The Federation of American Consumers and Travelers (FACT) has compiled information from avvariety of sources in order to help its members, and the public at large, to know (1) precisely what they are facing and (2) what they should do about it.
First, some statistics:
In the U.S., an estimated 25–50 million cases of the flu are reported each year — leading to 150,000 hospitalizations and 30,000–40,000 deaths yearly. Worldwide, it is estimated that there are some 1 billion cases of flu annually, resulting in at least 300,000 deaths.
So why all the publicity about “swine” flu?
Swine flu (technically H1N1) is a new strain of flu. U.S. cases must be monitored for two weeks or so before health officials will get a true idea of the severity of the illness. At this time, it’s suspected that H1N1 is a relatively mild form of the flu, but officials are choosing to err on the side of caution.
What can and should you do?
• Avoid unnecessary contact with people or surfaces.
• When you cough or sneeze, do so into a tissue and then throw the tissue away.
• Wash your hands with soap and running water. (Thoroughly distribute the soapy water over hands and fingers, and scrub for at least 15 seconds.)
If you or someone in your household exhibits flu symptoms, stay home. Experts say people can be contagious from one day before they develop symptoms up to seven days after they get sick. Get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids and eat nutritious foods.
Antivirals (oseltamivir, zanamivir, amantadine, rimantadine)
FACT is a not-for-profit association which was founded in 1984 and which provides a variety of benefits -- ranging from medical insurance and dental care discounts to prescription drug savings and timely consumer information -- for more than 1 million Americans nationwide.
Vicki Rolens, managing director of FACT, says: “Consumers need and want some basic information about matters relating to their health. Issues such “swine flu” can create a lot of anxiety, especially with continual coverage through so many media outlets. We certainly believe that the public should exercise caution, but we also believe that a few simple facts can help to put things in perspective and can aid people in taking a calm, reasoned approach in the face of threatened ‘pandemics’
