Chattanooga Pulse

After sleeping for two days straight and not wanting to move, I concluded that I must have swine flu. Despite my constant wipe downs of counter tops and doorknobs, I managed to get sick. Despite my streak of anti-social activities and increased hand washing, I am laid up on the couch, with nothing to do but rest and figure out what all of this pandemic buzz is about. I am most curious (and grossed out) by the name.

As Jimmy Kimmel was quoted as saying in the New York Times, “The government does not want us to call it the swine flu. They’re calling it the 2009 H1N1 virus. The reason for the change is they want people to know you can still eat all the pork you want without any risk to your health, except diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.” Funny guy. But it is important to know that the consumption of ham, pulled pork, and the meat known to tempt even the most devout of vegans, bacon, is not to blame.

However, as Americans go on to enjoy their delicious pork products, the industry grows, and more and more pigs are shoved into over-crowded conditions in swine mega-factories. These facilities are a proven breeding ground for diseases that can be spread all over the country when these products are shipped out, as is common practice for industrialized agriculture.

There are a few ways for the consumer to fight against this type of production, which is not only yielding less-nutritional food, but also causing other problems to health and the environment. Find a local meat source: Go to farmer’s markets and do some research about who is using humane, small-scale operations to ensure quality of life for their pigs. Pigs that are raised in wholesome and caring environments will make healthier meat. Another option would be to not eat pork or meat at all—but not all people can go without their bacon.

In the meantime, the pork industry is thriving, with over ten million hogs in North Carolina alone (the state with the densest pig population) and a decreasing number of hog farms. And in economic times such as these, people buy what’s cheap. For now, unfortunate occurrences like swine flu are here to stay. The wisest thing to do is protect yourself from getting sick. The flu shot still seems to be readily available at most pharmacies, but there are a few basic things to remember that could make a difference.

Wash your hands. With soap. Avoid over-using the waterless hand sanitizers. They are mostly alcohol, and they work by stripping off the outer layer of oil on the skin, which prevents helpful bacteria from coming to the surface. In general, it’s better to use soap and water. However, make sure to wash thoroughly. Most people just do a quick once-over and rinse—try scrubbing your hands for the length of a song chorus. Pick a hand washing song and let loose, out loud or in your head, and keep scrubbing until you have reached the final notes. While at work or in public, avoid touching things and wash your hands when you get home. If you are able to do it without being rude, refrain from excessive hugging and handshaking. Also, cut back on nail chewing and eye rubbing, as you can easily contract disease through your mouth, eyes, and nose.

Most importantly, don’t freak out. While you can take many precautions to avoid the disease that seems to be crawling invisibly all around you, it is always possible that you will get sick. Stress is proven to lower the immune system’s resistance: Make sure to relax at the end of the day, sleep well, and be as healthy as possible. And if you do get sick, which is always possible, try to stay home for at least 24 hours, if not a few days, and avoiding infecting others. I have read about so called “Swine Flu Parties,” where people get together with their infected friends to get sick in hopes of building up immunity to a more severe case of illness. If anyone invites you to one of these parties, politely decline. This is not a good idea. Stay in bed and relish in your online social life, do some more reading, and perhaps research some local pork resources.

Victoria Hurst is a proud resident of the Appalachian Mountains. She has recently graduated from Warren Wilson College with a B.A. in English: Creative Writing.