The 2009 Swine Flu outbreak has affected people in every state in the United States and many countries worldwide.
  The Swine Flu information available is a bit hard to interpret as it is estimated that only 1 in every 20 cases is actually confirmed.
  The actual number of infected people could be far greater than we know.
  As of right now the cases tend to be mild with very few deaths compared to the number of infections.
  However, the strain could become more deadly over time so it is good to know some swine flu prevention tips in order to keep you and your family safe.
What Not To Do:

• Don't panic!  It doesn't do anyone any good to have widespread panic.
    Just educate yourself on the necessary precautions you should take and put them into practice.
  
• Don't go into hibernation.
    As long as you are being cautious, there is no reason to not go about your daily activities as usual.
  
• Don't get suckered into buying Swine Flu Treatment products.
    The U.
  S.
  Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the only approved swine flu treatments currently are oseltamivir or zanamivir which are prescription antiviral drugs that are only used for severe cases of influenza.
  

What To Do:

• Wash your hands.
    It is crucial to wash your hands with soap and water multiple times a day, especially if you have been out in public places or exposed to someone with flu symptoms.
    If soap and water are not available, the CDC recommends the use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer as another effective way to kill germs.
  
• Avoid touching your eyes, mouth or nose.
    When people who are infected don't wash their hands or sneeze without covering their nose and mouth they spread their germs over a large area.
    Your hands touch all of these infected areas so if you avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose until you have washed or disinfected your hands you can reduce the risk of catching an illness.
    Most colds and cases of influenza are spread from hand to mouth/nose contact.
  
• Boost your immune system.
    People with healthy immune systems are much more likely to be able to fight off a cold or flu if they are exposed to it.
     You can improve your immune system by eating immune boosting foods or taking an immune boosting supplement.
  

If you do happen to start experiencing flu-like symptoms, help avoid the spread of swine flu by staying at home for at least 7 days or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer as per the CDC's recommendation.