WASHINGTON — The sudden and near-constant stream of news reports about swine flu can cause anyone to feel anxious and worried.

But even during this period of uncertainty, you can take several steps to manage your anxiety and have a positive outlook, the American Psychological Association says.

Among its tips are:

Get the facts. Gather information that will help you accurately determine your risk so that you can take reasonable precautions.

Keep things in perspective. Government officials need to prepare for worst-case scenarios in order to protect the public. The public, however, does not need to expect the worst. To date, the cases that have been identified in the United States are not severe. There has been one hospitalization and no deaths.

Maintain a hopeful outlook. Public health agencies around the globe are working on identifying outbreaks of the illness and to ensure the availability of the best medical care to those who are sick. Limit worry and agitation by lessening the time you and your family spend watching or listening to upsetting media coverage.

Visit www.apahelpcenter.org for additional information on resilience and managing anxiety about swine flu.