Avoid kissing until March - Swine Flu in TRNC

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
31/10/2009 08:37

TRNC's Minister of Health has warned that kissing and shaking hands can help the spread of the H1N1 virus (swine flu) so everyone should refrain from this until March. What he failed to mention is that H1N1 virus is also airborne so in effect someone sneezing in the same room will help spread this as droplets will not only go through the air but end up on other surfaces.

Some preventative measures you can take while out and about. Don't put your hands near your eyes, nose and mouth if sitting in a public place. Refrain from hugging kissing and shaking hands. In the home wipe surfaces with a bacterial cleaner. Just general common sense.

Sypmtoms are fever, sore throat, high temperature, muscle pain, cough and in some cases sickness and diarrhoea.

People who are most at risk are the ones who's immune systems are already compromised e.g. people who are receiving chemotherapy. other risk groups are those with chronic pulmonary or cardiac disease. And of course as always the Elderly

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
31/10/2009 08:42

Cont.

As soon as you suspect that you have any kind of Influenza symptom,. remain at home to reduce the spread of the virus as transmission usually occurs early in the illness.

Drink plenty oof fluids which will help reduce fever. Avoid smoking and alcohol. take 2 paracetamol ever 6 hours this will help both the fever and any associated headache and general aches and pains.

If diarrhoea and vomiting last more than 48 hours seek medical advice.

I will try next week to find the names of any Dr's willing to do house calls and post it on here.

Keep well all it takes is a few precautions and some common sense.

Chris

adagirl


Joined: 01/06/2009
Posts: 371

Message Posted:
31/10/2009 09:11

Thanks Nurseawful, we have a stand by the door in our shop with a bottle of anti-bacterial hand gel together with government leaflets and a sign in English and Turkish "please disinfect your hands". I havent seen any other shops locally with this very cheap precaution, (gel costs less than 7 tl). has anyone seen these precautions anywhere else in public? Staff are at high risk of infection as they deal with such a huge number of visitors, and like Nurseawful says, those of us (like me) with immune system problems, are at risk, so if you see the bottle of gel offered PLEASE use it!!!!!

Yellowbelly


Joined: 17/05/2009
Posts: 70

Message Posted:
31/10/2009 19:13

Top advice Nurse. The number of selfish people I still see sneezing openly in the office I work makes me (literally) sick!

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
31/10/2009 21:30

Just a thought if you are in a pub / restaurant that has nuts on the bar please don't take any as this is a potential source of infection!

You may wash your hands after going to the toilet but how many others do??????????????????

MsGarnet


Joined: 04/01/2009
Posts: 989

Message Posted:
01/11/2009 04:02

I seem to remember a survey done ages ago, that examined a dish of nuts left on a bar, and urine traces from 30 (yes THIRTY) different people were found in the dish!!!!!!!!!! when leaving a public toilet, I use my sleeve or a tissue to open the doors......I always wash my hands thoroughly every time I come in the house, only ever use tissues rather than handkerchiefs, and never ever buy any foodstuffs that are uncovered, like at Farmers markets, or bread rolls or even bread in supermakets - think of how many people walk past and cough or sneeze...........I also wash all fruit and vegetables unless the skin is going to be discarded........most hygiene practices are obvious if you think it through........

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
01/11/2009 17:24

if you walk into any Supermarket where the Bread is left open everyone is just feeling them and putting them back, god knows how many people have touched the bread and what their hands have touched before makes you shudder, I now only buy sliced bread, but probably same goes on at the bakery so you cant avoid it

Tootie


Joined: 28/08/2008
Posts: 2037

Message Posted:
01/11/2009 18:01

I remember reading about an experiment done on the peanuts on a bar and the conclusion was, contact with the peanuts was mostly with the ones taken & that there is very little chance of contamination and bacteria would have no chance of multiply because of the salt.

However it did say that when the person puts the nuts in there mouth and licks there fingers, Then goes in for some more with saliva on the fingers that the chance of contamination is higher but again the high salt would kill of any nasty bacteria.

Tootie

ROBnJO


Joined: 30/06/2008
Posts: 1289

Message Posted:
01/11/2009 18:11

nurseawful



Devils Advocate Here!



The latest UK info on Swine Flu broadcast this morning, states that those at higher than average risk are young children and teenagers, pregnant women, those with pre-existing pulmonary conditions or breathing conditions such as Athsma.



People over 50, including older age groups are not presenting as 'at risk'.

The incidence of serious complications or death are well below the annual average for 'common' flu.



NHS websites have not been upgraded with this information.



Personally I feel it is the usual case of over reactive 'PC' propaganda.



A bit like today in London, we had 'SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS' for torrential rain, high winds, structural damage and flooding!!!



It was a bit wet and windy with a few leaves blown off the trees!



Thousands die from 'other' conditions after getting common colds every year, Swine Flu has been overhyped and people should not be presented with alarmist scenarios.





Rob

BillyB


Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 436

Message Posted:
01/11/2009 19:50

Is it best to abstain from sex until march?

30 traces of urine in the peanuts on the bar? Makes wonder what the peanut factory workers are doing on the conveyor belt when the manager's not looking.

Agnes


Joined: 11/04/2009
Posts: 81

Message Posted:
01/11/2009 23:31

urine is also found in ice buckets left on bars, so unless its served from behind bar with tongs or a scoop it's best to do without ice

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 00:47

So with the 'girlie' clubs out of action until next March the TRNC economy will take an even further nose dive! Mind you, the hares do go wild in early Spring so there could be an upsurge of activity to look forward too!



Richard

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 07:38

Most of what you have all said is true about ice and peanuts but there is a fine line between being just daft and common sense. And what has sex got to do with this if you have to go to the night clubs and are afraid of catching the virus wear a mask I am sure the girls will at least be grateful for that!!!!!

Rob thanks for your input but when I say elderly there is a high risk group living here in NC with pre existing medical conditions. (80+ years) These people are always at risk. I should have mentioned pregnancy as there was a young woman in the Scottish borders recently died from the virus and she was 8 months pregnant.

The reason children are included is the fact that a classroom is a perfect breeding ground for germs with the children sitting side by side in close proximity to each other. It only takes one sneeze. Airplanes are also a high risk area.

ClaireCat44



Joined: 17/09/2008
Posts: 739

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 09:32

The creche, the primary school and the college here at Near East are all closed until Thursday. The university is as normal.

ROBnJO


Joined: 30/06/2008
Posts: 1289

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 14:30

KEEP NIBBLING YOUR NUTS!



You may have washed your hands, but those who haven't will also have touched the loo door handles, toilet seats, taps, flushers, other doors, menus, chairs, bars, Credit Card readers,... etc,.



I've nibbled my nuts for 50 years,.... no problem!



Rob

hilda


Joined: 10/09/2009
Posts: 80

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 20:33

nurseawful

Please give us grownups some credit

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 21:17

What has kissing, handshakes, washing hands got to do with the spread of swine flu? It is an airborne transmitted virus. Sneezing, coughing, breathing in company are the biggest risks of transmission.

Chris, Msg 12 was only meant as a joke!



Richard

adagirl


Joined: 01/06/2009
Posts: 371

Message Posted:
04/11/2009 09:12

Brinsley when most people sneeze or cough they usually cover their mouth with their hand!!! If they go on to shake hands with someone - then the germs are passed on. The gel is free (not pay per squirt) so I would expect anyone that is offered it to use it. Every little helps, so they say................

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
04/11/2009 10:15

Adagirl well done with your forward thinking just wish there was a few more like you. But most supermarkets seem to sell this gel so might be a good idea if people kept one in their bag or car.



message 17 I know I am blonde but even I saw message 12 was a joke doh!



Message 16 Hilda. I am not sure what you meant by your comment could you please expand. Thank you

adagirl


Joined: 01/06/2009
Posts: 371

Message Posted:
04/11/2009 10:27

Thanks!! We also had government officials who came round with posters, one in Turkish and one in English and Greek. These are now in the window next to the door. The government are trying their best, the very least ALL business owners can do is spend a few lira on a bottle of gel to protect their staff.

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
04/11/2009 11:36

Nurselovely, I refuse to call you awful as it is against the trades description act , I hate kissing anyway, someone shoving their tongue down your throat YUK lol, so I am in no danger from that, everything I agree with, extra hygiene measures are called for.

negativenick


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 6023

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 19:16

Bugger ! - i kissed my missus earlier today before i read this..

McSteviet



Joined: 11/05/2007
Posts: 1089

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 22:58

Mwah to all

cyprusjoker


Joined: 29/08/2009
Posts: 1107

Message Posted:
07/11/2009 18:09

This sticky kissing thread, is it staying on top till march?

Geejay


Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 475

Message Posted:
07/11/2009 19:51

nurseawful,

Thanks for your timely and good advice which I think reminds us all that we should take care against seasonal influenza. Soooo...... why does swine flue stop before March ?. Does it just simply die out and disappear ?

Is there some magic in that month that will cure swine flue ?.