SWINE FLU


Mexico has been at the centre of the global Swine Flu outbreak. Cases were first discovered in the U.S. and officials soon suspected a link between those incidents and an earlier outbreak of late-season flu cases in Mexico. Within days hundreds of suspected cases, some of them fatal, were discovered in Mexico, with yet more cases found in the U.S. and several other countries in the Northern Hemisphere.

The 2009 outbreak of influenza A (H1N1) virus is an epidemic of a new strain of influenza virus identified in April 2009. It’s uncertain at this time how severe this swine flu outbreak will be in terms of illness and death compared with other influenza viruses. Because this is a new virus that had undergone major genetic changes, due to which the population did not possess significant immunity to the virus [and illness may be more severe and widespread as a result. In addition, currently there is no vaccine to protect against this novel H1N1 virus. So health authorities are so worried about it.

A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that spreads through populations across a large region; for instance a continent, or even worldwide. And now swine flu is heading to pandemic.

Influenza, commonly known as flu, is an infectious disease of birds and mammals caused by an RNA virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses). In humans, common symptoms of influenza infection are fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, and weakness and fatigue. In more serious cases, influenza causes pneumonia, which can be fatal, particularly in young children and the elderly.

Typically, influenza is transmitted from infected mammals through the air by coughs or sneezes, creating aerosols containing the virus, and from infected birds through their droppings. People may be contagious from one day before they develop symptoms to up to 7 days after they get sick. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

As the influenza virus can persist outside of the body, it can also be transmitted by contaminated surfaces such as banknotes, doorknobs, light switches and other household items. The length of time the virus will persist on a surface varies, with the virus surviving for one to two days on hard, non-porous surfaces such as plastic or metal, for about fifteen minutes from dry paper tissues, and only five minutes on skin. However, if the virus is present in mucus, this can protect it for longer periods. Influenza can also be transmitted by saliva, nasal secretions, feces and blood. Infections occur through contact with these bodily fluids or with contaminated surfaces.

Immunity is resistance of an organism to infection, disease, or other unwanted biological invasion.Many people do not have immunity to the current strain of Swine Flu. This is not unusual because most viruses alter as the virus season goes along, creating new strains to which the human immune system is entirely naive. These can make it much more dangerous because there to be very little protection from antibodies to the new strains. The body cannot immediately defend itself.

Recommendations to prevent infection by the virus consist of the standard personal precautions against influenza. This includes frequent washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after being out in public. We should not touch the mouth, nose or eyes, as these are primary modes of transmission. When coughing, we should cough into a tissue and disposing of the tissue, then immediately washing the hands. Chance of transmission is also reduced by disinfecting household surfaces, which can be done effectively with a diluted chlorine bleach solution.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people. When close contact with others cannot be avoided, the use of facemasks or respirators in areas where transmission of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus has been confirmed should be considered.

We should stay home if we are sick for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.

Vaccination against influenza with an influenza vaccine is often recommended for high-risk groups, such as children and the elderly, or in people who have asthma, diabetes, or heart disease.