[JiveCerocGirl]

JiveCerocGirl asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Dear Chris and the gang
 
Please can you talk about the way we can protect ourselves against the latest Swine Flu threat which has now been raised to level 5 out of 6.
 
I have bought some FFP3 valved face masks for myself, although I'm not sure how well these will fit my 5 year old. What masks are advisable for children, do they make children's' sizes in the FFP3?
 
I have read that washing your hands with soap and water regularly is paramount and even using the alcohol hand-wash too is helpful.
 
Since my daughter has to go to school, how is the best way we can protect ourselves from this outbreak?
 
Unlike Richard Branson, most of us don't have our own isolated private island in the sunshine, where we can lay in quaranteened bliss! LOL
 
Anne Keshuss

What do you think?

[Bored chemist]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Swineflu/DG_177831?CID=SFlu&TYPE=sponsoredsearch&CRE=2

[Don_1]

The masks' you will have seen being worn in news bulletins are really not a great protector.

BC's link above will give you some good tips on avoiding infection and this will tell you a little more about the flu. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pandemic-flu/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Don't get overly worried, the chances of infection remain slim and Tamiflu seems to be working very well.

[Bored chemist]

The masks amy be worse than useless because they con you into thinking you are safe. You are much better off making sure that you keep your hands clean.
It might not be the best time to go to see a football match or a film but, as has already been pointed out, it doesn't look like it's a very serious disease here at the moment so I plan to essentially ignore it.

[Kevan Gelling]

JiveCerocGirl asked the Naked Scientists:
Please can you talk about the way we can protect ourselves against the latest Swine Flu threat which has now been raised to level 5 out of 6.
What do you think?

Go on holiday.

Influenza is seasonal - epidemics occur in the winter in temperate areas and during the rainy season in the tropics. 

I hear Cape Town is nice in January (but don't travel by plane ;-).

[DrN]

All 'pandemic' means is that it crosses international borders. It doesn't relate to the seriousness of the disease at all.

From all the reports I've read, swine flu appears to be much nicer than the 'normal' flu i had about 10 years ago, which rendered me incapable of drinking, eating or walking to the loo without help for nearly a week, and sent me to bed for three weeks. This one all seems to be over in a few days. Add to that, that Tamiflu only shortens the duration of the illness by about a day, and I can't really see the point of a normal otherwise healthy person taking it.

I'm not worried. If i get it, I get it. I'm just back from a football match, so if you're worried, then don't come round!

[Chemistry4me]

Manchester United vs. Liverpool?

[DrN]

Emphatically no! Man U were playing Arsenal. 

Spurs v Man City.

Liam and Noel Gallagher were apparently in a box below us. 

[Chemistry4me]

Oh yeah, so that was what the shouting from my neighbour was about that morning.

[TonyCap]

Stay away from places or people who are sick.  Wash hands often.  Simple advice.   []

[DrN]

So, by travelling every day on a packed tube, helping a girl who was being sick on the tube, and going to a football match, I'm basically setting a great example of what NOT to do to avoid swine flu!  []

[Bored chemist]

It seems that, for those of in the UK the answer is live in Wales or Yorkshire (and Humberside I think, but geography 's not my strongest subject).
Here's the map of icidence pinched from the BBC news site.

[bork]

JiveCerocGirl asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Dear Chris and the gang
 
Please can you talk about the way we can protect ourselves against the latest Swine Flu threat which has now been raised to level 5 out of 6.
 
I have bought some FFP3 valved face masks for myself, although I'm not sure how well these will fit my 5 year old. What masks are advisable for children, do they make children's' sizes in the FFP3?
 
I have read that washing your hands with soap and water regularly is paramount and even using the alcohol hand-wash too is helpful.
 
Since my daughter has to go to school, how is the best way we can protect ourselves from this outbreak?
 
Unlike Richard Branson, most of us don't have our own isolated private island in the sunshine, where we can lay in quaranteened bliss! LOL
 
Anne Keshuss

What do you think?

Hello JiveCerocGirl,

I'm not sure if the FFP3 valved face masks are the masks you want. You will need N95 types. I'm glad I bought a couple of boxes almost a month ago.




If the virus were to get close to where you live, I wouldn't let my child go to school if I were you.

link removed !