Guard Against Swine Flu Fears

Is swine flu as bad as the “regular” flu? Or worse? Can you tell based on your symptoms?

Listening to co-workers, neighbors and friends, you’re likely to hear conflicting information, if not pure debate, regarding the illness, associated fevers, antibiotics, vaccinations and more. Some people think they’ve already been infected. Others say their children are ill with it now. Some have been to a doctor; others are just supposing.

Either way, it’s clear we’ve been infected with swine flu fear. What we need are inoculations against misinformation.

The first batch of swine flu vaccine arrived in the region last week – 600 doses of the nasal vaccine that will be given to the highest risk groups: including young children and people with compromised immune systems or existing breathing problems. Doses of the injectable vaccine will be available in coming weeks.

And while virtually all of us know the horrid experience of having the flu – fever, chills, aches, sometimes accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting – the biggest fear about the swine flu is death. We know more than 80 children have already died in the United States. And we can’t forget the illness, death and fear that swept Mexico earlier this year.

Normally logical adults are wondering aloud if handwashing really works against a microscopic virus. Talk radio hosts are bashing the government and questioning the safety of any vaccine. And now some news outlets are saying hospitals could be overwhelmed by swine flu patients when the season hits its high.

But focusing on fear feeds that fear. We urge citizens to make decisions about their health with the assistance of medical providers, not based on television provocateurs. No one should rush anywhere at the first sniffle or sneeze. Nor should citizens refuse vaccines out of fear. We urge everyone to rely on health professionals to make informed choices about their medical needs. Base your decisions on information from trusted sources, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local medical experts. Do not let fear or misinformation cause you to overreact.

The federal government has paid for 250 million doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine and it is expected that there will be enough for anyone who chooses to be vaccinated. Limited amounts of the vaccine have become available now and more will be available in upcoming weeks.

In response to fears and misinformation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services created a “Myth vs. Facts” page last week (http://www.flu.gov/myths/index.html) to address concerns. Use the information there to fight against your fears.

Know too, that swine flu shots are not mandatory and are not a method for implanting microchips in citizens. (Don’t snicker; there are Web sites advancing these theories and worse.)

Because H1N1 is striking more young people than other age groups, some hospitals are restricting visitors by age to reduce the spread of the virus. But neither Wellmont Health System nor Mountain States Health Alliance hospitals have visitation restrictions right now. Those hospital networks do not believe the restrictions are necessary.

Obviously, the swine flu – just like the regular, seasonal flu – is a serious illness. The biggest difference is that the swine flu has killed dozens of children nationwide – 81 at this writing. It warrants close attention, especially for the ensuing fever, secondary infections and potential for pneumonia that can follow the initial onset of swine flu.

But panic over illness or outrage over the vaccine – either that it is too slow in arriving or too swift in being made – is not the answer. All of us must focus on banishing fear and making informed choices about our health, with a trusted health professional.