• This little piggy had swine flu, this little piggy had none.
• Children, parents and educators will enjoy using these educational plush toys to teach about hygiene, disease and the human body.
• Each microbe comes with a description of the disease it causes or function it performs.
• Use these fun, non-threatening toys to emphasize the importance of washing hands and preventing sickness in social settings.
• Surface wash, air dry.

This little piggy had swine flu, this little piggy had none.

GIANT Microbes Plush Doll Swine Flu (Influenza A virus H1N1)

It's pretty hard to know who and what to believe about the Swine Flu Virus (H1N1) with so much conflicting information around. With so many emails circulating, it's hard to know whether gargling with salt water can really lessen the chances of catching the virus, and whether or when the vaccine will be available.

Here are 5 Swine Flu resources that are available to everyone almost every day. Knowing where to find them and using them will help keep you up to date with the most accurate information about your child and the H1N1 virus.

CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)-This is an organization run by the United States government that is designed to do just what it says-control and prevent the spread of infectious disease. There is a 24 hour, toll free number that will allow you direct access to the latest information, and make you privy to what national health care professionals have determined is the best way to avoid the virus.

You can also use this as an accuracy check for emails that you may receive containing information about the virus. CDC checked out the gargling with salt water email by searching their website. There website showed no scientific basis for this statement.

Local Health Department-The health departments at the state and local levels are on high alert and are a great source of information about what's happening in your town. They are able to tell you whether they have the vaccine, when they are expecting the next shipment, and when and if they are likely to begin vaccinations in area schools. Having the most accurate and up to the minute information is one of the best ways to stay healthy.

School Nurse-This is a wonderful person to know and check in with. Knowing how the school is handling increases in cases of the flu, and what the plan is should the number of cases spike is great information to have. Children are in a high risk group because they come in contact with so many people daily, and because their hygiene skills are not always consistent.

Being aware of what your child's school is doing both short-term and long-term to prevent the spread of the virus is helpful physically and emotionally. This helps mold consistent hygiene for your student, and gives you information that is both accurate and current. And the more information you have, the better and more informed your decisions will be about your family's health.

Pediatrician-Your child's pediatrician is an invaluable source for everything from symptoms and treatments to prevention and vaccines. Because your physician knows your child's medical history, they are the best professional to advise you about whether your child should receive the vaccine, whether they should receive the mist or the shot, and the best way to treat the flu should your child catch it.

The Swine Flu is fast acting and you should be too. Don't be afraid to call the pediatrician immediately. If you're wrong, you get to take your child home again. If you're right, and your child does have H1N1 you have most probably saved your child's life. Calling the pediatrician has to be an immediate response if there is fever, headache, or sudden loss of energy and appetite. This is one time when you hope to be wrong.

Other Parents-Even though other parents can't give medical advice, you can exchange information with each other that is helpful to you, your children, and the community as a whole. Networking with other parents can yield information that may help you increase your options in ways you had not even considered, and is a valuable tool for keeping your child healthy.

Please quote the source too with your answers or better if a specialist can answer this question.

Pandemic alert around the corner ? Swine flu or H1N1 virus spreads globally in a rapid pace.

WHO called for an emergency meeting to discuss the latest developments in the Swine Flu spreading all over the world.

WHO has escalated the alert level to 5, which is the level just below full Pandemic alert – level 6.

The Swine Flu is caused by the H1N1 virus which has claimed 21.940 humans in 68 countries so far. 125 people have died of the influenza epidemic so far.

 As seen in this map, the cases are spread over a most of the world at the moment.

The experts are very uncertain how the virus will develop and whether it will mutate and change to an even more dangerous influenza variant.

 The table below lists all Laboratory-confirmed cases of new influenza A(H1N1) as officially reported to WHO by States Parties to the International Health Regulations (2005)

Country

Cumulative total

Newly confirmed since the last reporting period

Cases

Deaths

Cases

Deaths

Argentina

147

0  

16

0  

Australia

876

0  

375

0  

Austria

2

0  

1

0  

Bahamas

1

0  

0  

0  

Bahrain

1

0  

0  

0  

Barbados

1

0  

1

0  

Belgium

13

0  

0  

0  

Bolivia

3

0  

0  

0  

Brazil

28

0  

8

0  

Bulgaria

1

0  

0  

0  

Canada

1795

3

265

1

Chile

369

1

56

1

China

89

0  

20

0  

Colombia

24

0  

4

0  

Costa Rica

68

1

18

0  

Cuba

4

0  

0  

0  

Cyprus

1

0  

0  

0  

Czech Republic

2

0  

1

0  

Denmark

4

0  

3

0  

Dominican Republic

33

0  

22

0  

Ecuador

43

0  

4

0  

Egypt

1

0  

0  

0  

El Salvador

49

0  

8

0  

Estonia

3

0  

2

0  

Finland

4

0  

0  

0  

France

47

0  

21

0  

Germany

43

0  

15

0  

Greece

5

0  

0  

0  

Guatemala

23

0  

9

0  

Honduras

34

0  

32

0  

Hungary

3

0  

2

0  

Iceland

1

0  

0  

0  

India

4

0  

3

0  

Ireland

8

0  

4

0  

Israel

39

0  

6

0  

Italy

38

0  

8

0  

Jamaica

2

0  

0  

0  

Japan

410

0  

25

0  

Korea, Republic of

41

0  

0  

0  

Kuwait

18

0  

0  

0  

Lebanon

3

0  

0  

0  

Luxembourg

1

0  

1

0  

Malaysia

2

0  

0  

0  

Mexico

5563

103

534

6

Netherlands

4

0  

0  

0  

New Zealand

11

0  

1

0  

Nicaragua

5

0  

4

0  

Norway

9

0  

5

0  

Panama

173

0  

18

0  

Paraguay

5

0  

0  

0  

Peru

47

0  

7

0  

Philippines

29

0  

13

0  

Poland

4

0  

0  

0  

Portugal

2

0  

0  

0  

Romania

8

0  

3

0  

Russia

3

0  

0  

0  

Saudi Arabia

1

0  

1

0  

Singapore

12

0  

3

0  

Slovakia

3

0  

1

0  

Spain

218

0  

38

0  

Sweden

13

0  

6

0  

Switzerland

10

0  

0  

0  

Thailand

8

0  

6

0  

Turkey

8

0  

4

0  

United Kingdom

428

0  

89

0  

United States of America

11054

17

1001

0  

Uruguay

15

0  

0  

0  

Venezuela

4

0  

1

0  

Viet Nam

3

0  

0  

0  

Grand Total

21940

125

2681

8

 Chinese Taipei has reported 16 confirmed case of influenza A (H1N1) with 0 deaths. Cases from Chinese Taipei are included in the cumulative totals provided in the table above.

If you want to keep updated and follow WHO statements on a regular basis, then you should read WHO web pages dedicated for this purpose.

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/updates/en/index.html

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The H1N1 virus swine flu shots should arrive in October.  Did you know that the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is recommending that at risk groups should get both the regular flu shot and the two series H1N1 virus flu shots?  Wow, that means you will have to get three shots.  That scares the “heck” out of me and I am in the at risk group because of my age.  Will I take these shots? Not on your life and not on mine!  Why?  I am a vegetarian and have built up my immune system everyday to combat against this and any virus!  You need to start today to plan to stay healthy this fall, this flu season and all year round.  

It is not the responsibility of the government, the CDC and medical community to make and keep you healthy.  It is your responsibility.  There is absolutely no proof that taking these three shots will “prevent” you from getting the swine flu.  We all are at risk.  Would I and should you put your life in the hands of a government that has (1) all but allowed our economy to collapse; (2) can’t figure out how to fix a failed health system; (3) has drowned us in debt and untold lives lost with 2 wars.  Need I go on?  You, my friend must take responsibility for your own health and not sit back and allow the government to tell you what to do.

Here are five reasons why going vegetarian will help you avoid getting the H1N1 virus (swine flu):

1.    "Vegetarians avoid pork – dah!” – I get very annoyed when people refer to the CDC and say that according to the CDC swine flu is not spread from eating pork.  Great! That solves all the problems, the CDC said…  Making statements like this is going to the root of rescuing the agri-business of it’s responsibilities.  Well guess what, genius, swine flu is from pork and “is endemic in pigs“ (see Wikipedia) .  So rhetorically, I ask that person if we didn’t have pigs, would we have the H1N1 virus?  We can play word and mental gymnastics on the subject all day long!

2.    “Vegetarians immune systems are better" – carnivores can challenge me on this one.  We can agree to disagree but recent studies and books all point to the fact that we are predominantly vegetarian and a vegetarian lifestyle is healthier than a meat eating one.  You either accept this or you don’t and the proof is try it and see.  That is where I lose 90% of my customers because they refuse to find out for themselves!

3.    "Vegetarians are more health conscious" – I have yet to find a vegetarian who isn’t very serious about his/her health!  We aren’t trying to demand people be vegetarian.  We just say that if you do choose this lifestyle you will feel healthier and more alive than ever before.

4.    “Vegetarians are particular about their restaurants” – I simply ask this question, do you know who prepared your food, what went into your food and what ingredients went into your food at the last restaurant you went to?  You can be sure a vegetarian does because they want to be sure they are getting pure whole food.  I also ask, do you know that if that cook or waiter coughing, sneezing on your food has swine flu?

5.    “Vegetarians are serious about the health of the world” – the swine flu is believed to have spread to us from South America and possibly Mexico.  Do we know for sure?  Of course not but vegetarians, you can be sure conscientiously investigate where their food comes from and if it is truly organic, whole food and not processed with non-vegetarian ingredients.  Is this a world view? I think so.

The CDC is going to have its hands full this flu season.  I emphasize that it is not their responsibility to keep you healthy.  It is yours.  If you get sick, you simply become a statistic. They are not going to be held accountable.  My most important recommendations besides getting and staying in tip top health are (1) be sure and cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze with a tissue or handkerchief and dispose of the tissue and wash the handkerchief after you use them; (2) frequently and especially after coughing or sneezing, touching door knobs, faucets in common areas or shared devices such as keyboards and mice, wash your hands with soap and water for at least as long as it takes you to say the alphabet. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also recommended but washing your hands with soap and water are best; (3) Try to think to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, three orifices that allow germs to enter the body and spread; (4) if you believe you have the flu or H1N1 flu, by all means stay at home and avoid contact with family, friends and business associates. Once infected you become a carrier and can spread the disease.