Recommendations to prevent infection by the virus consist of the standard personal precautions against influenza. This includes frequent washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after being out in-public. People should avoid touching their mouth, nose or eyes with their hands unless they've washed their hands. If people do cough, they should either cough into a tissue and throw it in the garbage immediately or, if they cough in their hand, they should wash their hands immediately.[79]
The previously recommended influenza vaccines for the southern and northern hemispheres, including that for the 2009/2010 flu season, are ineffective against the new strain.[80] Current development, large-scale manufacturing, distribution and delivery of a new vaccine takes several months.[71]
US based medical product company Baxter International has requested a virus sample from the WHO in order to begin development of a new vaccine.[81] Baxter has patented a cell-based technology that may allow the company to develop a vaccine in half the time it usually takes, possibly cutting development time from six months to three.[82]
Of the available antiviral treatments for influenza, the WHO stated that the viruses obtained from the human cases with swine influenza in the United States were sensitive to oseltamivir (Tamiflu)[83] and zanamivir (Relenza) but resistant to amantadine and remantadine.[84]
Tamiflu and Relenza also have a preventative effect against Influenzavirus A.[85] Roche and the US government have extended the shelf-life of stock-piled Tamiflu from the original five years to seven years because studies indicated that the medication continues to maintain its effectiveness.[86]
Some physicians in the US are recommending the use of masks when in public.[87] The purpose of a face mask is to effectively cover a person's mouth and nose so that if a person is around someone who is infected, there is a decreased likelihood of transmission. Recommendations to protect against the avian flu indicated that using a face mask with a rating of N99, N100 or P100 in the United States or a rating of FFP3 in Europe should be effective in protecting against transmission.[88] While face masks with these ratings provide 99% or greater efficiency in protecting against flu transmission, N95 or FFP2 face masks provide about 94% efficiency.[89] N95 and FFP2 rated face masks may therefore also be effective.
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