The Flu: How to Control It?

What do we need to do to stop the spread of this years massive outbreak of the flu? The answer, from most, is "I don't know'. When health professionals are asked what to do to keep the flu out of schools, most don't have an answer. All they can say is, wash your hands. Amy Nichols, the chief of infection control for the University of California at San Francisco Medical Center, advocates for making students disinfect their hands before entering each class, the gym or the cafeteria.

H1N1, the virus that has, as of today, resulted in 79 deaths world-wide has been issued an Alert Level 5 by the WHO. Dr. Margaret Chan, the WHO's director-general warned that the virus’s initial mildness had “handed the world a grace period" and that the level would probably stay where it is. “I strongly urge you to look closely at anything and everything we can do, collectively, to protect developing countries from once again bearing the brunt of a global contagion,” Dr. Chan said. So what does this mean of you? It doesn't mean wearing masks around, simply washing your hands after you use the restroom, after you come in contact with anyone who's sick, or after you sneeze, cough, or blow your nose.

To read more, visit the NY Times.