FOOD SAFETY ISSUES



Cook food thoroughly

Follow good hygienic practices

No “pink” parts for meat

Buy food from safe and established supermarkets

Check the expiry date (if any)

Choose a clean and known restaurant for dining



GENERAL HEALTH TIPS

Avoid close contact

With sick people. Keep safe distance

Stay home when you are sick

If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands

Cover your mouth and nose

Cover mouth and nose with tissue when coughing or sneezing

Clean your hands

Frequent hand washing will protect you from germs

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth

Germs often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth



WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I GET SICK ?

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

Fast breathing or trouble breathing

Bluish skin color

Not drinking enough fluids

Not waking up or not interacting

Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Fever with a rash In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

Sudden dizziness

Confusion

Severe or persistent vomiting





IS THERE A HUMAN VACCINE TO PROTECT FROM SWINE INFLUENZA ?

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. This is why WHO needs access to as many viruses as possible in order to select the most appropriate candidate vaccine virus.



WHAT DRUGS ARE AVAILABLE FOR TREATMENT ?

Antiviral drugs for seasonal influenza are available in some countries and effectively prevent and treat the illness. There are two classes of such medicines,

1) adamantanes (amantadine and remantadine), and

2) inhibitors of influenza neuraminidase

(oseltamivir and zanamivir).