What Swine Flu Is ?

The 2009 H1N1 virus is a new kind of influenza, or flu. It first showed up in the US in April of 2009. We call it a pandemic because it has shown up worldwide. The flu was called swine flu because it looks a lot like flu that can happen in pigs. But it's not the same one, and you can't get it from contact with pigs or from eating pork.

In fact, the H1N1 flu is a completely new kind of flu that we haven't seen before this year. That's why there's so much conflicting information about it. It's also why so many people are worried.

Right now, there are people with this kind of flu in the US. It's contagious and spreads between people just like regular seasonal flu. Coughing, sneezing, or touching a germy surface can give someone else the flu. This kind of flu is hard to get more than once. If you've already had it, you probably won't get it again.

Young children, senior citizens, pregnant women and people with certain illnesses are the highest risk. That doesn't mean that adults can't get it. But adults are more likely to get through the flu without serious problems.


The H1N1 Vaccine

The good news is that we do have a vaccine for this flu. There aren't as many doses of it as there are people who want it right now. That's why doctors are giving the vaccine out mostly to people who are high risk.

Children under five should get their regular flu shot and an H1N1 shot this year. Healthy adults will be able to get the vaccine as soon as enough doses can be made. There are four producers making the vaccine and the FDA says there will be enough by the end of the season.

Some people are afraid that the H1N1 vaccine is dangerous. There are even people who are supposed to have had serious side effects from it. But, when we look at the numbers, most of those cases are caused by something else. Even the cases where there is a side effect of the vaccine aren't as bad as getting the flu itself. Most people will just get a headache, if they feel anything at all. The chances of dying from the flu are low. But they're higher than the chances of dying or being seriously affected by the vaccine


FDA Swine Flu Scam Warnings

Not all FDA swine flu news is good. There are some people out there who want to take advantage of the flu. They know that people are scared by this disease. They're selling machines that are supposed to sterilize the air and kill the flu, pills that are supposed to keep you from getting it, fake Tamiflu, face masks and even “anti-flu” shampoos.

None of these products do what they say they will. They're all scams designed to take advantage of people who are scared of getting sick. Some of them are even reused scams from other emergencies. No one knows how these products were made. They haven't been tested the way the vaccine and official medicines have been tested. They could be very dangerous. At best, they're a waste of money.

Most of these scams are showing up online. They're harder for the FDA and other authorities to keep track of that way. The FDA has a list of fake flu products to help warn people, listed on the FDA website. These products are definitely not fda approved.

It's important not to buy anything for the flu without asking your doctor about it first. If you feel like something's fishy, be sure to check the FDA swine flu scam page. It'll help you understand whether or not you're looking at a real product.

Swine flu isn't something you should ignore. But the H1N1 virus isn't something to panic about. It's a kind of flu, just like we see every year. It's a new one that we don't have as many drugs for, and it's a little more dangerous than most flu. But taking basic steps and getting the vaccine when you can will help you keep from getting it. So, wash your hands, try not to be around people who are coughing and sneezing, and limit your travel. That'll help you stay healthy this year.