Life on the Road – Trucking News Blog

As if truckers don’t have enough to worry about already, Homeland Security has declared a public health emergency for a possible swine flu epidemic. Across the border, Mexico has reported 81 deaths and 374 people hospitalized. Right now there have been 20 cases here in the United States - 8 in New York and the others in California, Kansas, Texas and Ohio.

This is the H1N1 strain of flu typically connected to pigs. When the flu spreads person to person, instead of from animals to humans, it could continue to mutate, making it a tougher strain harder to treat or fight off. Symptoms of swine flu include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Swine flu symptoms are relatively general and nonspecific. Many different factors can cause them. Dr. Anne Schuhat of the CDC (Center for Disease Control) says: “It is a dilemma. It is a challenge that we are wrestling with. There is not a perfect test right now to let a person or doctor know exactly what this is.” This is a new strain of influenza and the flu vaccine for this past flu season offers no protection. The new strain of flu virus is unusual because it contains gene segments from swine, bird, and human flu virus strains. The CDC is still trying to figure out how transmissible it is and why it is mild in some cases and deadlier in others.

What’s your best protection? Wash your hands and frequently. Truck stops are notorious for uncleanliness. Drivers, travelers and children are walking around coughing and sneezing. I personally spent the last month sick. I don’t know what exactly it was, but I had all the symptoms of this type of flu. I got sick after stopping to pick up equipment in El Paso. Tonight, I’m headed down to Laredo. I’m not happy about it.

The photo credit is: www.cbc.ca/…/2009/04/24/f-swineflu-faq.html