Answers provided by David C. Pate, MD, JD, senior vice president, St. Luke's Episcopal Health System, and CEO, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital.
If I am healthy, do I need to worry about Swine Flu?
No, unless you will be traveling to Mexico. If you are healthy and you are in the United States, you do not need to worry. Just exercise caution by washing your hands frequently.
What symptoms should I look for?
The main one is a fever. If you don’t have a fever, then you probably don’t have the flu. Other symptoms are severe body aches, chills, cough, runny nose, nasal congestion, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Who is the most vulnerable to contracting this virus?
People who already have chronic problems, such as diabetes, cancer or other health problems that might weaken your immune system, may have a more severe case if they contract this virus.
What if my friends/family/co-workers are sick?
Try to maintain distance between you and someone who is coughing or sneezing. Recommend to your co-workers and/or family members to stay home if they are not feeling well.
Can I get Swine Flu from handling or eating pork or produce from Mexico?
No, it cannot be transmitted through food or food handling. It is communicated through direct contact with secretions from an infected person, which means someone coughing or sneezing on you.
Will the flu shot I received in the fall help keep me from contracting Swine Flu?
Unfortunately, the information we have received suggests we should not count on it, because the strains in the vaccine are not the same as the Swine Flu strain.
If I’m planning to travel to Mexico, should I get Tamiflu before going?
Following recommendations from our federal government, any travel to Mexico should be suspended unless there is a compelling reason to go. I think it’s just better to be on the safe side. If you do have to go and if you have underlying medical problems, then you’re at high risk and probably should be put on Tamiflu. Otherwise, simply take precautions by avoiding crowds and people who are sick.
Is the United States prepared to handle a Swine Flu outbreak?
We are very prepared. The level of preparedness today is better than ever. We do drills for this. Our city, state and federal governments are all working together to be well prepared.
