Yesterday, the CDC announced that the number of people with swine flu in the U.S. reached 64, with 5 people needing hospitalization. The acting director of the CDC stated that he is very concerned about the evolving epidemic. Rather than use this space to update you with numbers of new cases each day, I will again summarize what you can and should do.

1) The symptoms of swine flu are exactly like other influenza illnesses – fever, cough, lack of appetite, fatigue; the incubation period, or that period of time between when you are exposed and when you will have symptoms is between 2 and 7 days. Some people do not get symptoms or get sick at all even after being exposed.

2) If you get these symptoms, stay home. If you begin to feel very ill – especially if you are having trouble breathing, have a high fever that will not come down even with Tylenol, or cannot take in fluids by mouth – call your doctor to be seen. Trying to avoid the emergency room – especially if your symptoms are mild – is a good idea to limit your and other people’s exposure, BUT if you can’t breathe, call 911.

3) The swine flu virus is thought to be spread person to person by the coughing or sneezing of infected people. Therefore, always cover your mouth  with a tissue, your hand or even your forearm when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away immediatlely.

4)Wash your hands (and arms if used to cover a cough) with soap and water frequently. Alcohol based hand cleansers are also good.

5) Stay home if you are not feeling well; limit contact with others.

6) The CDC recommends that you avoid nonessential travel to Mexico.

7)If your immune system is suppressed -for instance if you have active cancer, are taking chemotherapy or radiation therapy, have AIDS or HIV with a low CD4 count, are on steroids chronically, or have had an organ transplant – you are more susceptible to getting sick. Check with you doctor about having a medication to prevent swine flu illness in the event you are exposed. Try to avoid being in crowded places.

8)There are two medications available which are effective against the swine flu virus: Relenza and Tamiflu. These can be taken to prevent illness after you’ve been exposed but before you get sick. They can also be taken once you develop symptoms but must be taken within the first 48 hours after your symptoms start in order to be effective. When taken after symptoms have begun, the medications can shorten the duration of the illness, and make the symptoms milder.

9) Don’t panic. Follow the above recommendations. The CDC updates the information on the Swine flu epidemic regularly. Stay informed by regularly visiting http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/.