8 Myths about Swine Flu

The panic, in turn, has given rise to the following myths:

Myth #1: The recent outbreak of flu is swine flu
According to WHO (World Health Organization), the virus should not be given the name “swine” flu. Rather, it should be called “The North American Flu”. This is because the flu contains human as well as avian components.

Myth #2: Eating pork can be dangerous
This is another myth surrounding the flu. However, there is no truth in it, said a state health officer with The Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH), Jimmy Guidry. “It's perfectly safe to eat pork,” said Guidry.

He, however, offers a few things to be kept in mind. “That's not how this is being spread. First of all, when you eat pork, it should be cooked; well cooked and that would kill the virus. But the virus is not in the pork to begin with,” added Guidry.

Myth #3: Flu is deadly
Although the flu is infectious, it is not deadly, says health officer Guidry. “Many of us will get it eventually, but you will survive it, just like you do the flu. It's those people who really have medical conditions that put them at risk, that's who we worry about,” clarified Guidry.

Myth #4: The seasonal flu vaccine prevents swine flu
No, say the experts. The vaccine for seasonal flu does not offer protection against the swine flu. The fact is that till now, there is no vaccine for the flu. Although the WHO and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are working to develop a vaccine for the flu, it would take another couple of months to be ready.

Myth #5: Pigs need to be avoided
There is no truth in it simply because the flu did not come from the pigs, rather it is transmitting from human to human, not from pork to person, say the health experts. “As far as working around them, I never had no problems and I’ve been at it for 50 years,” says Robert D. Palinkas, M.D., director at Urbana's McKinley Health Center.

Myth #6: Mexican food can give you swine flu
Not at all, say the experts. The H1N1 swine flu does not spread from food supply, be it Italian food or Mexican food.

Myth #7: Face mask offers protection against the flu
Yes and no, say the experts. Although, face masks do offer some amount of protection against the flu, they do not offer guaranteed protection.

Washing your hands and wearing face masks can certainly offer you some protection against the disease. The director at McKinley Health Center said that although the masks are not necessary for the general public, hospital staff must wear them when they are around the patients.

Myth #8: Flu is dangerous just for the elderly
It is a myth that only the elderly people are vulnerable to flu. The fact is that anyone can catch flu, be it young or elderly, including children.

Although, no evidence is available to support that young children might be at an increased risk of getting swine flu, however, going by the past instances of seasonal flu and other pandemics, there might be a possibility of young children being more vulnerable to swine flu, say the experts.