Wednesday, August 12, 2009

All About Swine Flu : Symptoms, Precautions, Treatment & Dua

Although the name 'swine flu' brings up a lot of extra fear and worry, it is important to note that swine flu is just an influenza A H1N1 virus. The big difference is that the current swine influenza A (H1N1) virus has components of pig and bird influenza viruses in it, so that humans don't have any immunity to it. That is what made it more likely that it would become a pandemic virus (have the ability to cause a global outbreak) because it could easily spread from person-to-person. The Swine flu has been compared to other similar types of influenza virus in terms of mortality: "in the US it appears that for every 1000 people who get infected, about 40 people need admission to hospital and about one person dies".

Symptoms of swine flu infections can include:
  • fever, which is usually high, but unlike seasonal flu, is sometimes absent
  • cough
  • runny nose or stuffy nose
  • sore throat
  • body aches
  • headache
  • chills
  • fatigue or tiredness, which can be extreme
  • diarrhea and vomiting, sometimes, but more commonly seen than with seasonal flu
Signs of a more serious swine flu infection might include
pneumonia and respiratory failure.
 
Swine Flu High Risk Groups -
 
Swine flu high risk groups, people who are thought to be at risk for serious, life-threatening infections, are a little different and can include:
  • pregnant women
  • people with chronic medical problems, such as chronic lung
    disease, like asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and immunosuppression
  • children and adults with obesity
 
Precautions to keep swine flu at bay -
 
The deadly Swine Flu has reached the Indian shores following the global outbreak and now, claimed one life. However, Swine Flu is certainly one of those diseased where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Here are five tips for you to keep away from the pandemic.
 
1. Wash your hands frequently
 
Use the antibacterial soaps to cleanse your hands. Wash them often, for at least 15 seconds and rinse with running water.
 
2. Get enough sleep
 
Try to get 8 hours of good sleep every night to keep your immune system in top flu-fighting shape.
 
3. Drink sufficient water
 
Drink 8 to10 glasses of water each day to flush toxins from your system and maintain good moisture and mucous production in your sinuses.
 
4. Boost your immune system
 
Keeping your body strong, nourished, and ready to fight infection is important in flu prevention. So stick with whole grains, colorful vegetables, and vitamin-rich fruits.
 
5. Keep informed

The government is taking necessary steps to prevent the pandemic and periodically release guidelines to keep the pandemic away. Please make sure to keep up to date on the information and act in a calm manner.
 
Treatment -
 
If a person becomes sick with swine flu, antiviral drugs can make the illness milder and make the patient feel better quicker. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms). The U.S. CDC recommends the use of Tamiflu (oseltamivir) or Relenza (zanamivir) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses; however, the majority of people infected  with the virus make a full recovery without requiring medical attention or antiviral drugs.
 
Vaccination -

WHO does not expect the swine flu vaccine to be widely available until the end of 2009, noting that current production "yield" was only about half as much as expected and would cause timeline delays. There is also concern that countries which produce vaccines, 70 percent of which are in Europe, may delay sending swine flu vaccines to other countries as they may come under "tremendous pressure to protect their own citizens first," note some experts.
 
Many countries are planning full blown large scale vaccination camps by the end of the year.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Arrogance: The Barrier to Paradise

ALLAH's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever has an atom's worth of kibr (pride and arrogance) in his heart will not enter Paradise." So a man said: What about a person who loves (i.e. takes pride in) wearing beautiful clothes and beautiful shoes? So he replied: "Indeed Allah is beautiful and loves beauty. Kibr is to reject the truth, and to despise the people." (Sahih Muslim, 1/65)
 
So Allah informs us that the Hellfire is the abode of those who have kibr (pride and arrogance). And we learn from the (above) hadith that: "Whoever has on atom's worth of kibr in his heart will not enter Paradise." So this is a proof that kibr necessitates entry into the Hellfire and prevents entry into Paradise. And this comprehensive explanation that the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned has clarified the meaning of kibr in the dearest possible manner. So he divided kibr into two types:
 
1. Kibr against the truth
 
This is to reject truth and not accept it. So anyone who rejects the truth is proud and arrogant – in accordance with what he rejects. So it is obligatory upon everyone to humble themselves to the truth that Allah sent His Messenger with, and (the truth) He sent down in His Book.
 
Those who, out of pride and arrogance, do not comply with the Messengers (i.e. do not believe in them and their message) are disbelievers and they will eternally dwell in the Hellfire. This is because they rejected the truth that the Messengers brought to them with clear signs and proofs. They are prevented from accepting it because of the kibr they harbor in their hearts. Allah said:
 
"Verily, those who dispute about the Signs of Allah, without any authority having come to them, there is nothing else in their breasts except pride." (Qur'an, 40:56)
 
As for those who, out of kibr, do not comply with parts of truth, because it opposes their personal opinions or desires, are not disbelievers. But their action necessitates punishment in accordance to what they have of kibr. This is why scholars have agreed that whenever a sunnah of Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) has been explained to someone, it is not lawful for him to turn away from it giving preference to the saying of someone else – whoever the someone else may be.
 
Therefore, it is obligatory on students of knowledge to give complete and absolute precedence to the saying of Allah and the saying of His Messenger (peace be upon him) over and above the saying of anyone else. He should make that the basis to which he returns, and the foundation upon which he builds. He must try his best to follow the guidance of the Prophet (peace be upon him) inwardly and outwardly and strive hard to understand what is intended from it.
 
When a person conforms to this great principle, then he has indeed reached goodness and excellence. All his errors will be forgiven because his overall objective was to follow what was prescribed for him. So his errors are excused because he tried his best to recognize and comply with the truth. This is humbling oneself to the truth.
 
2. Kibr towards people
 
This type is to despise people and to look down upon them. This attitude develops when a person is amazed with his own self and considers himself greater and better than others. This leads him to kibr towards the creation. Such a person will despise, mock, and degrade others through both speech and action.
 
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "It is enough evil for a person to despise his brother Muslim." (Sahih Muslim, no. 2564)
 
This is why the man asked: "What about a person who loves (i.e. takes pride in) wearing beautiful clothes and shoes?" Because he feared this was kibr and hence punishable. So the Prophet (peace be upon him) explained to him otherwise. The questioner was one who complied with the truth and was humble towards people, and this is from the beauty that Allah loves. For indeed Allah is beautiful in His Dhaat (Self), Sifaat (Attributes) and Af'aal (Actions). He loves both outer and inner beauty.
 
Outer beauty includes cleanliness of the body, clothes and place; inner beauty is beautifying the character. This is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) would make the du'a:
 
"O Allah! Guide me to having beautiful manners and characteristics; no one can guide me to beautifying them except You. And turn me away from all evil actions and characteristics; no one can turn them away from me except You." (An-Nasa'i, no. 861, authenticated by Al-Albani) – Bahjatul-Quloobul-Abraar, pp. 156-158