STAYING SAFE
“America’s Crime Prevention Column”
with
Bruce Mandelblit
The H1N1 Flu, better know as the Swine Flu, is officially a pandemic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
In fact, millions of people worldwide may have already been infected with the swine flu.
According to the WHO, as of the end of October 2009, there have been more than 440,000 laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 and over 5700 deaths reported across the globe. The WHO says since many countries have stopped counting individual cases, particularly of milder illness, the case count is likely to be significantly lower than the actual number of cases that have occurred.
In addition, there are numerous media stories reporting shortages of, as well as long lines of folks waiting for, the new H1N1 flu vaccine.
Sadly, cold-hearted thugs have targeted people’s fear and nervousness about the swine flu to try to make a quick buck.
For instance, the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently reported finding the following types of unapproved, uncleared, or unauthorized H1N1 flu products:
- a shampoo said to protect against the H1N1 flu virus
- a dietary supplement said to protect infants and young children from contracting the virus
- a “new” supplement said to cure H1N1 flu infection within four to eight hours
- a spray that claims to leave a layer of ionic silver on one’s hands that kills the flu virus
- several diagnostic tests that have not been approved to detect the H1N1 flu virus
- an electronic instrument whose sellers claim uses “photobiotic energy” and “deeply penetrating mega-frequency life-force energy waves” to strengthen the immune system and prevent symptoms associated with H1N1 viral infection
The FDA also announced what it found when it purchased and analyzed several products represented online as Tamiflu.
One of these online orders resulted in delivery to FDA of an unmarked envelope postmarked from India. Inside were unlabeled, white tablets taped between two pieces of paper that were found to contain talc and acetaminophen, an active ingredient found in many medicines to help relieve pain and reduce fever. Not found was oseltamivir, the active ingredient of Tamiflu. For more information, go to FDA.gov.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the daily news coverage about the spread of the H1N1 virus has raised public anxiety, and spawned many website and email promotions for products that claim to prevent, treat or cure the disease. The FTC cautions consumers to be wary of all promotions related to the swine flu.
Because much is still unknown about the specific virus thought to cause swine flu, the FTC says consumers should be skeptical of claims that products like pills, air filtration devices, and cleaning agents can kill or eliminate the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), major consumer health agencies, say the best protection right now is to know the basic facts about the virus, practice good personal hygiene, and visit the CDC website for travel information and guidance.
Federal health and legal authorities suggest that if and when consumers see advertisements touting prevention, treatment or cure claims for H1N1, they should ask themselves one key question: if a medical breakthrough involving the virus has occurred, would they be hearing about it for the first time through an advertisement or sales pitch?
Know The Facts:
The CDC says that swine flu is contagious, and is thought to spread from person to person in the same way that seasonal flu spreads — mainly by cough or sneeze by people with the flu. Sometimes, people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
Keep Your Hands Clean:
Public health authorities advise that basic personal hygiene is important protection against infection. They add that the ways to help protect against getting the flu is to wash your hands, get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. They also say that people should try not to touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus, and avoid contact with people who are sick. When soap and water are not available, the health authorities suggest using alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers. These products are available in most supermarkets and drugstores.
Please note: According to FLU.gov, vaccination is the best protection against contracting the flu.
Check Travel Advisories for Affected Areas:
To lower your risk of infection, the CDC suggests avoiding travel to those areas for which CDC has issued a travel advisory.
Seek Medical Attention:
If you think you may have influenza symptoms, or if you may have been in direct contact with someone with the flu, consult a health care professional immediately. Only qualified health care professionals should treat your symptoms.
Stay Informed:
For more information from the federal government about the H1N1 flu, visit the websites CDC.gov and FLU.gov, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO.
IMPORTANT: Be sure to contact your physician for more details about the swine flu and swine flu prevention.
My Final Thoughts: The old maxim, “information is power” applies to the prevention and treatment of the swine flu. Don’t be fooled by bogus H1N1 flu Internet claims and phony swine flu websites that are just trying to scare you out of your hard-earned money.
Be sure to only rely on genuine information from official government websites such as CDC.gov and FLU.gov, as well as advice from your own trusted health professional.
(Photos from CDC.gov)
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Copyright 2009 by Bruce Mandelblit
Bruce is a nationally known security and safety journalist, as well as a recently retired, highly decorated reserve law enforcement officer.
Bruce blogs on www.CrimeZilla.com.
This column is provided for general information purposes only. Please check with your local law enforcement agency and legal professional for information specific to you and your jurisdiction.
The information in this article is provided “as is”, with all faults, expressed or implied. The author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder makes no guarantee regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information. In no event shall the author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder be liable for any incidental or consequential damages, punitive damages, lost profits, and/or any indirect damages.
