Swine flu fears in Great Britain: sale of hand gel rocket in Worksop!

On july 14, swine flue was reported to hit the Bassetlaw region with three suspected cases of swine flue (Influenza A – H1N1), and in at least one of those cases a nine-year-old child at Worksop’s St John’s Primary School was confirmed to be suffering from the disease. On july 23 ‘National Pandemic Flu Service (NPFS)’ was launched featured with the simple advice ‘CATCH IT, BIN IT, KILL IT’ – and within a few hours the website crashed due to its popularity. On july 25 – last saturday – sales of hand gel had rocket in Worksop due to the swine flue fears. What can you do? To help limit the spread, wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water. Antibacterial, alcohol hand gels can stop the virus. When sneezing, catch all droplets in a clean tissue and dispose in a bin immediately. If you are diagnosed with swine flu, stay at home. Adults are generally infectious to others for five days, children for seven days. Do not go to work until all of the symptoms have cleared and you are fully recovered. According the ‘National Pandemic Flu Service’ the basic rules to prevent from being affected by the disease are: “- Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible; - Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully; - Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from our hands to face or to other people; - Cleaning hard surfaces (e.g. door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product; - Making sure your children follow this advice.” SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER READING: • A kiss is healthier than a handshake! • Hand Hygiene: warm air dryers increase bacteria on hands! • The swine flu etiquette: use good hand hygiene, no handshaking, no mask, to prevent a pandemic! • Hand Hygiene: warm air dryers increase bacteria on hands!

Hand of a young girl in Uganda!

Hand of a young girl in Uganda: a few health facts! Today, monday 13 july 2009, the 4th and the 5th case of swine flue – the Influenza A (H1N1) – has been confirmed in Uganda. What are the health chances for children in Uganda? A few health facts about children in Uganda: - Malaria, respiratory infections and diarrhea are the main causes of under-5 mortality. - Approximately 20,000 babies are infected by HIV annually through mother-to-child transmission. - Nearly half of the estimated 2 million orphans are orphaned due to AIDS, with the total expected to rise to 3.5 million by 2010 – while today the population in Uganda counts about 31 million people! While about 13.5 million children (6 months-15 years) were immunized against measles in 2003, how many children will be immunized for swine flue if the pandemic spreads among the population in Uganda? SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER READING: • The hands of children: fingernails & health! • Finger length reveals talent in the hands of young children • Use of human Nails as bio-indicators of heavy metals among school age children in Kenya!