Spread the message of swine flu to everyone

Spread the message of swine flu to everyone.

Dr.Kedar Karki

A June 10, 2009 update by the U.N.'s World Health Organization (WHO) states that 74 countries have officially reported 27,737 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection, including 141 deaths. In India till date 20 cases are being confirmed in city like Hyderabad, Bangalore, New Delhi, and Jallandhar in Punjab. Government of India is now thinking about suspension of air flight to U.S.A as most of confirmed cases in India have been detected from the persons who had recently traveled to U.S cities and had returned from there.

The 2009 swine flu outbreak is a pandemic of a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 identified in April 2009. It is thought to be a mutation—more specifically, a reassortment—of four known strains of influenza A virus subtype H1N1: one endemic in humans, one endemic in birds, and two endemic in pigs (swine).

Annual influenza epidemics are estimated to affect 5–15% of the global population, resulting in severe illness in 3–5 million patients and causing 250,000–500,000 deaths worldwide. In industrialized countries severe illness and deaths occur mainly in the high-risk populations of infants, the elderly and chronically ill patients.

In addition to these annual epidemics, Influenza A virus strains caused three major global pandemics during the 20th century: the Spanish flu in 1918, Asian flu in 1957 and Hong Kong flu in 1968–69. These pandemics were caused by strains of Influenza A virus that had undergone major genetic changes and for which the population did not possess significant immunity.

The influenza virus has also caused several pandemic threats over the past century, including the pseudo-pandemic of 1947, the 1976 swine flu outbreak and the 1977 Russian flu, all caused by the H1N1 subtype. The world has been at an increased level of alert since the SARS epidemic in Southeast Asia (caused by the SARS corona virus). The level of preparedness was further increased and sustained with the advent of the H5N1 bird flu outbreaks because of H5N1's high fatality rate, although the strains currently prevalent have limited human-to-human transmission capability, or epidemicity.

The outbreak began in Mexico, where official reports by Mexican authorities indicate that as of June 9, 2009 there were 108 confirmed deaths due to the virus. The actual origin of the flu is still a mystery, and includes the possibility that it may have started in Eurasia but taken root in Mexico. On June 11 after an emergency meeting the WHO raised the alert level to phase 6 indicating that a flu pandemic is under way. The WHO noted that this alertness level indicates the global spread of the virus, not its severity. Most cases throughout the world have so far been mild relative to seasonal flu. However, because it is recent, most people do not have immunity to the virus, and illness may eventually become more severe and widespread in different demographic and population groups. This new H1N1 flu mainly spreads in humans in the same way that regular seasonal influenza spreads, which is through the air from coughs and sneezes or touching those infected. It cannot be transmitted from eating properly cooked pork.

As of May 24, 2009, nearly 90% of reported deaths had taken place in Mexico. This has led to speculation that Mexico may have been in the midst of an unrecognized epidemic for months prior to the current outbreak, thereby showing a fatality rate that was much higher than it would have been if earlier cases had been counted. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the fact that the flu's infection activity is now monitored more closely may also help explain why more flu cases than normal are being recorded in many countries.

There is no vaccine available to prevent infection as of June 2009 although companies are developing one and estimates of availability range from three to six months. There is also concern that the virus could mutate over the coming months to a more dangerous flu outbreak later in the year, and a vaccine produced now might be less effective in preventing its spread. Health officials in the U.S. have pointed out that the terrible experience" of the 1918 flu pandemic, which killed approximately 600,000 in the United States alone, was preceded by a mild herald wave of cases in the spring.

Proper Handling of Pig meat a Priority .Influenza viruses do not affect the safety of pork, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). As with any raw meat, pork should always be properly handled and cooked to eliminate a range of food safety concerns.

By touching something contaminated with flu viruses and then touching one's mouth or nose, and through coughing or sneezing. One of the most effective prevention measures is regular hand washing. People cannot catch swine flu from eating pork or pork products. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius) kills the swine flu virus along with other bacteria and viruses. Vaccines are available to be given to pigs to prevent swine influenza. There is no vaccine to protect humans from swine flu, although the CDC is formulating one. The seasonal influenza vaccine may help to provide partial protection against swine H3N2, but not against swine H1N1 viruses like the one circulating now. In 1976 a new strain of swine flu started infecting people and worried U.S. health officials started widespread vaccination. More than 40 million people were vaccinated. But several cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a severe and sometime fatal condition that can be linked to come vaccines, caused the U.S. government to stop the program. The incident led to widespread distrust of vaccines in general.

There is also no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products. Individuals are advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness

There are four influenza antiviral drugs approved for use in the United States (oseltamivir, zanamivir, Amantidine and rimantadine). The swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses that have been detected in humans in the United States and Mexico are resistant to Amantidine and rimantadine so these drugs will not work against these swine influenza viruses. Laboratory testing on these swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses so far indicate that they are susceptible (sensitive) to oseltamivir and zanamivir . If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious influenza complications. Influenza antiviral drugs work best when started soon after illness onset (within two 2 days), but treatment with antiviral drugs should still be considered after 48 hours of symptom onset, particularly for hospitalized patients or people at high risk for influenza-related complications. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses. Oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu  is approved to both treat and prevent influenza A and B virus infection in people one year of age and older Zanamivir (brand name Relenza  is approved to treat influenza A and B virus infection in people 7 years and older and to prevent influenza A and B virus infection in people 5 years and older.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Washing hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. We can also use alcohol-based hand cleaners. Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way. Try to avoid close contact with sick people. Stay home from work or school if you are sick.

Although in last fortnight there has been reports from many part of our country about flu like illness but still non of these illness neither suspected for this dreaded illness till date for us it seems to be some relief. But as the disease has been detected in Delhi and city of Punjab our own public health authorities need to be alerted at air and land embarkment site.