Globally there are 898 confirmed cases of the Swine flu, or H1N1, to date. After the initial panic in Mexico with 19 confirmed swine flu-related deaths and the rapid spread around the world, we began to wonder if pandemic was imminent.
Swine Flu Virus H1N1
As of today, we are beginning to see a slow-down in reported cases, but this doesn’t mean the virus may not reappear next flu season with a vengeance, like the infamous 1918 flu pandemic. That bug killed 50 million people worldwide. It kicked off in the spring, then became dormant in the summer off-season and returned in the fall to do its deadly damage.
We’ll watch as the CDC continues its work to prevent the fall resurgence of H1N1 with a vaccine. I’ll be first in line.
With the seasonal flu, we generally know what to expect and how we can prevent it. (Hand washing, covering sneezes and coughs with tissues). Bird flu, swine flu…new viruses linked with the words death, outbreak, and pandemic are frightening. It’s the unknown that scares us, right? Well, we KNOW how to prevent the spread of infection, don’t we?
No doubt your awareness of germs in your environment has been heightened. I know mine has, and I’m pretty germ-a-phobic. Common sense tells us that the numbers of people you interact with is a factor in your risk of picking up any virus, so we worry about confined spaces like airplanes, busses, and subways. We wash hands after shaking hands and other situations where we are in close contact with anyone coughing or sneezing. Grocery stores provide anti-bacterial wipes at their entrances so customers can wipe down the shopping cart handles. Before this innovation, I bet I picked up more than a couple of colds or stomach bugs from grocery carts.
Just as important as killing germs is doing everything possible to keep our immune system strong, such as good nutrition, exercise, rest, and stress reduction. These days, it’s easier said than done! Folks are hurting economically which causes heightened stress levels and stress has its impact on our bodies as well as emotions.
Like any self-respecting germ-a-phobic, I carry around my arsenal of protective antibacterial lotions, sprays, and wipes. I take my multivitamin and extra vitamin C during cold and flu season. I’ve recently added aromatherapy to my germ-fighting routine.
We generally think of aromatherapy as something used at a spa to create a soothing environment. But aromatherapy is so much more. Aromatherapy offers some powerful ways to protect us from all sorts of germs AND help to support our immune systems. The majority essential oils used in aromatherapy preparations have powerful antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Essential oils derive their antibacterial effect from their unique chemical makeup. Each pure essential oil consists of several, sometimes hundreds of distinct natural chemicals distilled from the essence of botanicals. Used properly, aromatherapy is one more tool of prevention in your kit.
Blend this anti-microbial mist in a 2 oz mist bottle and take it with you help keep those germs at bay.
- 2 drops of Clove essential oil
- 5 drops of Lemon essential oil
- 5 drops of Cinnamon essential oil
- 4 drops of Eucalyptus essential oil
- 4 drops Tea tree oil
- Fill the remainder of your bottle with distilled water and go!
Shake the bottle before spraying to mix the oils with the water. Spray on hands, car steering wheel, office phone, the air…anywhere!
