Swine Flu Can Infect 40 percent of US

There is a disturbing news about Swineflu. CDC has estimated that it might affect up to 40 percent of Americans this year and next. Several hundred thousandsare expected to die vaccine campaign and other measures.

Swine flu has already has killed about 300 Americans and sickened more than 1 million, comparable to a seasonal flu .

Flu cases may explode in the fall, when schools open and become germ factories, and the new estimates dramatize the need to have vaccines and other measures in place. Read more

Pregnant Women Are More Risky In Swine Flu

Some complications among pregnant women as the Swine Flu continue to spread across the country, and soon to the world, and that this high-risk group needs to take antivirals as soon as infection is suspected. Just like what happen to a pregnant woman in Texas who suffers and died of Swine Flu infection.

Medical officials believe that pregnant women are at higher risk of complications of influenza, whether it’s the seasonal influenza or pandemics of the past.

If you’re pregnant, your immunity to infection is slightly lowered to stop your body rejecting your unborn baby. So it’s particularly important that you take sensible precautions to protect yourself. Read more

Few Tips On Survival In Times Of Swine Flu

Swine flu is an illness which derives its name from a communicable virus that infects pigs. Once it comes to humans, the the virus can be transmitted from one person to another.

The symptoms of swine flu are like those manifested in a regular flu and may include cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, fever, chills and fatigue.

While government agencies are working on control of the outbreak, it is also necessary for people to educate themselves about this disease. Read more

What Is Scope of Swine Flu?

The World Health Organization has raised its alert level to 6. The WHO revealed that the influenza virus has the sustainability for human-to-human transmission and can cause community level outbreaks.

A similar outbreak known as bird flu was more risky than H1N1 virus. According to Professor Neil Ferguson of the World Health Organization, H1N1 is nothing when compared to other similar outbreaks such as SARS or the 1918 Spanish flu. Read more

Swine Flu Vaccine – Development Is On Way

According to the World Health Organization, efforts for developing a swine flu vaccine has been ongoing since the first human case of the virus has been confirmed.

Estimates place the initial doses of the vaccine will be administered in 5 to 6 months time.

While people diagnosed with H1N1 virus srecover, the disease has potential to kill the victim.Moreover it is important to administer the vaccine to more vulnerable population like individuals with a weak immune system, elderly etc. since they are prone to complications such as pneumonia.

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What Is Behind Swine Flu – What Is H1N1 Virus?

Influenza A virus  H1N1 is a subtype of influenzavirus A and the most common cause of influenza (flu) in humans. Some strains of H1N1 are endemic in humans. This also includes the strain responsible for the 1918 flu pandemic which killed 20-100 million people worldwide.

Less virulent H1N1 strains still exist in the wild today, worldwide, causing a small fraction of all influenza-like illness and a large fraction of all seasonal influenza.Other strains of H1N1 are endemic in pigs (swine influenza) and in birds (avian influenza). Read more

Swine Flu- Beliefs and Myths

With every disease come falsely knit stories which over a period become our beliefs and we do not even question them. Swine flu is no exception. Let us see what is prevalent out there along with the outbreak

I Would Get Swine Flu if I Eat Pork

Come on guys. It is swine flu and it ha snothing similar to Mad Cow Disease.  The disease spreads via  contact with a contaminated area or person then contact with either the eyes, nose, or mouth of the prospective infected. Read more

What Is Swine Flu?

Swine Flu-Is a respiratory track infection from the hogs which now is is a worldwide virus outbreak. Flu is otherwise common disease and not dangerous. But when a new influenza virus emerges for which people have little or no immunity it become dangerous. Because people were not earlier sudceptible to it therefore no medication or vaccine could have been developed.

There are phases of this outbreak. The disease first comes to humans from animals and then from humans to humans. Person-to-person spread causes fast spread. At this moment swine flu is a global problem and declared pandemic by WHO.

Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. But, randomly, the human race got infected with Swine flu. Most frequently, these cases occur in persons with direct exposure to pigs.

Human-to-human transmission of Swine flu happens in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. This way infected droplets spread into air and get breathed by people around making them at risk of flu development. Read more

What Are Alert Levels of WHO For Swine Influenza

Alert levels indicate the severity of disease spread. They are better known as phases. The outbreak of swine flu has caused the World Health Organization to steadily raise its alert levels. Let us understand them.

In nature, influenza viruses circulate continuously among animals, especially birds. Even though such viruses might theoretically develop into pandemic viruses, in Phase 1 no viruses circulating among animals have been reported to cause infections in humans.

Phase 2

An animal influenza virus circulating among domesticated or wild animals is known to have caused infection in humans. this now is is therefore considered a potential pandemic threat. Read more

Swine Flu Alert Level Raised To 6 By WHO – It Is Pandemic Now

That means it is a global….

Swine Flu has entered into the pandemic level to phase 6 which is the the final alert phase. this indicates that  indicating that a global pandemic of influenza A (H1N1) is under way.

As per definition given by WHO, pandemic alert level phase 6 is characterized by “community level outbreaks in at least one other country in a different WHO region in addition to the criteria defined in Phase 5.”

Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human transmission of the virus into at least 2 countries in 1 WHO region.

The decision was made today and it was announced by WHO Director Dr. Margaret Chan in a press conference. Read more