'Not A Time To Panic' Over Flu
That is the headline on my "Star Tribune" newspaper for today.
The fact that my sister ended up in Mexico for spring break, of all places, has my family and I doing just that- Panicking!

Exactly 2 days after my sister had arrived in Cancun, Mexico talk of the new "swine flu" started making it's way into the news. My parents called me that day, worried. We started doing our own research, surfing the web, reading the paper, watching the news and listening to the radio. More and more each day this pandemic has been broadcast. We have been in touch with my sister via test messaging, emails and brief phone conversations. My parents are starting to feel overwhelmed by the possibility of their daughter catching this flu. I told my parents today "you are doing all that you can, we have to try to relax."

My sister happens to be in the same age group as the people who have contracted this flu and have brought it to the U.S. It appears that Mexico City; Mexico has been affected the worst thus far. In order to get home my sister and her friends are to fly from Cancun to Mexico City. We have heard that Mexico City has entirely shut down, everything but the airport. We have also heard that people are taking precautions and wearing facemasks in the airport and on their flights. My parents have asked my sister to try to get a layover flight in a city other than Mexico City.

The "Star Tribune" reported that the United States has declared this swine flu pandemic a public health emergency after 20 cases were confirmed in 5 states. Cases confirmed in North America include: California, Kansas, Ohio, New York, Texas and Nova Scotia, Canada. Cases are also suspected in New Zealand, Spain, France and Israel.

Top global flu experts are still struggling to predict how dangerous the swine flu strain will be in the future. What makes this pandemic different is we may be somewhere between an important yet still uneventful public health occurrence- with something that could literally die out over the next couple of weeks and never show up again- or this could be the act of a full-fledged influenza pandemic. Health officials will be taking every step to prevent an outbreak from spiraling into mass casualties.

A person can carry the swine flu for at least a day before showing any of the following symptoms associated with this flu strain; fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose and, in some cases, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue and aching muscles.

Avoiding the swine flu is fairly self-explanatory. A person should keep good hygiene, wash their hands frequently, sneeze/chough into a Kleenex and Stay Home If You Are Sick!!

There are vaccines that treat swine flu. If you feel you may be a victim of this flu See Your Doctor Immediately. It is suggested that you wear a facemask to and from your doctor visit. The vaccine can prevent casualties if a person is treated in time.

I'm sure I'll be spending many more days researching this flu and talking with my sister. My family will feel so much better once she is home (in 3 days, I believe.) I will be sure to post comments on this Xombyte to further update all of you readers on the swine flu pandemic, and keep you posted about my sister.