BE AWARE: Know The Symptoms and Prevention Of A(H1N1) VIRUS.

Symptoms and Prevention

What are the signs and symptoms of a person who has contracted the A(H1N1) virus? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an agency of the US Health Department and Human Services, the symptoms of A(H1N1) virus are similar to those of regular influenza. A person develops cough, fever, headache and chills. He/She will feel weak and fatigued. Other cases have also reportedvomiting and diarrhea.

People who are 65 years and above and children below five years old are at higher risk of contracting the virus. Immunocompromised patients or people with weak immune systems (e.g., cancer patients and transplant recipients), patients with chronic medical conditions, and pregnant women also face a higher risk of infection if exposed to the virus.

Since the A(H1N1) virus spreads from person to person, transmission is quick, but like other infectious diseases, also preventable. Precautionary measures include:

1. Regular and proper hand washing.
2. Covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing;
3. Avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth because germs spread faster this way;
4. Always bringing a hand sanitizer or a rubbing alcohol to use especially after coughing or sneezing;
5. Staying away from public places like malls or concert halls;
6. Staying home if one is sick to keep from transmitting the virus to others.

Experts advice that regular hand washing is still the best defense against the spread of diseases. Antiviral medications are already available in the market for the treatment of the A(H1N1) virus.

PANDEMIC: Whats NEXT?

The Department of Health (DOH) declared the first ever community-level outbreak of Influenza A(H1N1), in a village in Jaen town, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. The declaration was made after the DOH confirmed following a two-week surveillance that 10 grade school students and a four-year-old child had infected 92 others. As of now, the Philippines has the most number of A(H1N1) cases here in Southeast Asia.

The World Health Organization (WHO) earlier declared Pandemic Alert Level 6 and alerted all countries that the A(H1N1) virus is now widespread and that further spread is inevitable. It is so alarming and scary. In this kind of situation we should be more aware of all the precautions and information so that we will be prepared and will be able to avoid this. We should participate and do our part.


What is the A(H1N1) virus? It is a new type of influenza virus that has reportedly spread throughout the US and Canada and has now reached Asia, including the Philippines. This virus is contagious and spreads from person to person in probably the same way an ordinary influenza virus does. It was initially referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory tests showed that the virus is similar to those found in pigs. However, A(H1N1) or Influenza A virus subtype H1N1 is a mutation of strains of Influenza A virus that are found not only in swine but in birds and humans as well. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the term “swine flu” is misleading since the virus is not known to be transmissible by eating pork products.

As we live in this modern day and enjoying technological advances for the convenience of our lives we are also been threatened by this scary news about this kind of stuff. I seems that living isn't safe. The more life and the way of living of every human here on earth become more advanced and complicated we are experiencing new kinds of problems that affect us all. Seems that there is always a contradicting effect on us humans. Why all of these things happens? As we answers questions in our life new issues will arise and created a new question again. Then we seek answers: seems to be endless. We've been here before and everything is in cycle.

What will HAPPENED NEXT?