We are ever more at a greater risk from the various mutations of the influenza virus than we have been previously. First we had concerns about bird flu, and more recently swine flu has become a major health problem. Swine flu is a greater problem than bird flu. It was feared that bird flu may change into a strain that might become infectious in humans, thankfully, apart from a few isolated cases, this has not materialized so far.

Swine flu is a greater problem, swine flu has the ability to spread from person to person which makes it an extremely serious threat.  So what exactly is swine flu. Swine flu, or influenza A (H1N1), is a respiratory disease that effects pigs, it is caused by a flu virus. Swine flu outbreaks in pigs is quite common but is only rarely fatal. Swine flu does not usually infect humans, but it can occasionally happen when people have been close contact with pigs with swine flu.

Swine flu is a unknown strain of virus and is therefore very dangerous to people. This means that no one has been in contact with this strain before, and therefore no one has built up any immunity to this particular virus. With no built in immunity a disease is life threatening, as our body is unable to defend against the virus. Everyone is vulnerable, including healthy adults as well as young children and senior citizens.

Swine flu can easily give rise to a pandemic influenza situation. Pandemic flu situation occurs when an influenza virus develops that is different from previous flu types that very few, if any, humans have any immunity to. This lets the flu virus to spread rapidly in the population.

Seasonal flu and swine flu differ as detailed below  Ordinary influenza occurs annually, usually in the winter months. Approximately between 10 and 15 percent of people are effected and most will recover without treatment in about 1 to 2 weeks.

Pandemic flu affects more people, up to half of the population can be affected, it is much more serious, everyone whatever their age can be affected.

Swine flu symptoms are very similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu. Symptoms include a sudden onset of a fever, cough or shortness of breath. Other symptoms that may also present themselves include headaches, sore throat, muscle aches, chills, sneezing, a runny nose, loss of appetite and tiredness.

What precautions should you take. First, anyone with cold or flu symptoms should take some simple, but very important precautions. The influenza virus is spread between humans by the small droplets from the nose and mouth when someone coughs or sneezes. This is how a virus like swine flu are spread among the population. Using your hands to cover your nose or mouth when you sneeze or cough is not effective enough. The germs remain on your hands, and everything you touch becomes contaminated with germs. Other people may touch these surfaces and become infected with the virus. Therefore, always use a handkerchief or disposable tissue. A tissue is far better, the tissue should be disposed as soon as possible, try to always use a fresh tissue if you cough or sneeze again.

Currently there are no vaccinations available to prevent anyone contracting swine flu. Swine flu is a new strain of virus. The annual vaccination against ordinary flu is not effective for swine flu. Once the type of influenza causing swine flu is identified, it will take many months to produce. By this time, it may well have mutated into a different strain.

The best precaution against swine flu is Tamiflu. Tamiflu isn't guaranteed for the prevention of flu, but if you have been in contact with someone else who has the swine flu virus, it will help in stopping the virus making a person sick. If Tamiflu is taken within 2 days of contracting the flu virus, Tamiflu may help to stop the virus spreading through the body, thereby alleviating the symptoms and the risk associated with the swine flu virus. Governments worldwide are stockpiling Tamiflu, but these supplies will naturally be used to treat important workers and individuals before the general population.

You can buy Tamiflu online, if the situation arises you can give as much protection as is possible to yourself and loved ones. It can't be emphasized enough, Tamiflu needs to be taken as early as possible for it to be effective, any delays in treatment will reduce the effectiveness of Tamiflu.

Also, remember that swine flu is a global danger. Should a pandemic outbreak become global it is a possibility that supplies of Tamiflu may become diminished and may possibly not be high enough to meet a large worldwide demand.  Until such time that a vaccine is discovered and produced in the amounts needed, Tamiflu is the most effective treatment for the swine flu virus, it would therefore be prudent to buy Tamiflu beforehand if you think you may be at risk.

Disclaimer: This posting is based on information freely available in {the popular#the} press and medical journals concerned with swine flu. Nothing in this post is meant to be or should be construed to be any sort of medical advice. For medical advice you should consult your own healthcare worker.