Q & A: What You Need To Know About Swine Flu

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A never-before-seen strain of swine flu has turned killer in Mexico and is causing milder illness in the United States and elsewhere. While authorities say it's not time to panic, they are taking steps to stem the spread and also urging people to pay close attention to the latest health warnings and take their own precautions.
"Individuals have a key role to play," Dr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Monday.

Here's what you need to know:

Q: How do I protect myself and my family?

A: For now, take commonsense precautions. Cover your coughs and sneezes, with a tissue that you throw away or by sneezing into your elbow rather than your hand. Wash hands frequently; if soap and water aren't available, hand gels can substitute. Stay home if you're sick and keep children home from school if they are.

Q: How easy is it to catch this virus?

A: Scientists don't yet know if it takes fairly close or prolonged contact with someone who's sick, or if it's more easily spread. But in general, flu viruses spread through uncovered coughs and sneezes or - and this is important - by touching your mouth or nose with unwashed hands. Flu viruses can live on surfaces for several hours, like a doorknob just touched by someone who sneezed into his hand.

Q: In Mexico, officials are handing out face masks. Do I need one?

A: The CDC says there's not good evidence that masks really help outside of health care settings. It's safer just to avoid close contact with someone who's sick and avoid crowded gatherings in places where swine flu is known to be spreading. But if you can't do that, CDC guidelines say it's OK to consider a mask - just don't let it substitute for good precautions.

Q: Is swine flu treatable?

A: Yes, with the flu drugs Tamiflu or Relenza, but not with two older flu medications.

By Aaron Deslatte, Tallahassee Bureau

The Senate has passed an insurance bill-light that would allow state-run Citizens Property Insurance to raise homeowners rates on its mostly coastal customers by 5 percent annually to help make the company financially solvent.

Now the two chambers must reconcile whether to allow the state insurer of last resort a more rapid cash build-up under the House version sponsored by Rep. Bryan Nelson, R-Apopka, which would allow rates to go up 20 percent a year.

The Senate bill was watered down at the behest of coastal lawmakers from Hialeah to Tampa who complained homeowners could not absorb the higher costs while household incomes were falling, and Gov.

»www.nwtntoday.com/news.php?viewStory=24982

Tennessee pilot David Powell is among 1,400 volunteer pilots who offer to transport people in need of medical attention as part of the Airlift Hope project. The transportation is offered for free and the program is supported entirely through the volunteer pilots, who donate the costs of each flight with tax-deductible donations, and from grants.