Invest Los Cabos

The world abandoned their Mexico vacation plans by the tens of thousands when news of the "dreaded Swine Flu" hit the headlines. Yup, yet another crippling blow to an already beaten and bruised 2009 tourism season here in Los Cabos. Oh well, bring it on... if we can survive the bad press on Mexico's drug wars, pig disease & dirty cops... we can survive ANYTHING!!

It is now more commonly known that Swine Flu, H1N1, Bacon's Revenge (or whatever you want to call it) is a worldwide problem and not just localized to Mexico. That being said, it never hurts to be safe. Below are a few tips on how to prevent infection. This advice comes courtesy of Dr. Vinay Goyal, who is currently heading the Nuclear Medicine Department & Thyroid Clinic @ Riddhivinayak Critical & Cardiac Center, Malad. The guy has got a LOT of letters behind his name, but this is mostly common sense kinda stuff... but again, refer to the Golden Rules above.
 

1. Frequent hand washing
2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of the face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap). 
3. Gargle twice a dy with warm salt water (use Listerine if you do not trust salt) H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. Ina way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one.
4. Clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effectvive in bringing down viral population.
5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C. If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
6. Drink warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc.). Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate, or do any harm.

Other interesting facts on Bacon's Revenge (aka Swine Flu):

1. H1N1, like other Influenza A viruses, only infects the upper respiratory tract and proliferates only there. The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/ throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it’s almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions.
2. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
3. What most N95 respirators (face masks) are designed to filter is about 95% particulates of 0.3, while the size of H1N1 virus is about 0.1. Hence, dependence on N95 to protect against H1N1 is like protecting against rain with an umbrella made of mosquito net.
4. Tamiflu drug does not kill the virus, but it prevents H1N1 from further proliferation till the virus limits itself in about 1-2 weeks during the virus’ natural cycle.