Around the world, countries have launched different measures as part of efforts to contain the spread of the swine flu virus. Mexico has ordered a five-day, nationwide shutdown of all nonessential government and private businesses. Egypt has slaughtered almost 300,000 pigs, even though it had not confirmed any swine flu cases. In Lebanon, kissing in the cheeks as a form of greeting (a national custom in the country) is being discouraged.

Swine flu masks are also gaining popularity although there is no conclusive evidence that they are effective in slowing down the spread of the h1n1 virus.

After assessing the progress of the outbreak in the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security assured the public that the h1n1 virus appears to be no more dangerous than the normal flu virus. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Americans can be “cautiously optimistic” that the particular strain will not be more severe than a normal seasonal flu outbreak.

At present, h1n1 flu has hit 36 states, with New York and Massachusetts confirming dozens of new cases that have not yet been added to the CDC total of 279.

Dr. Joseph Mercola, author of the New York Times’ bestseller The Great Bird Flu Hoax, believes that like the bird flu scare, the h1n1 flu outbreak has been exaggerated by the media. He also points out that the government’s track record in handling flu outbreaks is spotty, to say the least.

Just take a look at the 1976 swine flu outbreak at Fort Dix, New Jersey. One soldier died and hundreds were infected, prompting then President Gerald Ford to order a mass vaccination program. The result? Thirty people who took the flu shot died while others suffered paralysis due to Guillain-Barré syndrome. Oh, by the way, no epidemic materialized.

The CDC recommends the use of the popular flu drug Tamiflu to help fight swine flu despite the growing evidence exposing its ineffectiveness as an antiviral drug. Tamiflu, which is banned in Japan after being linked in the deaths of 14 children, can only reduce flu symptoms by 24 to 36 hours, and some flu patients increase their risk for secondary bacterial infections when on it.

Other Tamiflu side effects include convulsions, delirium, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, fatigue and cough.

Tamiflu also costs over $100. Does it make sense for you to take a flu drug that’s ineffective, expensive and potentially dangerous?

Dr. Mercola has never taken a flu shot yet he’s never gone down with the flu in over two decades. Here are Mercola’s tips on how to naturally avoid the flu:

• Get healthy doses of vitamin D – Mercola believes that vitamin D deficiency is likely the real culprit behind the seasonality of the flu. If you experience flu-like symptoms, you can take 50,000 units of vitamin D3 per day for three days to help treat the infection.
• Eat foods rich in Omega-3 fats – The omega-3 fats DHA and EPA help enhance your immune system and are crucial in maintaining good health.
• Avoid Sugar and Processed Foods – Sugar is one of your immune system’s worst enemies. Sugar may be present in foods you may not suspect, like processed fruit juices.
• Manage Your Stress Levels – Stress wears out your body and decreases its ability to fight disease.
• Rest – If you’re always tired or overly fatigued, you’ll only make it harder for yourself to beat the flu.
• Exercise – Your circulation and blood flow increases when you exercise and allows the components of your immune system to spread out better, increasing its chances of detecting and fighting an infection before it spreads.
• Eat more garlic – Don’t worry about your breath too much. Garlic is a food you should be eating regularly because it’s antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal and helps your body fight viruses, bacteria and protozoa.

The World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert to level 4, meaning the swine flu virus has been determined to be capable of spreading from human to human.

But what exactly is swine flu? Here are the facts:

Swine flu or swine influenza is a respiratory illness endemic to pigs caused by the type A influenza virus. Different strains of the swine flu virus may circulate among pigs throughout the year, with most outbreaks being recorded during the late fall and winter months.

Like all types of the flu virus, swine flu viruses evolve constantly and through the years, different strains of the swine flu virus have emerged. Because pigs can be infected by the bird flu virus and the human influenza virus, new strains of the swine flu virus can be a mix of the swine, human and bird flu types.

Currently, there are four main influenza type A virus subtypes that have been isolated in pigs: H1N1, H1N2, H3N2 and H3N1. The current outbreak was caused by a new variation of an H1N1 virus.

When the swine flu virus spreads from human to human, the virus can continue to mutate, and because humans don’t have a natural immunity to it, it becomes harder to treat or fight off the swine flu.

Swine flu symptoms in humans are similar to the common human flu and include fever, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, chills, body ache, nausea, lethargy, lack of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea.

The good news is that you can’t get swine flu from eating pork or pork products; however, it is also very contagious like the common flu.

Here are simple ways to avoid the swine flu:

• Keep your hands clean. Rubbing your eyes or nose after coming in contact with someone infected with the swine flu virus is a sure-fire way of catching the disease yourself. Washing your hands regularly with warm water and soap, especially after sneezing or coughing, before and after preparing food, before and after eating, after a bathroom break, or whenever your hands get dirty, will help reduce your risk of getting sick from communicable diseases like the flu.
• Cover your nose with a tissue (not your hands or a hanky) when you cough or sneeze and immediately throw away the tissue after using it.
• Avoid touching your eyes and nose.
• Avoid close contact with sick people and stay away from crowded places, such as malls, the ball field and airports, especially if you have a weak immune system.

Remember these tips because a person infected with the swine flu virus will be able to pass it to others even before the symptoms develop, and up to more than a week after getting sick.

Currently, there is no available vaccine to protect humans from swine flu. But chances are you won’t need a flu shot if you start making the necessary lifestyle changes and boost your immune system. After all, prevention is still better than the cure.