Swine flu: What to do

When out to dinner with my family recently, I told my sons they might not want to order the pulled pork. My reasoning for this was that I had already planned to serve it for the next night’s dinner; however, my older son misunderstood me. He shot me a disparaging look and said, “Mom, you know we can’t get swine flu from eating pork, right?”

While I’m disappointed that he has such a low opinion of my reasoning skills, I am glad that my son has at least some understanding of this health scare. Yet the conversation did make me realize that we ought to have more knowledge to try to prevent suffering H1N1, or swine flu.

Since the spring of this year, the H1N1 virus has been spreading, with its apparent origin in Mexico. It has since made its way literally around the world, appearing in more than 70 countries. The vastness of this distribution, rather than the severity of the disease, has caused the World Health Organization to declare it a pandemic.

Panic and misunderstanding are the enemies of a reasoned response to this pandemic. Instead, disease prevention and preparation can help us feel as confident as possible under the circumstances.

Just like in sports, the best offense is a good defense. Thus, staying healthy is easier than dealing with the illness. Children should be taught, and everyone should follow, some basic sickness prevention rules:

• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, preferably with a tissue or with the crook of your arm, not your hands. (Young children can be taught to use a “Dracula sneeze,” with an arm up over the face, like the famous Count with his cape).
• Wash your hands often. Use soap or hand sanitizers.
• Avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes.
• Avoid close contact with those who are sick, or, if you become ill, try to avoid close contact with others. In other words, stay home from work or school.

Additionally, the same rules apply as those to overall good health. Healthy bodies and immune systems are least susceptible to viruses. Thus, regular exercise and a balanced diet, including plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain products are vital.

Follow these basic guidelines and you can hopefully avoid needing to deal with H1N1 at all. Ordering the pulled pork shouldn’t be a problem.