.
Should we be afraid of the swine flu in Lyon is a real concern for everybody. We should consider the swine flu more seriously than a cold since any flu is always a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. Young children, pregnant women and people with respiratory problems are more liable to be infected by the flu influenza, especially when they have not been vaccinated against a new virus that has just mutated.
Every year the regular flu kills 36, 000 people in America, 40, 000 in Europe.
According to the World Health Organization, France is part of the countries with confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) in the European region where about 261 people have already died.
Today, the new influenza virus is spreading in France with a few fatal cases but the French government has already procured emergency laboratory supplies of vaccines and face masks. What is more, people caring for or exposed to infected people have been encouraged to have their annual flu shot.
In addition, President Obama has just declared the swine flu a national emergency.
Luc Chatel, the French education minister, is ready to close down all the schools because of the swine flu. All information about healthy habits for flu prevention was given to the principals in September to prevent the spread of the influenza. If schools close, the pupils will be able to attend educational programs and study on-line at home on France 5, Radio France and the internet.
However, the regular flu kills more than the swine flu, not only in the Southern countries but also in Europe. So far, only 31 fatal cases of the swine flu have been reported in France. Although the vaccination is the most effective flu prevention, the regular flu viruses always develops resistance to the antiviral medicines and vaccines.
The very young, the over 65 and the chronically ill are always the first victims whatever the type of the influenza. The 11 month old baby who died from the swine flu on 18 October in Paris already suffered from a serious congenital heart disease.
Does it mean that we should not consider the swine flu seriously? Certainly not.
If vaccination is the only effective way to fight against any type of influenza, you should always follow good hand hygiene and cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, using a tissue, then throw it away as quick as possible, wash your hands with soap and water and clean all hard surfaces with cleaning products, especially in public areas.
The usual symptoms are sudden high fever, dry cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, severe malaise, sore throat and running nose. In that case, you should contact a general practitioner.
You may also need a few very useful French expressions to give explanations to the doctor
J’ai de la fièvre : I have fever
Je tousse : I am coughing
C’est une toux sèche : it is a dry cough
J’ai mal à la tête : I have a headache
J’ai des coubatures : muscle and joint pain
Je ne me sens pas bien : I do not feel well
Je suis très fatigué : I am very tired
J’ai le nez qui coule : my nose is running
J’ai des frissons : I keep shivering
Swimming and Aqua Activities for adults, children and babies
379 rue Jean-Marie Arnion, 69380 Dommartin
Tel: 06 11 88 26 50
