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.

First vaccines are expected in September and October. The estimates are based on a flu pandemic from 1957, which killed nearly 70,000 in the United States

Avoiding crowded places, handwashing, cough covering and timely use of medicines like Tamiflu are th emeasures that are advised for prevention of the spread.

The World Health Organization says as many as 2 billion people could become infected in the next two years – nearly a third of the world population. Past flu pandemics have occurred in waves over more than one year.

Because the swine flu virus is new, most people haven’t developed an immunity to it.

The virus has caused an unusual number of serious illnesses in teens and young adults.

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.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  investigated twenty cases of pregnant women with the swine flu, most of them experienced complications like  pneumonia, dehydration and premature birth.

It is very important to issue prompt treatment with antiviral medicines – the Tamiflu and the Relenza. Doctors can be hesitant to take care of pregnant women with antiviral drugs and pregnant women may be disinclined to take them out of fear that they may pose a risk during pregnancy.

The benefits of using the antiviral drugs to treat influenza in a pregnant woman outweigh the theoretical concerns about the drugs strongly say by the medical experts who have looked into this situation.

World Health Organization expert expressed support for the more selective use of antiviral medicines such as Tamiflu and Relenza against Swine Flu even though the pregnant women and the doctors of the pregnant women are declining the use of antiviral drugs.

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.

First, it should be clear that Swine Flu is treatable. There are antiviral medicines that can be administered. Oseltamivir, amantadine, rimantadine, and zanamivir are the approved drugs for swine influenza treatment in the United States.

But, amantadine and rimantadine will not work against swine flu as the H1N1 virus was found to be resistant against these medicines. Laboratory procedures, on the other hand, have proven that H1N1 is susceptible to oseltavimir and zanavimir.

Antiviral drugs make the illness milder. Aside from that, antiviral medicines prevent the onset of serious complications.

Antiviral medicines are most effective when administered after the onset of the illness usually within a couple of days. However, it should be considered two days after the onset of symptoms, especially for hospitalized patients or those at greater risk for influenza-related complications.

Administration of anti viral drugs is also useful in preventing influenza when given to an individual who is not sick but has exposed to a person with swine influenza. For example health workers

Antiviral drugs can reduce the possibility of infection by 70% to 90%. The duration of drug administration will be determined by the condition of the patient.

As of now the vaccine for this disease is under development

Prevention Tips

• Keep yourself informed about H1N1 by visiting website of the WHO or check brochures from local hospitals or medical facilities.
• Wash your hands with soap and water after frequently.
• Keep your social visits minimum if there is an outbreak in your community.
• Avoid public transport, crowds and social gatherings.
• If you become ill,  avoid contact with other people at work or school so as not to infect them.

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.

If the H1N1 outbreak disappears in the coming weeks, there might still be an outbreak of the virus in the autumn.

In case it is an epidemic, then 30% – 40% of the general population might become susceptible to infection.

New strain of H1N1 virus is something which people has natural immunity and has not received any vaccination yet making people susceptible infection and spread to other people.

H1N1 is still a subject of studies by major laboratories in the world. Once there is sufficient information about the virus, only then can it be possible to make improved predictions about individuals who are at higher risk and likely to have serious complications.

The outbreaks outside of Mexico have not resulted to deaths which is an indication that the virus is not that aggressive.

But it appears that it would cause an outbreak that would be felt all over the world and increase mortality rates.

The outbreak of H1N1 began in Mexico City and it has now spread in 30 countries.

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.

The vaccine will serve as protection in case the condition persists particularly during the winter months which is the time when influenza is at its peak.

Current evidence shows that seasonal influenza vaccines will provide minimal or no protection against swine flu. Every year, a new batch of flu vaccine is developed and matched with strains.

Influenza virus comes in various strains which contains different proteins on their surfaces. The body’s immune system can only fight and destroy a virus if they are able to recognize these proteins. Antibodies that recognize one strain may not detect other strains.

Existing vaccines may only offer some protection against swine influenza if the proteins on its surface are identical to strains used to develop previous vaccines.

The preparation of a vaccine commences after a virus develops as they provide the starting point for the production of the vaccine. As such, there is always a time delay while a vaccine is being developed.

Preparation of a vaccine involves several steps so it would take several months before a vaccine becomes available.

According to WHO estimates, the virus needed for producing the vaccine will be accessible to vaccine manufacturers by the middle of May while the initial dose for a new vaccine would be ready within 5 to 6 months after that.

Waiting time would be much longer if the growth of the vaccine proceeds rapidly.

It is too early to tell how the A(H1N1) virus would change. It is closely monitoring any changes in the virus and this would help countries quickly react to any important changes that the virus may show.

Lastly a word of difference between antiviral drugs and vaccine.

Vaccines help the body combat certain diseases in case an individual becomes afflicted with the illness in the future. On the other hand, an antiviral drug is used on people who is already infected with a virus. Although they work in various ways, they generally work to prevent the virus from spreading to different cells in the body.

Swine flu vaccines are administered prior to exposure to a virus so they would be protected from that agent. Antivirals only work if administered within a certain period of time before or after they are exposed to the 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).

What Happened To The Virus that Caused Swine Flu?
As the name suggests swine inluenza strain is responsible for the present pandemic. The virus isolated from patients in the United States was found to be made up of genetic elements from four different flu viruses

• North American Mexican influenza,
• North American avian influenza
• Human influenza
• Swine influenza virus typically found in Asia and Europe

This new strain appears to be a result of reassortment of human influenza and swine influenza viruses, in all four different strains of subtype H1N1.

Reassortment is the mixing of the genetic material of two similar viruses that are infecting the same cell. In particular, reassortment occurs among influenza viruses, whose genomes consist of eight distinct segments of RNA. These segments act like mini-chromosomes, and each time a flu virus is assembled, it requires one copy of each segment.

Preliminary genetic characterization found that the hemagglutinin (HA) gene was similar to that of swine flu viruses present in U.S. pigs since 1999, but the neuraminidase (NA) and matrix protein (M) genes resembled versions present in European swine flu isolates. The six genes from American swine flu are themselves mixtures of swine flu, bird flu, and human flu viruses.

On June 11, 2009, the WHO declared an H1N1 pandemic, moving the alert level to phase 6.

The virus is contagious and can spread from human to human. Symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu such as cough, fever, body aches, sore throat, chills, fatigue and headache.

Swine Flu is a respiratory track infection. This infection is a worldwide virus outbreak that started in Mexico and eventually spread from one country to another continent including China.

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.

Cooked pork can’t possibly be ever infected because cooking and preparation make sure that the meat is clean and healthy for consumption.

There Is No Treatment

If you had said there is no vaccine we would have nodded head in agreement. But it is under research and would be out soon. Therre is a treatment available.

Zanamivir and oseltamivir are neuroaminidase inhibitors  i.e. they’re a type of antiviral drugs that inhibits cell reproduction of viruses so that they won’t spread in the patient’s body. The Center for Disease Control has highly recommended their use for the treatment and control of the disease.

If I Get I Would Die

Yes! the disease has potential to kill but most people make recovery. It is treatable and you can recover from it.

It Is not that contagious

It is a contagious disease. It spreads through the contact points  and droplet infections. Regularly washing your hands before eating is a step in the right direction. If you have this disease in your city, social distancing is a good idea.

lastly evrey flu is not Swine flu. yuou can still get affected by regular flu. Colds, coughs, chills, and fatigue ar ethe usual signs.  If you’re okay after a few days, that was just the normal flu. However, if the symptoms persist or you start to vomit or start to suffer from diarrhea, then it’s swine flu and you better call for a doctor.

Electron microscope image of the reassorted H1N1 influenza virus

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.

People may also become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then they touch their mouth or nose.

Contrary to belief, you cannot get the influenza virus by means of eating pork or pork products. Proper cooking of pork or pork products with an internal temperature of 160°F will kill the swine flu virus as it does with other bacteria and viruses.

What Are The Symptoms?

• Fever
• Lethargy
• Lack of appetite,
• Running
• Cough
• Sore throat,
• Nausea, vomiting
• Diarrhea and coughing

What Is The Treatment?

If you get sick, there are two antiviral drugs (Tamiflu and Relenza) available with prescription can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious influenza complications.

Antiviral drugs work best if started as soon after getting sick as possible, and might not work if started more than 2 days after illness starts.

It should be noted that many people make full recovery without any medication.

How Can It Be Prevented

• Frequent washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after being out in public.
• Asnone with flu-like symptoms such as a sudden fever, cough or muscle aches should stay away from work or public transportation and should contact a doctor for advice.
• Social distancing is another tactic or  staying away from other people who might be infected and can include avoiding large gatherings, public transport etc.

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.

Phase 3

An animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus has caused sporadic cases or small clusters of disease in people, but has not resulted in human-to-human transmission sufficient to sustain community-level outbreaks.

Viruses containing two or more pieces of nucleic acid (segmented genome) from different parents. Such viruses are produced in cells coinfected with different strains of a given virus.

Limited human-to-human transmission may occur under some circumstances, for example, when there is close contact between an infected person and an unprotected caregiver.

Phase 4

It is characterized by verified human-to-human transmission of an animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus able to cause “community-level outbreaks.”

The ability to cause sustained disease outbreaks in a community marks a significant upwards shift in the risk for a pandemic.

Any country that suspects or has verified such an event should urgently consult with WHO so that the situation can be jointly assessed and a decision made by the affected country if implementation of a rapid pandemic containment operation is warranted.

Phase 4 indicates a significant increase in risk of a pandemic but does not necessarily mean that a pandemic is a forgone conclusion.

Phase 5

It is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent.

Phase 6

It is the pandemic phase and  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. Designation of this phase will indicate that a global pandemic is under way.

Post Peak period

During the post-peak period, pandemic disease levels in most countries with adequate surveillance will have dropped below peak observed levels. The post-peak period signifies that pandemic activity appears to be decreasing; however, it is uncertain if additional waves will occur and countries will need to be prepared for a second wave.

Previous pandemics have been characterized by waves of activity spread over months. Once the level of disease activity drops, a critical communications task will be to balance this information with the possibility of another wave. Pandemic waves can be separated by months and an immediate “at-ease” signal may be premature.

Post-pandemic period

Influenza disease activity will have returned to levels normally seen for seasonal influenza. It is expected that the pandemic virus will behave as a seasonal influenza A virus. At this stage, it is important to maintain surveillance and update pandemic preparedness and response plans accordingly.

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.

“The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic,” she said. “The scientific criteria for a pandemic has been met.”

It should be mentioned here as well that another virus H5N1 is also in phase 3 pandemic status. That makes it two viruses coexisting which makes it an extremely unusual situation.

Dr Chan  that the virus can change the rules without rhyme or reason at any time, and it will be important to see how the virus changes as it returns to the Northern hemisphere in the fall.

H1N1 virus is of “moderate severity” with most people making a rapid and full recovery often in the absence of treatment, and the number of deaths is small.

However, pregnant women are at increased risk for complications, and the virus preferentially infects younger age groups, under age 25 years. There’s been a disproportionate amount of pregnant women among those who have had infection. 57% of the cases have occurred in people aged 5 to 24 years

Till now, 30,000 cases have been  confirmed from 74 countries.

The key goals are to determine where the virus is spreading and to reduce its impact. We need to remain vigilant.