, with a throbbing headache, which is relieved when the discharge appears.

Verbascum Catarrhs and cold accompanied by neuralgia and a hoarse, barking cough, a sort of " basso profundo." It also is a powerful remedy in urinary irritability. The preparation known as Mullein oil comes from the plant.

Cinnabaris Pressure at the root of the nose, as if a heavy pair of spectacles were there ; swollen and dry throat, with swollen tonsils, and stringy mucus in the posterior nares, which passes into the throat.

Wyethia Dryness of pharynx with constant desire to clear throat ; follicular pharyngitis, with a hot, burning feeling, hoarseness , pharyngitis in teachers and singers.

Elaps Catarrhal snuffles in children, nose stuffed up ; also the great sense of coldness that cold water leaves in the stomach.

Teucrium marum verum Catarrh, with expectoration of solid chunks from the posterior nares ; nasal polypi.

Sanguinaria Great susceptibility to odors, which causes the patient to faint ; burning and rawness in the nose, with fluent coryza which excoriates ; nasal polypi which tend to bleed easily.

Phosphorus Caries of the bones of the nose ; ulcerations of the nose with stoppage ; hemorrhage and offensive odor ; nasal polypi.

Natrum carbonicum Fluent coryza, provoked by least draught of air, with a daily periodical aggravation ; relieved by sweating. Chronic catarrh, ozaena, thick ; yellowish discharge from nose, accumulation of mucus in posterior nares, causing hemming and hawking.

Bryonia Either great dryness or thick, yellowish discharge, especially when discharge has been suddenly suppressed and there is a throbbing headache in frontal sinuses.

Lachesis It is not aggravated by motion, nor has it the yellow discharge.

Rhus Coryza, with severe aching in all the bones ; sneezing and coughing from exposure to dampness.

Dulcamara Coryza, shivering, marked chilliness, sneezing and severe aching of long bones. Intermingling of heat and chill.

According to the World Health Organization the new H1N1 virus is ‘unstoppable’. It gave drug makers a full go-ahead to manufacture vaccines against the pandemic influenza strain.
Every country needs to vaccinate citizens against the swine flu virus and must choose who else would get priority after nurses, doctors and technicians. The new virus attacks people differently than seasonal flu - affecting more of younger people, pregnant women, the severely obese and seemingly healthy adults, and causing disease deep in the lungs.
WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) recognized that the H1N1 pandemic is unstoppable and therefore all countries need access to the vaccine.
The SAGE recognized that healthcare workers should be immunized first in all countries in order to retain a functional health system as the virus evolves. After that, each country should decide who is next in line, based on the virus's unusual behavior.
Seasonal influenza is deadly enough - each year it is involved in 2,50,000 to 5,00,000 deaths globally. This includes mostly the elderly or those with some kind of chronic disease that makes them more vulnerable to flu, such as asthma. Also pregnant women and persons with morbid obesity are at risk for severe disease and death from infection.
WHO would be working to get better virus strains for companies from which to make vaccines. The strains that had been distributed did not grow very well in chicken eggs - used to make all flu vaccines.
The WHO also suggested that countries should continue with their normal vaccination programmed against the seasonal flu.

What is swine flu?
Swine influenza, or ‘swine flu’, is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease of pigs, caused by one of several swine influenza A viruses that cause regular outbreaks in pigs. Morbidity tends to be high and mortality low (1-4%). The virus is spread among pigs by aerosols, direct and indirect contact, and asymptomatic carrier pigs. Outbreaks in pigs occur year round, with an increased incidence in autumn and winter in temperate zones. Many countries routinely vaccinate swine populations against swine influenza. Swine influenza viruses are most commonly of the H1N1 subtype, but other subtypes are also circulating in pigs (e.g., H1N2, H3N1, H3N2). Pigs can also be infected with avian influenza viruses and human seasonal influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses.
The H3N2 swine virus was thought to have been originally introduced into pigs by humans. Sometimes pigs can be infected with more than one type of virus at a time, which can allow the genes from these viruses to mix. Pigs are therefore also called as “mixing vessels”, resulting in an influenza virus containing genes from a number of sources, called a ‘reassortant’ virus. Although swine influenza viruses are normally species specific and only infect pigs, they do sometimes cross the species barrier to cause disease in humans.
So far, the recent outbreak due to the new strain of influenza virus A (H1N1) has had cases reported from North America, Mexico, Spain and UK. Suspect cases have been reported from New Zealand and France and these are being investigated.

How does it spread?
It spreads in the same way as seasonal influenza – through direct contact (being within one metre of an infected person) or indirect contact (touching a contaminated surface). People usually get swine influenza from infected pigs, however, some human cases lack contact history with pigs or environments where pigs have been located. Human-to-human transmission has occurred in some instances but was limited to close contacts and closed groups of people.

What are the clinical symptoms?
Generally clinical symptoms are similar to seasonal influenza but reported clinical presentation ranges broadly from asymptomatic infection to severe pneumonia resulting in death. Patients experience high fever, cough, and sore throat, symptoms similar to typical influenza, with some patients experiencing diarrhoea and vomiting. The cases can rapidly progress to severe and unusual pneumonia.

What are the implications for human health?
People do not normally get swine flu, but outbreaks and sporadic human infections have been reported. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.
Since typical clinical presentation of swine influenza infection in humans resembles seasonal influenza and other acute upper respiratory tract infections, most of the cases have been detected by chance through seasonal influenza surveillance. Mild or asymptomatic cases may have escaped from recognition; therefore the true extent of this disease among humans is unknown.

Is it safe to eat pork meat and pork products?
Yes. Swine influenza has not been shown to be transmitted to people through eating properly handled and prepared pork (pig meat) or other products derived from pigs. The swine influenza virus is killed by cooking at 160°F/70°C, corresponding to the general guidance for the preparation of pork and other meat.

What is the prevention and treatment?
There are antiviral medicines one can take to prevent or treat swine flu. There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. The spread of the viruses that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza can be prevented by:
Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. You can also use alcohol-based hand cleaners.
Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Trying to avoid close contact with sick people.
Staying home from work or school if you are sick.
Antiviral drugs for seasonal influenza are available in some countries and effectively prevent and treat the illness. Most of the previously reported swine influenza cases recovered fully from the disease without requiring medical attention and without antiviral medicines. Some influenza viruses develop resistance to the antiviral medicines, limiting the effectiveness of chemoprophylaxis and treatment.

Influenza pandemic risk
It is likely that most of the people, especially those who do not have regular contact with pigs, do not have immunity to swine influenza viruses that can prevent the virus infection. If a swine virus establishes efficient human-to human transmission, it can cause an influenza pandemic. The impact of a pandemic caused by such a virus is difficult to predict: it depends on virulence of the virus, existing immunity among people, cross protection by antibodies acquired from seasonal influenza infection and host factors.

Is there a vaccine for protecting humans?
There are no vaccines that contain the current swine influenza virus causing illness in humans. It is not known whether current human seasonal influenza vaccines can provide any protection. Influenza viruses change very quickly. It is important to develop a vaccine against the currently circulating virus strain for it to provide maximum protection to the vaccinated people.