Touch
The swine flu or swine influenza is a strain of disease that affects the respiratory tract in humans. It is derived from the type A influenza that originally comes from pigs. The flu has also been named the H1N1 flu. The swine flu cannot be spread directly from eating pork, although in very rare cases it has been transmitted through the mucous membranes of a sick pig to a human. One of the easiest ways to get the swine flu is by casual touch. This means that if someone who was infected with the swine flu touched a solid surface area, such as a door handle, table, faucet, keyboard, eating utensil or pen, the virus could survive. There is a strong probability of transmission if the infected person touches those items and someone else comes along and touches them and inhales the virus. Casually touching someone with a handshake, hug or a kiss can also be a way to transmit the virus. Making sure to utilize proper hand washing techniques after coming in contact with any possible contaminated surface will help prevent the transmission of the virus.
Air
Another way that the swine flu can be transmitted is through the air. In order to get the virus this way, the person who is sick has to sneeze, cough or allow some form of contaminated mucous to be released from their body. Once the mucous is released, it forms small droplets. These droplets stay in the air for a short period of time. If someone happens to be walking by, the droplet has to reach their nasal passages through inhalation, their mouth through swallowing or through their eyes. Always try to avoid upfront and personal contact with someone who has any of the following symptoms; cough, sore throat, fever, stuffy nose, headache, fatigue and body chills. Making sure to avoid close contact with people that are sick and utilizing hand sanitizer to kill germs may help combat getting the virus.
Fabric
The swine flu can also be transmitted through fabric, such as dirty clothes and linens. Any time the contaminated individual wipes their hands or mucous secretions on fabric, the virus can then be spread to someone else. Droplets of mucous or saliva from the other person can land on linens, such as bed sheets, furniture and clothing. If not washed in hot water, someone else can catch the flu from direct contact with the secretions. If someone has been sick with the flu, it is best to keep all linens fresh and wash hands after handling the bedding and sheets.
