1. Swine flu originated in Mexico.
According to a Wall Street Journal investigation, swine flu actually may have started in San Diego, and it may be a different strain than the one in Mexico. The article says “It appears two children in California got sick in late March, several days before the first two known Mexico cases in early April.” According to reports, a 10-year-old boy in San Diego fell ill on March 30 and a 9-year-old girl who had a high temperature on March 28 was confirmed to have swine flu on April 17. The children did not travel to Mexico and they were in contact with pigs.

2. Eat pork at your own risk.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says eating pork is completely safe. “Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food,” according to the CDC. “You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.” However that hasn’t stopped some countries — including Russia, China, Croatia, Indonesia, Thailand and Ecuador — from banning pork products exported by North America. “Trading meat, whether processed or raw or frozen meat, should not be restricted because there is virtually no risk of transmission that way,” said World Health Organization official Peter Ben Embarek.

3. If you believe you have flu-like symptoms you should go to the emergency room.
That’s a last resort, according to an Advocate Health Systems spokesperson. Advocate recommends staying home as the best option, and contacting your regular physician over the phone for more guidance. However, the CDC does recommend urgent medical attention if children have the following symptoms: Fast breathing or trouble breathing; bluish or gray skin color; not drinking enough fluids; severe or persistent vomiting; not waking up or not interacting; being so irritable that the child does not want to be held; flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough. Emergency warning signs in adults include: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen; sudden dizziness; Confusion; severe or persistent vomiting; flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough.

4. Facemask frenzy
Since news of swine flu broke, there have been reports of face masks selling out quickly at some drug stores. However, face masks are not considered the best method of prevention according to the CDC. “Whenever possible, rather than relying on the use of masks or respirators, close contact and crowded conditions should be avoided during an influenza pandemic,” according to a CDC report. While masks may offer some protection, the CDC says “facemasks do not form a tight seal on the wearer’s face and are not designed to filter out small particles that can be inhaled and that may have a role in influenza transmission. However, they are useful in blocking large infectious droplets (created when a person coughs or sneezes nearby) from landing on the susceptible mucous membranes of the wearer’s nose and mouth; this is thought to be an important mode of influenza transmission.”  When should you consider a face mask? The CDC says if you have swine flu or if you are taking care of someone who has the virus, a face mask would likely be helpful.