Children are at high risk for swine flu.

Children appear to be at higher risk for swine flu than adults according to studies.  There are several things one can do to help reduce risk of viral transmission according to Dr. Eric Madrid.

1.  Wash hands frequently. Consider regular hand gel use.

2. Sneeze into your elbow, not into your hands.  When one sneezes into their hands and then touches a door, a shopping  cart or shakes  hands- germs are easily spread.

3.  Optimize intake of vitamin D and sunlight exposure.   Influenza viruses are spread more during the  Winter and Spring when blood vitamin D blood levels lower.  Have their physician check  your child’s vitamin D level.  I recently checked my daughters and she surprisingly was vitamin D deficient- this was in the middle of summer. Learn more about vitamin D by reading Vitamin D Prescription

4.  If you are traveling, consider a N95 ViramMask or child’s mask.  Wein Products has manufactured the only line of self adhesive masks. This is a must for those planning on Winter travel.

5. The Swine Flu vaccine is not yet read as of this posting. However, clinical trials are underway.  It is hoped that the new vaccine won’t be as dangerous as the 1976 swine flu vaccine.  Talk to your physician if the swine flu is right for you or your children.  According to a recent report, vaccination may be mandatory or forced, under penalty of a $1,000 fine or 6 months in prison.

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Article Below from Bloomberg.

By Tom Randall

Aug. 27 (Bloomberg) — Children were 14 times more likely to be sickened by swine flu than adults 60 and older, the age group that is typically the most at risk for influenza, according to a U.S. study of the disease.

Children ages 5 to 14 became ill with swine flu, also known as H1N1, at a rate of 147 per 100,000 people, according to the study of 1,557 confirmed illnesses, including seven deaths, in Chicago from April to July, months when the flu virus usually doesn’t spread. The findings were reported today by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

U.S. health officials are planning a vaccination campaign that will focus on those who are disproportionately affected by H1N1, which include children, pregnant women and adults with underlying health conditions. A separate CDC study released today from New Zealand showed swine flu targeted younger people and dominated other virus strains after circulating for just one month during the winter, when influenza is more active.

“Like other Southern Hemisphere countries with temperate climates, New Zealand entered its winter season with co- circulation of both seasonal and 2009 pandemic influenza strains,” said the authors of today’s report, published in the CDC’sMorbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. “The number of viruses identified as 2009 pandemic influenza rapidly overtook the number identified as seasonal influenza.”

In New Zealand, the number of patients with flu symptoms who sought medical attention was 1,518 doctor visits for every 100,000 people from May 3 to Aug. 2, according to the report by the CDC…read more here…