Spring Break
Don't freak out about swine flu
Issue date: 5/5/09 Section: Forum
The H1N1 influenza virus - aka swine flu - has been in the news for about a week. There has been hype and there has been freaking out, but it's important to know that this outbreak isn't the end of the world.
As of Monday morning, 286 cases of swine flu were confirmed in the United States. There has only been one confirmed death, in Texas, from the virus; the 2-year-old boy was from Mexico and was visiting relatives in Houston at the time of his death. There are also reported cases in Canada as well as deaths in Mexico.
Oregon has had three confirmed cases, according to the Center for Disease Control.
One of these cases was confirmed in Polk County, home of Western Oregon University.
WOU has been closed since Friday because of the confirmed case of the H1N1 flu virus. All classes and activities were cancelled during this time, but the campus is expected to re-open today.
True, flu outbreaks have caused major damage in history; the Spanish Flu hit the world in 1918-19 and killed between 20 million and 40 million of the world population.
However, the AP reported that the swine flu is on the decline in Mexico, and this news should soon be the same in the United States.
With all these numbers and hype and freaking out that have been circulating, we bet you're all wondering how not to contract swine flu.
Contrary to the name, a person does not contract swine flu from pigs. Eating bacon will not give you swine flu. Going to a local farm and sight-seeing the barn animals will not give you swine flu.
The CDC says that the influenza virus is passed person-to-person, meaning you catch it if someone infected with the virus coughs or sneezes on you.
So those face masks you have seen flying off the Fred Meyer shelves aren't exactly useful unless you actually have the virus and are trying to avoid spreading it to others when in public.
A great way to prevent the spread of the virus is to wash your hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer after coughing, sneezing, coming in contact with people who are coughing and sneezing and being in public in general. It's just hygienic.
And if you're sick - whether with the swine flu, cold, Ebola virus, whatever - stay home. The CDC recommends this step, but it should be obvious.
Skipping class is fun and many of us do it all the time, but it's better to save up those days and miss when you really need to so you don't get too far behind.
You'll feel better faster if you stay home and rest, not to mention you won't get others sick.
So don't be scared of the swine flu; it's not hard to stay healthy.
Editorials serve as a platform for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on issues both global and local, grand in scale and diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial board majority. Disagree? E-mail a letter to the editor or guest column to editor@dailybarometer.com.
As of Monday morning, 286 cases of swine flu were confirmed in the United States. There has only been one confirmed death, in Texas, from the virus; the 2-year-old boy was from Mexico and was visiting relatives in Houston at the time of his death. There are also reported cases in Canada as well as deaths in Mexico.
Oregon has had three confirmed cases, according to the Center for Disease Control.
One of these cases was confirmed in Polk County, home of Western Oregon University.
WOU has been closed since Friday because of the confirmed case of the H1N1 flu virus. All classes and activities were cancelled during this time, but the campus is expected to re-open today.
True, flu outbreaks have caused major damage in history; the Spanish Flu hit the world in 1918-19 and killed between 20 million and 40 million of the world population.
However, the AP reported that the swine flu is on the decline in Mexico, and this news should soon be the same in the United States.
With all these numbers and hype and freaking out that have been circulating, we bet you're all wondering how not to contract swine flu.
Contrary to the name, a person does not contract swine flu from pigs. Eating bacon will not give you swine flu. Going to a local farm and sight-seeing the barn animals will not give you swine flu.
The CDC says that the influenza virus is passed person-to-person, meaning you catch it if someone infected with the virus coughs or sneezes on you.
So those face masks you have seen flying off the Fred Meyer shelves aren't exactly useful unless you actually have the virus and are trying to avoid spreading it to others when in public.
A great way to prevent the spread of the virus is to wash your hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer after coughing, sneezing, coming in contact with people who are coughing and sneezing and being in public in general. It's just hygienic.
And if you're sick - whether with the swine flu, cold, Ebola virus, whatever - stay home. The CDC recommends this step, but it should be obvious.
Skipping class is fun and many of us do it all the time, but it's better to save up those days and miss when you really need to so you don't get too far behind.
You'll feel better faster if you stay home and rest, not to mention you won't get others sick.
So don't be scared of the swine flu; it's not hard to stay healthy.
Editorials serve as a platform for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on issues both global and local, grand in scale and diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial board majority. Disagree? E-mail a letter to the editor or guest column to editor@dailybarometer.com.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
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