SWINE FLU
by Jim Mortos (6th grade)

Everybody talks about the new virus. How dangerous is it and how can we protect ourselves? The pathologist, Dr Nikolaos Sarris, was kind enough to answer some questions and give us some information.

The virus began in the U.S.A. Many cases appeared in Mexico, too. The first cases in Europe were in England, France and Spain. The virus infects people through the air with drops from our breath, mouth and hands. There is a variety of symptoms that are very gentle, like temperature, cough, or vomit and diarrhea, but sometimes our breathing system gets worse and this may lead to death. We can cure the signs of illness, but we cannot cure the virus at all, because the antivirus we know today cannot solve the problem.

Because of this, we must take prevention measures by taking care of our health or being injected with the vaccine for virus H1N1. This way, the existence of the virus will become less. Some doctors prefer the vaccine, while others do not.

In Greece, deaths are not so many. We have got about 10 cases that passed away, but we do not know how things will be pretty soon. In Magnesia, and particularly in Almyros, there are only few people who have had the flu, but, luckily, all of them have got over it now.

We would like to thank Dr Nikolaos Sarris for his time and the information he gave us.