by Aurora Anne Taylor

Created on: September 24, 2009   Last Updated: July 22, 2010

H1N1 Flu, which caused the pandemic in 2009, was originally named the Swine Flu before it was determined to be a combination of pig, human and bird viruses.  It seems to have largely disappeared in the United States for now, but it still lurks out there.  It is still spreading and killing in places like India.  With the flu season in the Western Hemisphere just around the corner, it is reasonable to assume that it will resurface.  The best way to deal with H1N1 is to never catch it at all.  Here are the leading ways to avoid this nasty bug and all flu:

VACCINATION

Most medical experts recommend vaccination as the best preventative against flu.  Vaccines for flu season are usually available starting around August, September or October.  The new H1N1 vaccines will likely be combined with other seasonal flu viruses into one shot.  Unlike seasonal flu, the 2009 H1N1 virus affects younger people most often. With conventional flu, the elderly are among the most vulnerable, but scientists believe those over 65 may have some immunity to this new virus. Therefore, the Centers for Disease Control, or CDC, recommends vaccination for children aged 6 months to 24 years as they are the group most often affected and the ones in whom the disease causes the most complications. People ages 25 to 64 with chronic conditions such as Diabetes, Asthma and other lung conditions, immune problems, cardiovascular problems and even obesity are at high risk as well. They should be among the first to be vaccinated after health care workers who are at obvious risk.

DISTANCING

Sick people should sneeze and cough into a tissue and discard it. They should cough into the crook of their elbow or their sleeve if a tissue is not an option. Sadly, many people do not take these precautions. Therefore, try to stay at least 6 feet away from others when in public. 9 feet is even better as the virus is spread mostly through airborne droplets from a coughing or sneezing person.

BARRIER PROTECTION

Studies about the use of masks by healthy people in order to avoid influenza are inconclusive. Therefore, masks are not recommended at this time. If you must be around someone who is ill, however, or if you are in one of the high risk groups and wish to be safe rather than sorry, make sure that you wear an N95 respirator mask that fits snugly around the face. Facial hair will render the mask ineffective as it prevents a good seal. Those white dust masks you can buy at the

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