There are lot of misconceptions and rumors existing about flu everywhere. As per experts, rumors as hard to defend as the virus which causes flu. And with the advent of swine flu recently in US, people are getting panic with number of myths spreading about it.
There are rural myths as well as urban myths that exist about flu as per William Schaffner, the chairman of Vanerbit medical school in Nashville. Regrettably, even among health care employees who should be aware of the disease well, there exist some myths about flu. Known that swine flu and seasonal flu could be fatal, everybody should be aware of the true facts about it. Some important misconceptions which prevail about it are mentioned here,
Misconception 1: Seasonal flu vaccination can also prevent swine flu
But regrettably, it does not. The swine flu virus which appeared initially in 2009 April in Mexico, has a strange strain of the virus which causes influenza. There is no vaccination for swine flu. Even if we get flu vaccination this season, there is no guarantee for protection from swine influenza later.
WHO (world Health Organization) and CDC are making some steps for developing swine flu vaccine but there is no result so far. Even if they start research now, it will take lot of time to complete.
Misconception 2: Seasonal flu is Harmless
There is lot of concentration towards swine flu, but we must always think that the seasonal flu could also be serious and dangerous to our life. Many people consider that just a bad cold but it could be worse and cause more harm.
Apart from cough and congestion, people also have fever and body pain which is not common with usual cold. When they get flu, they are aware of it. They understand that they have got stuck by Mack truck.
Misconception 3: Pork Products could transmit Swine flu
Many individuals have reacted to the swine flu eruptions by banning the intake of pork and slaughtering pigs. The experts have stated that pork products do not spread swine flu. Though the origination of virus occurred with pigs, it has slowly transferred to human beings. The spread is now only between individuals and not from pork to human beings. The pork should be cooked safely and heated till 160 degree to kills the harmful viruses and bacteria.
Misconception 4: Flu vaccine can cause flu
There is no possibility that the flu vaccine could cause flu and it is impossible for such thing to happen as per experts. The vaccines contain only dead virus cells and they contain harm us in any way. The Flumist is the online nasal flu vaccine available, but the virus is engineered especially to remove portions of it which cause the disease.
Misconception 5: No Medical Treatments are Available for flu
Antiviral drugs can help in treatment if the patient is taken within forty eight hours after getting flu symptoms. These drugs like Relenza and Tamiflu cannot cure the disease but decrease the sickness duration and reduce the contagiousness of the disease.
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