MYTH: You need to touch a pig to catch swine flu. This is untrue. The virus itself has mutated so that it is transmitting from human to human. This is the reason the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control are concerned about its pandemic possibilities. MYTH: You can only get swine flu from someone who is Mexican. This is also untrue. It is true that the virus was first identified in Mexico and that more than 150 Mexican citizens have been diagnosed with swine flu. It is also true that if you have spent time in Mexico since late March 2009, you may have been exposed to swine flu. If someone from any country or background has spent time in Mexico since spring 2009, they may be at risk of being contagious for swine flu. Further, they may have infected someone else anywhere else in the world. But Mexican heritage by itself is unrelated to swine flu. MYTH: Swine is pork, so eating pork can give you swine flu. This is untrue. Pork meat cannot contain an influenza virus, which is an upper respiratory virus. If you're interested in learning more, check in with the About.com Infectious Diseases Blog. In the meantime, if you are a fan of bacon, ham or pork chops -- enjoy! You won't catch swine flu from eating any of them. MYTH: Mexican food will give you swine flu. This is untrue. And mostly it's ridiculous. Mexican food does not come from Mexico. It's simply a type of cuisine, just like Italian food doesn't come from Italy. Even if it did come from Mexico, there has been no indication that the H1N1 swine flu virus spreads from the food supply. MYTH: If you want to protect yourself against the flu, wear a face mask. Wearing a face mask may partially protect you against swine flu. Some studies have shown benefits, but there are so many variables that wearing a face mask is no guarantee you are protected. Hand washing, wearing face masks and avoiding touching surfaces that someone else who may have been exposed to swine flu has touched will, in combination, provide you with the best defenses. MYTH: You can buy swine flu vaccine on the Internet. This is untrue. It has come up in fraudulent, spam e-mail that started circulating early in this possible pandemic. The Better Business Bureau and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain have both issued press releases concerning these e-mails. Countries all over the world are revving up their vaccine producing engines, but the CDC estimates it will be six months (fall 2009) before any vaccine is available to inoculate American citizens. Anyone pretending they can sell you vaccine on the Internet is making a fraudulent claim. Anything they might try to sell you would be counterfeit. MYTH: The swine flu is more deadly than seasonal flu. Not yet. In a typical flu season, 30,000 or more American deaths are attributed to seasonal flu. Fewer than two dozen swine flu-related deaths worldwide have been reported as of spring 2009. While the swine flu could become a more deadly flu, the high level of awareness and the steps people are taking to prevent its spread may keep it from becoming nearly so deadly as seasonal flu. MYTH: If you catch swine flu, then family pets may be at risk, too. This is untrue. Viruses rarely pass between human beings and cats or dogs. The jury is out on a pot bellied pigs, so you'll want to check with your pig's veterinarian. If you want to know more about swine flu and family pets, check in with our About.com Guide to Veterinary Medicine. MYTH: The swine flu can infect your computer, too. I actually laughed at this one! Computer viruses cannot be transferred to humans, nor vice versa. However - there may be a reason people think this is true: When people are desperate for information, or desperate to believe they can find help by using the Internet, then they begin visiting dangerous websites or downloading information to their computers -- both of which can infect their computers with a virus. Stick to resources you know and trust. Don't believe any email that tells you that you can buy a vaccine or drugs to prevent or cure you from swine flu. These sites and emails are fraudulent. MYTH: You can't believe swine flu information you read on Twitter or Facebook. This is untrue, though it does provide a good caution. Social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and others make it very easy for myths or untruths to spread. Your best resources for useful and true information will be websites and other media considered to be credible. Several sites here at About.com, plus the WHO and the CDC websites, are great resources. They are linked below. MYTH: Swine flu first appeared in the United States in April 2009. This is untrue. Swine flu was first identified in 1930. In 1976, two soldiers at Fort Dix, New Jersey were infected with swine flu, according to the CDC. MYTH: Madonna has swine flu. Salma Hayak has swine flu, too. Both are untrue. As of April 29, 2009, these statements were making the rounds in e-mail spam, but neither of these entertainers received a swine flu diagnosis. You can learn more about this rumor from NBC Washington. MYTH: Swine flu is really just germ warfare begun by America's enemies. This is untrue. There are a handful of conspiracy theory blogs suggesting that swine flu is just a test to see if bioterrorism works. But if it were true, then it would not have begun in Mexico and it would not have spread to so many other countries at the same time it appeared in the United States. CNN's Empowered Patient has some good information and commentary on these conspiracy theories about swine flu. (i kinda believe this one) MYTH: Texas won't get swine flu assistance from the federal government. This is untrue. It came from a joke Craig Ferguson told on his late night TV show. The governor of Texas, Rick Perry, did suggest that Texas should secede, but the suggestion was never taken seriously and it has nothing to do with swine flu. MYTH: You can't get swine flu by touching money. You CAN get swine flu from touching money, according to Smart Money. When someone who is infected with a virus touches money, the germs may survive on that money for quite awhile. The money gets spent, gets put into cash register drawers with other money and may transfer to it, etc. Read the Smart Money article for more information.
puahaha apparently i have swine flu altho all i had was the sneezles coz the exam room was too cold :(
Some of them are just basic common sense stuff but if you have those answers than someones asking those questions even if some sounds like it's made up to make humor out of this virus...
yeah.... the swine flu is being taken so lightly amongst my peers.... anyone who remotely addresses any symptoms would be accused of having swine flu in a joking manner of course.
^ ROFL, you should have been at my place after 9/11, one pakistani dude worked there, he got it BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD, i think its peoples way of dealing with the situation as it brings us closer to death
Nooooo!! if i have to be quarantined it means that the people who were sitting in the same exam as me and the invidulators will have to be quaratined too.. woo im not alone!! plus the film Quarantine is actually some scary shizzles!! :Talktohand:
^ of course laa... if it's something that is totally not my fault to start with i will drag people down with me HA im sucha bitch
While your computer may not contract a human virus; your computer, television remote, door knob, credit card, money, or ANY physical object that was touched by the virus (someone who is ill touched it, coughed on it, or sneezed on it), may transmit or be a source of infection if you physically touch that object and then touch yourself in a vulnerable spot (rub your eyes, mouth, or any other mucous membrane). So if someone is coughing all over, looks sick as shit, and had just returned from a sunny week in Mexico; and wants to use your computer just to check their email? -what? Er... no.
swine flu or not, i hate it when people want to use my pc for checking emails, theres another 3 computers about the house, i have to put them on the site and stand over their shoulder to make sure they dont be clicking my stuuf, the funny thing is i dont have anything on my pc that needs to be hidden, but i think we all do it
^ it's jsut hte pure fact you don;t want your own pc to be destroyed by other people than yourself.. i always do it
don't let the cashier touch your card. if they try to politely grab it, hold onto it firmly =P it may be rude, but it works (personal experience =P) this may backfire though. because every shop works differently.
only people i allow to touch my card if i know im paying by card and the fact they can't use the actual card machine but on their computer system instead
Basically wash your hand frequently and do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth and stay away from crowded... you should be okay
