COLUMN: “Sweeney’s Side” - H1N1: The next chapter

It seems like eons have passed since the first person uttered that combination of letters and numbers with which we are all now too familiar: H1N1. When the first case of the swine flu was reported in South Carolina it didn’t take long for people to speculate where it would strike next, how widespread it would be and—the topic that has received much attention —how the flu would affect our schools and our children.

Locally, there have been several cases of the new strain reported. You would be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t at least know of someone who has suffered or is suffering from the virus.

As is the case with any medical malady, the situation is a serious one. Just like the seasonal flu, H1N1 has claimed victims in nearly every area it has been reported. Time and time again, medical officials tell their patients and the media that while the situation is serious, prevention measures for the swine flu are the same as for the seasonal one. Covering your mouth when you sneeze and cough, washing your hands regularly and making sure not to share eating utensils or drinks are all stalwarts in the fight to prevent the spread of any virus.

Of course, people can go overboard.

While at the fair in Florence two weeks ago I happened to witness a perfect example of how simple precautions can be misconstrued or interpreted. As I walked around the midway looking for a group of friends I was supposed meet, I happened to overhear a conversation from two older gentlemen standing near one of the game booths. When I walked by, one was asking the other if he “wanted a hit” from the cigarette he was just finishing up. “No way man,” came the response in a raspy voice that was most likely from years of smoking himself. “I don’t want to catch that swine flu or anything!” The other nodded in agreement.

Assuming that the cigarette in question was of the tobacco variety and not its “wacky”  counterpart, several things were a bit off about this situation. First, the idea that these two gentlemen were talking about health issues while smoking anything was totally hilarious. Either they were high, which would explain the size of the lit object and the topic of conversation when I walked by, or unaware that in their overall health forecasts catching the swine flu was probably the last thing they would have to worry about as a result of smoking that cigarette.

Judging by each man’s age and voice quality, it wasn’t the first time either had indulged in treats of the tobacco variety.
Now, while these two gentlemen’s hearts were in the right place, their “precaution” was just one example of the crazy notions that can arise from what is ultimately an issue of commonsense. Healthy practices and habits will limit your risk of catching anything, including H1N1, but there is never a guarantee that you won’t contract something anyway. The best thing people can do is stick to the basics: cover your nose and mouth while sneezing, wash your hands regularly, and don’t share… cigarettes.

Now that vaccines are beginning to arrive in our area, some of the tension surrounding the issue has subsided.

However, know that even with flu shots available people will still contract the virus. That doesn’t mean the vaccine is not working or that it is unsafe, it’s just that sometimes life happens. You can only do so much, take so many precautions, until you wind up smoking at a fair worrying about catching a pig sneeze.

Stay healthy people.