With the threat to the world's population of swine flu growing, and the amount of fatalities succumbing to the disease being announced weekly, every country across the globe continues to be on full alert in trying to contain the virus within its own boundaries.

But the increase of swine flu is reaching many distant lands, far from the country of its origin in Mexico. The contributing factor to the spread of it across the world is mainly due to air travel, as holiday makers and businessmen and women travel to countries where the outbreak continues to flourish, and unsuspectingly carry the disease back to their own country, there to unknowingly pass it on to those they come in contact with. 

The World Health Organization have been carefully monitoring the outbreak of swine flu in every country, to see whether the cases that have caused many deaths, will develop into a stronger viral strain of the disease.

The concern by the W.H.O. is that, by the spreading of the virus from human to human it could well lead to a more serious threat than what we are facing now, and become a global pandemic.

With the ever increasing amount of cases rising, very evident by the continuing death rate, worried governments and health officials around the world are preparing for what could well become a pandemic, and are filled with tremendous anxiety as to how the outbreak will eventually be restricted and contained.

Masses of drugs, in tablet form and vaccines are being produced in their millions in a safety measure, that if the swine flu virus develops into something far more deadlier and virulent, then they will be able to cope sufficiently with the amount of drugs available.

Here in Britain, there have been a number of confirmed cases across the country, of the human-to-human form of swine flu, or H1N1, the 28 individuals concerned who have contracted this in the last few weeks, are now under the control and supervision of the health officials in the counties involved.

Some schools in Britain have been closed as a direct result of pupils contracting the disease, and as a precautionary measure, are remaining closed until further notice. This unfortunately has created some disruption for pupils waiting, and sitting their exams.

The Health Protection Agency is fully aware of the consequences of this outbreak, and just how serious it could get, they are now investigating more possible cases as a further 300 people have indicated that they have the possible symptoms of swine flu. These individuals will be screened and kept under close scrutiny, restricted to isolation rooms, until the results have been confirmed.

Here in the county of Kent, health officials are still very concerned that we are the moment still very lucky, as no serious outbreaks have been confirmed. Those that have been found or suspected of having the mild form of the virus, have had all the results come back, to their great relief, as negative.

Very fortunately no deaths have been evident in the county, although the possibility of further outbreaks, are still very much a possibility.

This virulent form has the ability to evolve from the mild form that is facing us now, but it could very well change its aspect and become more severe in the later months of the year, so vigilance is always a necessity for each one of us.

The warning is out there, that we should all heed the leaflets that have been posted through the millions of homes throughout the country, and here in Kent.

Guidelines are there for the benefit of our health, in endeavouring to restrict the possibility of our catching the disease, and how we can try and avoid it by a few simple, sensible, but very important precautions.

Good Hygiene Precautions are a Must...Follow These Few Instructions and Help to Protect Yourself...

Always Carry Tissues.

Use Clean Tissues to Cover Your Mouth and Nose When You Cough or Sneeze.

Use Every Tissue Only Once and Bin it.

Wash Your Hands – Use Soap/ Sanitiser Gel & Hot Water...Often.