Swine flu: LaPook, Gross, Ashton address symptoms and prevention
Dr. Jon LaPook from CBS News discusses the level of concern Americans should have about the swine flu outbreak in the U.S. Flu experts Dr. Peter Gross and Dr. Jennifer Ashton join to address symptoms and prevention. See video.
After the Evening News, CBS News medical correspondents Dr. Jon LaPook and Dr. Jennifer Ashton sat down with flu expert Dr. Peter Gross to answer viewers questions about swine flu.
Q: Should I buy Tamiflu?
A: "The national stockpile consists of doses of Tamiflu for one-quarter of the U.S. Population," said Ashton. "Ideal use of Tamiflu is on the advice of a physician. You first want to be diagnosed. It's not for someone with a cold coming on."
LaPook said there is plenty of Tamiflu for the people who need it unless there is a run on it. "Doctors should not be giving Tamiflu because they are being pressured by their patients," he said.
Q: What are symptoms of swine flu?
A: LaPook said symptoms include fever, aches and pains, cough, headache, runny nose, sore throat, and can include gastro-intestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
"This is beyond the cold," Ashton said. "You feel like you want to die. These are severe symptoms. It's not something where people are going to work and thinking, 'I'm not feeling my best today.' It's severe and not subtle."
Gross said that one key thing that was being emphasized during this outbreak as opposed to other epidemics is the need to stay home if you are feeling ill, as well as keeping sick children out of school.
Q: What are some things I can do to help prevent becoming sick?
A: The experts said to make sure you're washing your hands frequently, as well as sneezing into a tissue and throwing it away, to help prevent the spread of sickness. Gross said that the germs can be killed with alcohol-based hand sanitizer. If you have travel plans to Mexico, it might be best to cancel them. And if you are in Mexico, consider driving back rather than returning by airplane.
If you think you have flu symptoms, be sure to contact a doctor, LaPook said. "It's a fluid situation, and recommendations are changing," he said. "Be in touch with a doctor and the department of health."
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