By Kate Spinosa
Staff Writer

Here at Westford Academy H1N1 or Swine Flu is mentioned at least one time each day. H1N1 is a strain of flu that has genes from flu viruses in pigs, bird genes, and human genes. Flu activity is now widespread in about 37 states

With this strain of flu, people over the age of 65 are at risk but also young children because their bodies have not been exposed long enough to have the necessary antibodies to fight the flu off. Currently most people with this new virus have recovered without needing medical treatment.

A common misconception is that H1N1 can be spread through the eating of pork. This is not true and has not yet been proved possible.

Sally Pratt a nurse at Westford Academy says she is not worried about H1N1 at Westford Academy. She thinks we will see it but that we shouldn’t be worried. She says that the flu is spread through people sneezing, coughing, talking and the droplets from mouth or nose breathed in or touched.

There are many symptoms but the most common is coughing and sore throat. We can do many things to prevent ourselves from becoming ill. When you’re sick make sure you stay home from school, have frequent hand washing, and a solid nutrition and sleep. It’s also very important to stay hydrated with fluids.

The school wants to stress that it is most important to stay home when you feel sick to really make this virus not spread. For addition information on H1N1 visit www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/