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FYI from Liyang

Team Kirtland,

H1N1 flu (also known as "swine flu") is a new influenza virus causing human illness. The virus was first detected in the United States in April, and is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, including New Mexico and Albuquerque.

The vaccines to prevent people from becoming sick from this virus are scheduled to be released soon, and 377th Medical Group officials are working with the New Mexico Department of Health and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to ensure all eligible recipients get them as soon as possible.

In the meantime, it's important for all of us to take precautions to protect ourselves and each other. The Kirtland public Web site
(http://www.kirtland.af.mil/) has links to the latest CDC guidance on H1N1 issues. You can also go directly to the CDC's H1N1 site:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/

It's also important to keep sick people away from work, so they don't spread the virus. Supervisors should be alert for workers who appear ill, and send them home if they have a fever and a sore throat or cough. Ill employees should go home and call their health care provider. Those enrolled in the 377th Medical Group should call the appointment line at 846-3200 and report their flu symptoms. The phone assessment will determine if the caller needs to be seen by a provider or can be treated with home care.

The vast majority of people who get sick with the H1N1 flu will get better in 3-5 days with proper home care and will not need to see a provider.
However, in a small number of cases, people can get sick enough to need hospitalization and tragically, a small number of people have died. That's why it's important to contact your health care provider if you think you have the flu.

FYI from Xiong, Wei

Deal sisters and brothers:

I thought this would be some practicaly helpful information regarding the Swine Flu which I received from my kids' school:




Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital, Bombay Hospital, Saifee Hospital, Tata Memorial etc.
Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).

The following message given by him, I feel makes a lot of sense and is important for all of you to know

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.


While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of sympt oms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):


1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).


2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).


3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.


4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not eve rybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*


5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.


6.* Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.