The Truth Behind the Swine Flu Coverage

It is impossible to log onto the Internet, turn on the television or open a newspaper without seeing images of professional cleaning services scrubbing down student desks, headlines reporting deaths and even photos of pigs wearing surgical masks.  All of this is being used to convey the swine flu story.  Are these messages accurate or just hype?  Dr. Aaron Glatt, New Island Hospital President and CEO and a spokesman for the Infectious Diseases Society of America, offers the following reality checks. 

What you've seen in the news:  teams of professional cleaning services, often wearing masks, scrubbing down the inside of a school.

Reality: Every school should maintain standard cleaning and disinfection practices, whether or not there have been cases of flu reported in that community.  There is no reason to go beyond that "normal" level of cleaning right now.

What you've seen in the news: school children and parents milling around town wondering what to do now that their school is closed.

Reality: At this point, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend closing of schools just because a case(s) has been identified.  What is recommended?  If you or your child develop flu-like symptoms, stay home for seven days from the initial symptoms.  It's also important to remember that the idea behind closing a school is to keep those students and faculty isolated in order to prevent the spread of the disease. If many of the children who were told not to come to school end up in social settings like a movie theater or the mall, we could end up with a higher rate of transmission anyway.

What you've seen in the news: photos of pigs wearing masks.

Reality:  This is only about finding an image that will make us stop and read the article.  The H1N1 virus does contain some genes that appear to be similar to what we expect to see in pigs, but it's not the same virus that a pig usually carries.  Transmission of swine influenza viruses to humans is quite uncommon. However, the swine virus can be rarely transmitted to humans via contact with infected pigs or environments contaminated with swine influenza viruses. Once a human becomes infected, he or she can then spread the virus to other humans, presumably in the same way as seasonal influenza is spread (ie, via coughing or sneezing). It is impossible to catch swine flu from eating pork.

What you've seen in the news: headlines about deaths from swine flu.

Reality: The government is keeping a very close watch on all of the swine flu reports, but so far this seems to be a mild strain of the flu.  The CDC currently confirms two deaths from swine flu, both in Texas.  Keep in mind that about 36,000 people die every year in the U.S. from seasonal flu.  So, while these two deaths should not be ignored, it's important that the public keep them in perspective.

What you've seen in the news: videos of crowded waiting rooms in doctors' offices and hospital emergency departments.

Reality: Just like seasonal flu, most people with swine flu will recover without medical care.  In fact, unless you need to seek medical care because the symptoms are severe, or because you are at high risk for complications, you can help prevent further spread of the virus to others by staying home.

What you've seen in the news: empty shelves of cold medicine in a local pharmacy.

Reality: The best things to buy in your pharmacy if someone in your house has the flu are tissues, soap, fluids to stay hydrated, and pain relievers for body and headaches.  Over-the-counter cold and flu medications often have little or no effect on symptoms and will not shorten the duration of the flu.  Antiviral drugs, which are only available by prescription, can be used to treat those who become severely ill or are at increased risk of complications.

"The swine flu story is complicated and ever-changing, and it's important that the public understand that not everything they read or see is accurate.  It's always best to contact your health care provider if you have a specific concern about your individual health," said Dr. Glatt. "The best tips for preventing the spread of swine flu comes down to things we learned as children: wash your hands frequently, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and keep your hands away from your face."