As high school students enter their new 2009-2010 school year, the usual expectations are present; the homework, the friends. Yet student under the age of 24 have a new worry to watch out for, Swine flu. No matter where people look the season, they see 'SWINE FLU PANDEMIC' and other propaganda about the new H1N1 flu.
Not only having to worry about your grades but about not dying from a flu that swept the continent at a pace that even experts distressed about. Only a week after hearing about the swine flu occurrence in Mexico, a school in Queens, NY, USA was shut down because of an outbreak in the H1N1 flu. The drastic amount of flu cases wouldn't be uncommon during the flu season, from November through March, but definitely not common for April.
Doctor Jose Montero, director of the NH health department, says that there are a series of goals in order to prevent the spread of H1N1. First Dr. Montero says that New Hampshire will have a vaccine in the middle of October, but for some that may not be soon enough. He does give advice to help stop spread it. The first step towards prevention is fairly simple yet overlooked too often, thoroughly washing your hands. Along with the step of washing your hands, it is also important to be able to correctly cover your cough. In order to have a properly covered cough, one must hold their arm in a bent position and make sure your elbow covers your mouth and nose. The final step is a hard decision, staying home from work and school when you don't feel good. Although it is commonly looked down upon to skip school when you feel the tiniest bit sick, even when it could mean saving co-workers lives.
Perhaps in this case it is better to be safe than sorry concerning the lives around you.
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