It’s official – the World Health Organization has designated the Swine Flu a pandemic, with over 30,000 cases reported worldwide. Health care experts believe the numbers of cases more likely number in the hundreds of thousands, with the CDC designating New England as an area that’s especially hard-hit.So how does this change things for those of us who’ve managed to avoid getting sick? The short answer is, it doesn’t. The pandemic designation refers only to the geographic spread of the illness, and not to any increase in its severity. We obviously still need to do everything we can to prevent illness, and my recommendations are the same as those I offered at the start of this flu season: take care to wash your hands frequently, avoid contact with sick people, and take meaningful steps to strengthen your immune system.In light of this latest news, I’ve had many requests for my flu-fighting protocol, so here it is again:

Dr. Rothfeld’s Flu-Fighting Program

All supplements can be purchased through The Natural Apothecary.

Primary / Preventive

• Occilococcinum: one vial weekly, one vial daily at first sign of symptoms
• Immune-boosting homeopathic injection (intramuscular, may repeat in 8 weeks)
• TransFactor Multi Immune: 1 capsule twice daily as preventative, 2 capsules three times daily when traveling or at first sign of symptoms
• Vitamin C (as Ester-C or Buffered C): 1000-2000 mg twice daily
• Vitamin D Balance 1 capsule daily (2000 iu)

Secondary / Treatment

• Esberitox: chew 3 tablets three times daily at first sign of symptoms
• L-lysine 500 mg three times daily at first sign of symptoms
• Vitamin A 25,0000 iu daily for 3-5 days at first sign of symptoms
• Zinc lozenges at first sign of symptoms
• Olive leaf extract 2 capsules twice daily at first sign of symptoms
• Consider Intravenous Vitamin C infusion at first sign of symptoms