Swine flu in India: How to prevent the spread of H1N1

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Written By: Poorva Chavan | Updated : February 24, 2015 7:56 AM IST

After being aware of swine flu symptoms and signs, the next step is prevention. The spread of swine flu in India has to be curbed at the right time to prevent yet another epidemic. Although travel can spread this virus, there are a few measures that we need to take to prevent the spread of this virus like,

Preventing contact with the virus:

  • It can spread through coughing and sneezing so always cover your face while doing so. And make sure people around you in office or home also follow this.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth too often
  • Maintain a high level of personal hygiene. Always wash your hands before or after eating and particularly after returning from a public place.
  • Sometimes virus can spread through droplets that have remained on surfaces of things like laptops, phones so avoid using someone else s items.
  • Avoid public places, unhygienic conditions, etc.
  • If your city/area is swine-flu endemic, always wear a standard swine flu mask in public places (the H-95 mask which is worn by nurses and doctors while collecting samples from swine flu victims). Normal surgical masks which sell like hot cakes during swine flu season might not give enough protection.
  • If you feel sick and look like you are developing a cold or fever, stay at home and take enough rest. Rest has also been shown to increase interferons which help our immunity to fight the virus better. Keeping away from others also prevents spread of the infection.

Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of swine flu.

Preventing the virus from spreading from the upper respiratory tract:

  • Gargling with warm water in which a little salt is added, several times a day acts like an irrigant for the virus and washes it off.
  • Drinking lots of warm water and other warm fluids wash off the virus into the stomach where they cannot survive.

Image source: Getty Images


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