FYI - from the nurse:

How do you tell the difference? It is important to know what you have got!
Know the Difference between Cold and H1N1 Flu Symptoms

Symptom Cold H1N1 Flu
Fever Fever is rare with a cold. Fever is usually present with the flu in up to
80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is
associated with the flu.
Coughing A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a
cold. A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the
flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
Aches Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold. Severe aches and pains
are common with the flu.
Stuffy Nose Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves
spontaneously within a week. Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.
Chills Chills are uncommon with a cold. 60% of people who have the flu
experience chills.
Tiredness Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold. Tiredness is moderate to severe
with the flu.
Sneezing Sneezing is commonly present with a cold. Sneezing is not common with
the flu.
Sudden Symptoms Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.. The flu has a
rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms
like high fever, aches and pains.
Headache A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold. A headache is very common
with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
Sore Throat Sore throat is commonly present with a cold. Sore throat is not
commonly present with the flu..
Chest Discomfort Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold. Chest
discomfort is often severe with the flu...

The only way to stop the spread of the epidemic is to spread the awareness!


Prevent Swine Flu - Good Advice

Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having
clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja
Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital , Tata Memorial etc.. Presently, he
is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak
Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).

The following message given by him, I feel makes a lot of sense and is important
for all to know.

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global
epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact
with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a
problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in
order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of
secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most
official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock
N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of
face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust
salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity
to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents
proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a
healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this
simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm
salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good
Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and
swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very
effective in bringing down viral population.*


5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and
other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make
sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm
liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash
off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot
survive, proliferate or do any harm.

I suggest you pass this on to your entire e-list. You never know who might pay
attention to it - and STAY ALIVE because of it.