Every year half a million people around the world die from influenza. Seasonal flu attacks the elderly, young and ill. Road accidents claim 1.27 million lives and deaths from cancer number 3.9 million. To date, just 1,127 people have died from the H1N1 influenza virus, also known as swine flu.
The message here is not to panic. Listen to the advice the Ministry of Health and Committee to Combat Swine Flu are issuing. If you have a high temperature and other flu symptoms, seek medical advice. If you're diagnosed with the H1N1 virus, stay at home for seven days, avoid crowded places, wash your hands regularly and don't sneeze in close proximity to anyone else.
You may have mild symptoms, and feel well enough to go back to work. But think of others around you. How would you feel if you infected an elderly person or a baby, who doesn't have the strong immune system that you have? Such people may struggle to combat the virus.
Precautionary measures are just that - a precaution - and should not be ignored.
To date, six deaths have occurred from the H1N1 influenza virus in the UAE. One was a pregnant woman, another an elderly man, while a third was already ill and therefore had low immunity.
Healthy adults have strong immunity against viruses, including H1N1. As a healthy person you wouldn't expect to die from seasonal flu and wouldn't even necessarily contract it every year.
Keep calm, follow medical advice, stay healthy, take precautions and, above all, don't panic.
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