There are about 70,000 ordinary influenza patients a year in Canada, with 4,000 to 8,000 terminal cases. The numbers of swine flu cases are much less so far. Up to now, there are 8,883 confirmed cases of the H1N1 swine flu in Canada, with 36 related deaths. (Ontario - 3,464 patients, 12 deaths.) Don't you sometimes wonder, when comparing these statistics, why does WHO care so much about the swine influenza, when so many people die every year because of the ordinary influenza?
Although the statistics of the ordinary influenza seem very serious, the truth is that it is deadly only to the weak, elderly or to very young babies. Probably the main reason why WHO is watching the swine influenza so rigorously is that - as opposed to the ordinary influenza - it is especially dangerous to mostly young and strong people. Another thing is that WHO is making sure that the 1918 pandemic is not going to come back. That's why the WHO has been advised on using facemasks to reduce the spreading of the dangerous influenza.
A side comment - if you read about the two Saskatchewan farmers getting sick with a new type of swine influenza, don't worry. The farmers only stayed from very light influenza and the officials don't think this new flu will spread.
The mask: what is it for?
Influenza, or simply flu, is a lung illness. There are generally two ways to catch the influenza - either by aspirating the virus when somebody who suffers from it sneezes or coughs or by touching the face with a contaminated hand. If you think that avoiding a sick person will keep you safe, is not particularly right, since there's a catch: one day before you are aware of any symptoms, you are already dispersing the virus to your immune. You stay contagious for another seven days since the first symptoms. So before you knew you were sick, you might have infected other people at home, work or school or wherever you were, since you didn't feel ill.
The whole idea about the facility is to build a barrier between you and your surroundings. The typical face mask doesn't prove to be too effective in filtering what you breath in, so it might not save you from the virus in the water. But the mask proved much more effective in blocking the virus when you exhale, sneeze or cough, so it makes it more sense to wear it when you are sick so that you don't spread it more. One must also consider that wearing the mask when still feeling OK might also help to stop the virus from spreading, since people that feel completely fine might already be contagious.
What mask to choose?
As a real estate broker I am in inevitable contact with various people in various places, often for several hours. this puts me in risk, like many of you who work with people and / or in closed, air conditioned places. Proper prevention is inevitable, but we should be aware of the scientific results. If you are considering wearing the facemask to protect yourself from possible inhalation of the virus caused by someone who was infected accidentally sneezing or coughing near you, you should consider switching from the basic face or surgeon mask to the N95 respirator. The "95" means that the mask or respirator filters at least 95% of the particles you are trying to avoid. That's pretty high!
While wearing a mask or respirator could prove quite useful, no mask will ever do its job properly if we forget about the elementary hygiene recommendation. For example, frequently wash your hands either with soap and water, or use some alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Another rule is to block your cough or sneeze with a tissue and discharging it straight after. Another must is to stay at home when you don't feel 100%.
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