I
am Tivoli
Not my country's enemy
But a lovely garden
Created free to bloom...
Can't you see?
I am Tivoli
Not here for pain to engulf me
But to be all that I am here to be
To shine from the lightness of my soul
Not to be raped in the night
And left carrying painful memories
So deep inside my soul.
I am Tivoli
Roughly broken from the company of my innocence ...
And now my lonely tears are teasing,
And showing shameful flicks in the presence of my Jamaican eyes
I am Tivoli
Tell me,
what right do you have to be so unkind to me ?
My
Pleasures.
I
find
pleasure in world movement.
People from all walks of life
Embracing the mind from God's intuition
Brothers and sisters crisscrossing
And holding mystical and magical hands.
Still, they don't know that "God gives beauty
for ashes"
Why don't I plant it on our faces?
Like corn seeds, a personality needs washing,
Drying by the sun before sowing and growing .
That's the ultimate rule for growth.
So, go on and "purify" me, if you can!
I have something new that I can't share.
Not until the world understands the value of it
all.
Then, we'll be proud together...
See, something powerful is pulling me away from
that
Dark well inside your throat
For I must fly worldwide,
And wake up to God sunshine and good energy
Here in this place,
I only see weeds and thorns dwelling in false psalms.
In this worldly snow world up north,
The lilies are all dead or dying
But I keep my pleasures focused inside my
head and heart...
As I wrap my days and my nights
Inside the colorful blanket of World Movement.
"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's
need, but not every man's greed." -M. Gandhi
*********************
1) "I don't have money"
2) "I don't have the time"
3) "I don't know anyone there"
4) "I don't think I can go to a '"third world
country'" right now"
5) "Why help someone else when I have problems
in my own country?"
6) "What about me…me…me…me?"
7) "If I leave my man/woman behind someone else
might take him or her"
8) "Not now...when I'm rich I'll contribute to
others"
9) "la la la la la la la la la la"
Ok, you complain about the youths not making
progress in life.
You complain about human nature and their
selfishness.
You complain because you don't like those in
charge.
You complain.
You complain.
You complain.
Well, please allow me to ask this question:
Who will help the young people in this world if
you doing nothing but complain?
I am sure there is something positive you can do
to contribute to the human race.
Even if you give your used garments...even if
you give your used books...even if you give some
of your hundred pairs of shoes...even if you
give your pennies, nickels, dimes, and
quarters...EVEN IF YOU CAN ONLY GIVE SOMEONE A
PLATE OF FOOD...Yes, that is a start. Get
involved. You too can help make a difference...
Stop complaining and help.
I know you are not rich like Madonna or Oprah
...but little by little you can help build a
freedom nest. But if you just sit around doing
nothing and complaining about the barriers of
life, well, tell me, who will stand up and break
the barriers of life so our brothers and sisters
can evolve in life??
Young women,
Young men,
Humanity needs you.
You can join Red Cross, or world vision, or any
humanitarian organizations. You'll see how sweet
it is to be "human" and hold the sick, and lead
the blind. You'll see how "Christ like" your
spirit will feel. Please stop looking at life as
a slippery slope. Stop complaining and start
giving thanks for your blessings and contribute
to change.
However, please forgive me if this humanitarian
cry sounds like a persuasive speech.
Truly, I only meant for it to be an informative
speech.
Please bear with me. I'll do better next time!
~ Fania Simon (Yesayah)
*************************************
"Compassion without respect is pity, and the
Haitian people don't want your pity.
They are too strong for that!" - Queen Latifah
The Day our Hearts Wore Blue
Blue,
of a higher scene,
designed for hope
and change, from madness of sadness...
below, underneath the skies of blue --
where tons of stars now listen to you
Oh cries of blue,
pain, made to return us no more!
our souls are smoking dust from you ...
and in this moment in time,
bring out hope from dawn
to settle our painful wound
Blue, o' old time blue!
this time, please race!
come, cover our hope from the madness
that wears the crown of our elders
dig deep the rocks
that are so hard
on the burn of our skin
in this shift within,
share the flight of our blues
with the far away crew --
from tribes, burnt blood,
bones, stiff from religious flags
sown in an atmosphere
where stars violently dance
inside the dying blue or black
but on the day we wore blue,
send faith and hope down
from the nations of watercolor
paint, forming inside
the living YOU....
~ fania simon
Voices Against Violence
Two months ago today, a massive
earthquake struck Haiti, killing
almost 225,000 people and leaving
more than a million people
homeless. For them, especially the
women and girls, panic sets in
every night as the sun retreats.
The women here talk of mauvais
esprits (bad spirits)
stalking the survivors of the
devastating earthquake.
"Young men come with weapons and
rape the women. They haven't
reported it, because the
hospitals, the police — everything
was destroyed in the earthquake,"
reports Hannah, a nurse who sleeps
in a makeshift tent in a volatile
camp outside of Port-au-Prince.
Incidence of rape in Haiti was
high before the earthquake and,
now, women and girls are even more
vulnerable: streets still are dark
due to lack of electricity, and
crowded camps and unprotected
bathing and toilet areas leave
women and girls vulnerable to
harassment and sexual brutality.
Recently, we asked you to add your
voice by signing our "Voices
Against Violence" petition. Now,
you can take the next step by
making a tax-deductible gift to
CARE today. Your donation
helps CARE foster women's
empowerment, including helping to
reduce and prevent gender-based
violence in Haiti and many other
poor communities around the world.
The consequences of gender-based
violence are serious and felt not
only by the survivors, but also
their communities. In addition to
serious reproductive and general
health risks, survivors often
suffer deep psychological scars
that endure for the rest of their
lives.
CARE's extensive programming
addresses the needs of poor women
and girls, many of whom are at
risk of gender-based violence.
Some examples include:
Helping to establish centers in
Haiti to provide comprehensive
programs on women's health and
counseling for survivors of
violence.
Building well-lit, segregated
latrines and showers and taking
other measures to increase
security for women and girls in
Haiti.
Working with community clinics,
local organizations and
governments worldwide so that
women can confidentially report
sexual violence and receive the
care they need.
Let us not ignore the mauvais
esprits that prey on women
and girls in Haiti and around the
world. Please
make a gift to CARE today, and
help create a brighter future for
all.
Sincerely,
Helene D. Gayle, MD, MPH
President and CEO, CARE
*************************************
Stop The
Violence & Feed the People Worldwide
Image credit
(unknown)
Spoken:
Think about the generations and to say we want to make it a better
world for our children and our children's children. So that they know
it's a better world for them; and think if they can make it a better
place.
There's a place in your heart
And I know that it is love
And this place could be much
Brighter than tomorrow.
And if you really try
You'll find there's no need to cry
In this place you'll feel
There's no hurt or sorrow.
There are ways to get there
If you care enough for the living
Make a little space, make a better place.
Chorus:
Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me and the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place for
You and for me.
If you want to know why
There's a love that cannot lie
Love is strong
It only cares for joyful giving.
If we try we shall see
In this bliss we cannot feel
Fear or dread
We stop existing and start living
Then it feels that always
Love's enough for us growing
Make a better world, make a better world.
Chorus:
Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me and the entire human race.
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place for
You and for me.
Bridge:
And the dream we would conceived in
Will reveal a joyful face
And the world we once believed in
Will shine again in grace
Then why do we keep strangling life
Wound this earth, crucify it's soul
Though it's plain to see, this world is heavenly
Be God's glow.
We could fly so high
Let our spirits never die
In my heart I feel
You are all my brothers
Create a world with no fear
Together we'll cry happy tears
See the nations turn
Their swords into plowshares
We could really get there
If you cared enough for the living
Make a little space to make a better place.
Chorus:
Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me and the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place for
You and for me.
Refrain (2x)
There are people dying if you care enough for the living
Make a better place for you and for me.
There are people dying if you care enough for the living
Make a better place for you and for me.
You and for me / Make a better place
You and for me /
Make a better place You and for me /
Make a better place You and for me /
Heal the world we live in You and for me /
Save it for our children You and for me /
Heal the world we live in You and for me /
Save it for our children You and for me /
Heal the world we live in You and for me /
Save it for our children You and for me /
Heal the world we live in You and for me /
Save it for our children
~ M.J.J for life
*****************
Malawian boy uses wind
to power hope, electrify village
(CNN) --
William Kamkwamba dreamed of powering his
village with the only resource that was freely
available to him.
His
native Malawi had gone through one of its worst
droughts seven years ago, killing thousands. His
family and others were surviving on one meal a
day. The red soil in his Masitala hometown was
parched, leaving his father, a farmer, without
any income.
But
amid all the shortages, one thing was still
abundant.
Wind.
"I wanted to do something to help and change
things," he said. "Then I said to myself, 'If
they can make electricity out of wind, I can
try, too.'"
Kamkwamba was kicked out of school when he
couldn't pay $80 in school fees, and he spent
his days at the library, where a book with
photographs of windmills caught his eye.
"I
thought, this thing exists in this book, it
means someone else managed to build this
machine," he said.
Armed with the book, the then-14-year-old taught
himself to build windmills. He scoured through
junkyards for items, including bicycle parts,
plastic pipes, tractor fans and car batteries.
For the tower, he collected wood from blue-gum
trees.
"Everyone laughed at me when I told them I was
building a windmill. They thought I was crazy,"
he said. "Then I started telling them I was just
playing with the parts. That sounded more
normal."
That
was 2002. Now, he has five windmills, the
tallest at 37 feet. He built one at an area
school that he used to teach classes on
windmill-building.
The
windmills generate electricity and pump water in
his hometown, north of the capital, Lilongwe.
Neighbors regularly trek across the dusty
footpaths to his house to charge their
cellphones. Others stop by to listen to
Malawian
reggae music blaring from a radio.
When he
started building the first windmill in 2002,
word that he was "crazy" spread all over his
village. Some people said he was bewitched -- a
common description for people with perplexing
behavior in some African cultures.
"All of
us, even my mother, thought that he had gone
mad," said his sister Doris Kamkwamba.
Villagers would surround him to snicker and
point, Kamkwamba said. Ignoring them, he would
quietly bolt pieces using a screwdriver made of
a heated nail attached to a corncob. The heat --
from both the crowd and the melted, flattened
pipes he used as blades -- did not deter him.
Three
months later, his first windmill churned to life
as relief swept over him. As the blades whirled,
a bulb attached to the windmill flickered on.
"I
wanted to finish it just to prove them wrong,"
he said. "I knew people would then stop thinking
I was crazy."
Kamkwamba, now 22, is a student at the African
Leadership Academy, an elite South African
school for young leaders. Donors pay for his
education.
His
story has turned him into a globetrotter. Former
U.S. Vice President Al Gore, an avid advocate of
green living, has applauded his work. Kamkwamba
is invited to events worldwide to share his
experience with entrepreneurs. During a recent
trip to Palm Springs, California, he saw a real
windmill for the first time -- lofty and
majestic -- a far cry from the wobbly, wooden
structures that spin in his backyard.
Former
Associated Press correspondent Bryan Mealer, who
covered Africa, wrote a book, "The Boy Who
Harnessed the Wind," after hearing Kamkwamba's
story. The book was released in the United
States last week.
Mealer,
a native of San Antonio, Texas, said he lived
with Kamkwamba in his village for months to
write the book. The story was a refreshing
change after years of covering bloody conflicts
in the region, Mealer said.
Kamkwamba is part of a generation of Africans
who are not waiting for their governments or aid
groups to come to their rescue, according to the
author.
"They
are seizing opportunities and technology, and
finding solutions to their own problems," Mealer
said. "One of the keys of his success is ...
he's never wanted to rest on his laurels."
"See? People will call you crazy when you
want to try --
but do not allow your
dream to die!
- So what
if they don't believe in your dream? You, must
first believe!!" fania
simon
LIFE OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL
Dear Friend,
Little Kimoni cannot tell you his story. His
young life has been taken by his drinking
water. What was meant to give him life instead
delivered death.
His name means "great man" . . . unfortunately,
this little boy didn't live to fulfill his
namesake. One of Kimoni's chores was to walk
down a long dirt road each day to draw water for
his family from a collection pond used by both
animals and humans! There is no well within 20
miles of the village so this journey for water
became his "road to death."
The water is brown and dirty with paw and hoof
prints in the muddy surrounding banks. Children
like Kimoni often brush back the surface scum to
find what they think is "clean water"
underneath. Every day children like Kimoni bring
disease home in a bucket filled
with "silent killers" -- water-borne parasites
and bacteria that can take their lives.
But, with your help we can drill wells in Angola
and four other nations in Africa this year -- a
total of 200 new wells. They can't reach clean
water with hand-dug wells. But, the Water for
LIFE mobile drilling rigs can be put to work
with your help today.
Copy and paste this link into your browser to
view photos from Sudan and Angola:
High
Cyclone Alert?
The heavy wind is blowing,
betraying the sky that covers me to sleep.
And it is early in the day
It's already chanting its power
To the trees, to the women, men and the children
of the land.
Up there, take off the floor of the sky
And now it's coming towards me,
Hey! I am poor but not ready to die.
What can I do?
I am just "little me" before you...
Even mountains together can't rise against you.
You kill and kill and kill but always the
poor.
How do you expect us to love you?
To eye you, I climb trees above leaves,
Now I realize that I'm
really nothing compare to you.
So let me cry with them, mortals that are
sleeping outside,
Begging you to spare our very last breath.
O' wind! I fight to rise from mud.
But I'm not ready to turn to dust.
Hire me, o' please hire me!
"A big head is only heavy when the NECK is not
strong." Yoruba saying
A Child Like Sofi
Everyday I wake
I hear myself humming
A little song for all children
Adults keep mistreating
There was a time I was walking
In a dark corner, I was passing
I began to hear a child’s voice crying
I ran to help him (or her)
In darkness, I was looking
And when I found her, I started listening
And asked: Little darling,
What is happening?
“It is my father,” she said, “he raped me!”
O' I cannot stay with my mouth shut!
Why do you want me to sit, look, and not sing?
I must hum grief from my intestines
And vibrate everything in my children’s hearts
Ey! When I look at this child,
I know she could have been my sister.
When I look at this child
I knew that could have been my brother
Look at a child like Sofi
Look at a child like Mari
Look at a child like Eddie
Look at a child like Marc
O' I cannot stay here
Gossiping and rejoicing in their pain
I must hum and fight this sadness in my heart
I must fight silence and change this wickedness
Look at a child like Geraldine
Look at a child like Carline
Look at a child like Jocelyn
Look at a child like Pam
O’ Help, protect them all!
It is this reality, which we must change
Do something, think and speak for them
Silence cannot change our children's lives
O' I cannot stay with my mouth shut
I cannot sit and just stay mute
I must hum all spoiled stories
Destroying the souls of these kids
In darkness, we (adults) create more… void
In rain, we (adults) create more… mud
Why not unite and clean our yards
So our children can grow and reach far
Look at a child like Rita!
Look at a child like Anita!
Look at a child like Frank!
Look at tears…tears, tears!
Look!
Look at a child like Sofi.
fania simon
Somebody Needs What You Can Give
Pastor Paula White
Numbers are significant to God.
The number "9" signifies "gifts," and "fruit."
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 states that we are given
nine different ways in which the Holy Spirit
shows Himself in our lives. And as with the
"gifts of the Spirit" described in Galatians
5:22, these are inner qualities that bless those
around us when we share them.
For those of us who love God and truly want to
see His presence manifested in our lives, I
believe that in 2009 it will be especially
important to reach out to those around us with
the gifts we are given.
How we share our blessings, gifts, and talents
with others is how we show God's love and allow
our lives to be a light to the world around us.
Love is a verb - an action word. We can love
those around us by our simple actions of giving.
Each of us has something to give our world. And
somebody out there needs what you can give!
Giving is not about a financial thing --
although that is one way to give. Sharing with
others stems from our inner being; it is giving
of ourselves, our talents and our abilities.
Today one of the most valuable gifts we can give
someone may be our time.
Any time is a good time to give, however, during
seasons of struggle, hardship, or transition --
which many of us are experiencing now -- I think
it is especially important. It is easy to become
self-absorbed, and feel we have nothing to give.
But I assure you, you have something somebody
needs. It may be a warm smile, or a friendly
touch! I have found through my own experiences
that when I'm going through difficult times, it
helps to make a deliberate and conscious choice
to give of myself to others.
While going through a series of very painful
experiences, I visited a nearby nursing home and
devoted a portion of every week to five elderly
people who had nobody else visiting them. My
gifts to them were simple:
I listened to stories of their childhood
adventures.
I held their hands and told them stories of my
own.
I joked with them.
Sometimes I brought them soft cookies they could
"gum" on -- or little bouquets of flowers they
could smell, even if they couldn't see them.
By sharing simple acts of kindness with these
precious seniors, not only was God's love
manifested, but it brought me incredible
blessings of joy and happiness and allowed me to
focus on the positive side of my personal life.
When we give to others it is impossible not to
be blessed.
In 2009, a year that I call "The Year of the
Spirit," I encourage you to take time to hear the small still voice
within.
Be sensitive to God's Spirit in every area of
your life. Find simple ways of sharing the gifts
He has given you with the people around you. You
will, in turn, find yourself filled with joy and
contentment, as you become His hand extended to
a hurting world.
Remember, your life is a gift from God - what
you do with your life is your gift to Him.
A life
coach, author, and highly sought after
motivational speaker, Pastor Paula White is the
host of her own television program -- Paula
Today, which reaches an audience of 2.3 billion
people worldwide, spearheading a number of
global humanitarian efforts. Her mission in life
is to Transform Lives, Heal Hearts and Win
Souls. For more information about Paula, log
onto
www.paulawhite.org.
Here
you are again my friend
Laying in the operation room
Your chest is wide open
'Cause you're waiting for an organ
To activate your life again
But the plane carrying the organ just crashed...
It was so close to reaching you-- fast
Here you are again my friend
Laying there on the table
Looking frail…just lifeless
Doctors are worries
Because you have no breath.
A storm of emotions
Is whirling within them all
Because they have no hope
For your survival
Here you are again my friend
Your life is in danger
Everyone is here
But you are not here
At this point,
Your life is no longer yours.
However, miraculously,
While the victims
Are resting under water
Swallowing protein from the ocean
In company of the liberated organ,
A new pair of lungs walked in your way.
This is a gift from God, I must say
Now everyone who did not believe is smiling
For the Doctors finally activated you to stay.
So here you are again my friend
Welcome to your second chance
What are you going to do today?
As a clairvoyant,
I see your destiny spreading out in front of
you.
Yes, it is all about Humanitarianism
my friend!
Will you embrace it?
The human
swine flu outbreak continues to grow in
the United States and internationally. Today,
CDC reports additional cases of confirmed
swine influenza and a number of hospitalizations
of swine flu patients
including one confirmed case in Orlando.
Internationally, the situation is more serious
too, with additional countries reporting
confirmed cases of swine flu. In response to the
intensifying outbreak, the
World Health Organization raised the
worldwide
pandemic alert level to Phase 4.
A Phase 4 alert is characterized by confirmed
person-to-person spread of a new influenza virus
able to cause “community-level” outbreaks.” The
increase in the
pandemic alert phase indicates that the
likelihood of a pandemic has increased.
If you have
travelled to Mexico or any of the other outbreak
areas; or you have come in contact with anyone
who has; or you are experiencing flu-like
symptoms, please contact
Human Resources or your manager before
reporting to work.
Below is
important information you should know:
Questions & Answers
Swine Influenza and You
What is swine flu?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a
respiratory disease of pigs caused by
type A influenza viruses that causes regular
outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get
swine flu, but
human infections can and do happen. Swine
flu viruses have been reported to spread from
person-to-person, but in the past, this
transmission was limited and not sustained
beyond three people.
Is this swine flu virus
contagious?
CDC has determined that this swine influenza A
(H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from
human to human. However, at this time, it not
known how easily the virus spreads between
people.
What are the signs and
symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar
to the symptoms of regular human flu and include
fever, cough,
sore throat, body aches, headache, chills
and fatigue. Some people have reported
diarrhea and vomiting associated with
swine flu. In the past, severe illness
(pneumonia and
respiratory failure) and deaths have been
reported with swine flu infection in people.
Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a
worsening of
underlying chronic medical conditions.
How does swine flu spread?
Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is
thought to be happening in the same way that
seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread
mainly from person to person through coughing or
sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes
people may become infected by touching something
with flu viruses on it and then touching their
mouth or nose.
How can someone with the
flu infect someone else?
Infected people may be able to infect others
beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up
to 7 or more days after becoming sick. That
means that you may be able to pass on the flu to
someone else before you know you are sick, as
well as while you are sick.
What should I do to keep
from getting the flu?
First and most
important:
wash your hands.
Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty
of sleep, be physically active, manage your
stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat
nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may
be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close
contact with people who are sick.
Are there medicines to
treat swine flu?
Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or
zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of
infection with these swine influenza viruses.
Antiviral drugs are
prescription medicines (pills, liquid or
an inhaler) that fight against the flu by
keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your
body. If you get sick,
antiviral drugs can make your illness
milder and make you feel better faster. They may
also prevent serious flu complications. For
treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started
soon after getting sick (within 2 days of
symptoms).
How long can an infected
person spread swine flu to others?
People with
swine influenza virus infection should be
considered potentially contagious as long as
they are symptomatic and possible for up to 7
days following illness onset. Children,
especially younger children, might potentially
be contagious for longer periods.
What surfaces are most
likely to be sources of contamination?
Germs can be spread when a person touches
something that is contaminated with germs and
then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected
person move through the air. Germs can be spread
when a person touches respiratory droplets from
another person on a surface like a desk and then
touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before
washing their hands.
How long can viruses live
outside the body?
We know that some viruses and bacteria can live
2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria
tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent
handwashing will help you reduce the chance of
getting contamination from these common
surfaces.
What can I do to protect
myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to
protect against swine flu. There are everyday
actions that can help prevent the spread of
germs that cause respiratory illnesses like
influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect
your health:
Cover your nose and mouth
with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw
the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with
soap and water, especially after you cough or
sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also
effective.
Avoid touching your eyes,
nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact
with
sick people.
If you get sick with
influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home
from work or school and limit contact with
others to keep from infecting them.
What is the best way to
keep from spreading the virus through coughing
or sneezing?
If you are sick, limit your
contact with other people as much as possible.
Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your
mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or
sneezing. It may prevent those around you from
getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste
basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not
have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so
every time you cough or sneeze.
What is the best way to
keep from spreading the virus through coughing
or sneezing?
If you are sick, limit your contact with other
people as much as possible. Do not go to work or
school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a
tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent
those around you from getting sick. Put your
used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your
cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue.
Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you
cough or sneeze.
What is the best technique
for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?
Washing your hands often will help protect you
from germs. Wash with soap and water. or clean
with alcohol-based hand cleaner. we recommend
that when you wash your hands -- with soap and
warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20
seconds. When soap and water are not available,
alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel
sanitizers may be used. You can find them in
most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel,
rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel
doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it
kills the germs on your hands.
What should I do if I get
sick?
If you live in areas where swine influenza cases
have been identified and become ill with
influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body
aches,
runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or
vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact
their health care provider, particularly if you
are worried about your symptoms. Your health
care provider will determine whether influenza
testing or treatment is needed.
If you are sick, you should
stay home and avoid contact with other people as
much as possible to keep from spreading your
illness to others.
If you become ill and
experience any of the following warning signs,
seek
emergency medical care.
In children emergency warning
signs that need urgent medical attention
include:
Fast breathing or trouble
breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not
interacting
Being so irritable that the
child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve
but then return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash
In adults, emergency warning
signs that need urgent medical attention
include:
Difficulty breathing or
shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the
chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent
vomiting
How serious is swine flu
infection?
Like seasonal flu, swine flu in humans can vary
in severity from mild to severe. Between 2005
until January 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu
were detected in the U.S. with no deaths
occurring. However, swine flu infection can be
serious. In September 1988, a previously healthy
32-year-old pregnant woman in Wisconsin was
hospitalized for pneumonia after being infected
with swine flu and died 8 days later. A
swine flu outbreak in
Fort Dix, New Jersey occurred in 1976
that caused more than 200 cases with serious
illness in several people and one death.
Can I get swine influenza
from eating or preparing pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not spread by
food.
You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork
or pork products. Eating properly handled and
cooked pork products is safe.
