Sunday, May 3, 2009

Alert: The Truth About Swine Flu

What We Know:

There has been an outbreak of influenza. It seems to have started in Mexico and has spread to
Texas, California, New York and other states. It has also spread to Canada and other parts of the
world.

At this time there is no real need to panic, unless you want to sell newspapers or drugs, but it is
important to be cautious. We should all intensify our health safety protocols as if it was October
and influenza season was just starting, not May and influenza season ending.

We will first outline standard Health Safety Protocols at the end of this report, but first, consider
a little information.

What is the Swine Flu?

Influenza virus infects both humans and animals. The two main animal viruses are the Bird Flu,
which affects birds, and the Swine Flu (officially called SIV, or Swine Influenza Virus) that is a
respiratory viral disease of pigs.

Occasionally humans get both of these viruses, but usually only a very few people get infected
and usually these people have had direct contact with the sick animals. It is not normal, and very
difficult, for these animal viruses to spread from human-to-human.

When they do, as it is suspected now, it can be dangerous. In the past when this happens, and an
animal virus starts spreading from human-to-human (and does this easily), it usually also dies out
quickly. But, on rare occasions, it can cause a pandemic, which is a widespread, worldwide
epidemic, making millions sick and killing millions more. Notably, this happened in the 1890's
with the Russian Flu, the most famous being the Spanish Flu of 1918 that killed about 100
million people on the planet (killing more people than the Black Death of Europe in the 1300's),
and the Hong Kong Flu of 1957.

This current Swine Influenza outbreak may actually not even be a Swine Flu virus at all. It is
suspected that it may be caused by a new strain of Influenza type A, subtype H1N1, and also a
blend of an avian (Bird Flu) and possibly a few strains of Swine Influenza Virus all mixed
together in a dangerous and potentially lethal new viral cocktail. But, identifying viruses,
especially rapidly, is not an exact science.

Should You Worry?

Not really, but you should always be prepared.

"Swine Flu Scale":

On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being "who cares" and 10 being "it is time to get your food, guns and
herbs in the basement and staple-gun 10-mil plastic over your house", we are currently at a Stage
5. In Mexico, we may be at stage 7.5.

Medical doctors, scientists all agree that we are overdue for a worldwide influenza pandemic of
huge proportions. That said, in spite of the news hysteria, the reality is that very little is actually
known so far, and very few people are getting sick, fewer hospitalized, and very few deaths, but
it is certainly worth watching and being cautious.

It could turn into a worldwide pandemic killing millions and millions, but it probably won't.

During the big Swine Flu Scare of 1976, when the American government's panic was so
overblown, they said that we were going to have a killer Swine Flu epidemic / pandemic. They
almost forced inoculations, Congress actually voted it in, and people lined up and rushed to get
their Swine Flu Shot. Television and newspapers made millions, pharmaceutical companies
made billions, and then... nothing happened. Well, actually something did happen.

There were very few cases of actual Swine Flu, but 25 times more people died from the
inoculation than from the Swine Flu itself. So, we have seen a flu panic, and medical flu
treatment, kill.

Also, to put this in perspective, hundreds of Americans die every year from taking aspirin, and to
date, 100 more people have died so far this year from bee stings in America than the Swine Flu,
and 1 million will die from taking doctor prescribed prescription drugs, so we need to take a step
back, take a deep breath, put this outbreak into perspective and observe. And we don't need the
government, the CDC, the WHO, the news media and the office of Homeland Security turning
this into a political pandemic.

To date only two actual people in Mexico have been confirmed to have died of this flu, and the
rest are deaths from other unknown causes. There have been no deaths so far outside of Mexico
or Mexican travelers.

Again, usually animal virus like Bird Flu and Swine Flu do not pass to humans, and when they
do they usually only infect a few people who have had direct contact with the animals.

The concern is when many people start to get infected with the animal virus, and especially when
people start getting that flu who didn't come in direct contact with the animals. Then it is being
spread from human-to-human. This means that the virus has shifted, drifted or mutated and has
now figured out how to spread from human-to-human, instead from animal-to-human. When this
happens, the virus could spread quickly and infect large numbers of the population.

Currently with this virus, how easy it is spreading from human-to-human is not known. The
medical community is worried that this may be one of those viruses that has mutated and is now
easily spreading from human-to-human, but this is still unknown.

How Bad Is It?

Well, it depends who you listen to. Turn on the news and it almost looks like the end is near. The
government isn't helping either, with the Office of Homeland Security getting involved and the
National Guard being called in to put armed guards around the Tamiflu supply. Well, actually all
of this action is helping the hospitals and the pharmaceutical companies.

A few days ago, on April 29th, the CDC (Center for Disease Control) announced that the WHO
(World Health Organization) raised the alert level again to a Phase 5. A Phase 5 alert is a very
serious alert. It means that there is a"strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time
to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation
measures is short." This is way premature!

At the same time you should understand that there have only been a few hundred cases so far,
only a few people have been hospitalized, and there has only been ONE death in the United
States. It is still a very, very small outbreak.

One great advantage we have right now it that it is Spring heading into Summer. This is a harder
time for viruses to spread because we are getting more fresh air and not confined in large groups
inside where it is easier for the virus to spread. This is a real blessing. But again, at the same
time, the rate at which it has spread so quickly is of concern.

What we know is that every single winter, between October and April, influenza attacks
Americans, killing 40,000 people a year (more than the deaths from breast cancer or prostate
cancer) and puts hundreds of thousands in the hospital. It would be great to get this much press
and attention every fall to wake people up to an annual epidemic that actually happens, kills and
repeats itself every single year!

What Should You Do to Protect Yourself?

Dr Immunocal "Swine Flu" Health Safety Protocols

1. Wash Your Hands: First and foremost you should wash your hands more, 10 times a
day. The bottom line is that you are most likely to come into contact with a virus (any
virus) by touching something that an infected person has just touched. And, if you wash
your hands, you will then KILL that virus BEFORE it infects you!
2. Keep your Fingers OUT of your Eyes, Nose and Mouth: If you do get viral infection
on your fingers, and you then touch your eyes, nose or mouth, you will pass this virus
directly into you. So stop touching yourself there.
3. Stay Healthy: Even according to the Center for Disease Control's website on Swine Flu,
they suggest that you stay in good general health, get plenty of sleep, be physically
active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. YES! It sounds
like they have been visiting the Dr Immunocal website and following the guidelines to
Boost Your Immune System.
4. Don't Travel to Mexico: Why be silly and go into an infected area? At the same time
you should avoid crowds, especially coughing and sneezing people.
5. Just say NO to negativity: Nothing suppresses your immune system like bad news and
bad attitudes. This is a time to stay positive, focus on the good, and support your immune
system to keep you healthy.