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“The Dreaded Swine Flu!”
When initially hearing of swine flu, the reaction of many was “No swine, I’m fine,” indicating that if they do not eat pork, they were free of infection. Unfortunately, this motto has proven to be incorrect. After several months of breaking news updates and frantic worries, the Swine Flu Epidemic has now become global. Recent news reports have confirmed that cases of swine flu have been diagnosed in over 10,000 individuals in the United States (cases reported from all 52 states) and in 69 other countries including Australia, the Philippines, and Japan. In total globally, the death toll surpasses 150. As the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) work to contain the outbreak, it is still very important and critical for everyone to stay safe. If you haven’t tuned in to details of the swine flu epidemic or if you need an update on new findings, the following information will completely fill you in.
What is Swine Flu?
Swine flu is the common term for the influenza virus strain that commonly infects pigs. Swine flu, in most cases, is not transmittable from pigs to humans, and is not transmitted by eating pork. Swine flu, like the “regular flu” has been afflicting people for ages with cases being reported as early as 1917.
So What’s The Big Deal Now?
Although reports of humans infected with swine flu has been around for decades, the previous cases of swine flu used to only inflict people who direct close contact with pigs. What makes this outbreak so bad is that it isn’t the same virus that has been around for decades. According to reports, this recent outbreak of swine flu is caused by a new sub strain of the influenza virus. This new strand has not been shown to originate from pigs. The source of the disease in humans at this time is still unknown. The new strain is believed to be a composite of at least four different strains of the influenza virus. It has been dubbed swine flu, because it’s reported to cause similar symptoms and pathogenic affects as the original. Since discovery of the differences between the two viruses, the new outbreak has officially been named Novel influenza A (H1N1).
The changes in the virus have helped the virus spread more easily than the previous strains of the swine flu. The only plus side to this is that because of the change, it has made it less deadly than the other strains… but this could change at any time, depending on the potential mutation growth of the virus. Currently, the H1N1 virus is an epidemic but it is still uncertain if the virus is to be considered a pandemic. An epidemic is when an infectious disease is spread rapidly to many people. Because of the far-reaching effects of the H1N1 virus (transferred from Mexico to the US), it had been categorized as an epidemic. An example of an epidemic is the severe acute respiratory syndrome, better known as SARS that killed over 800 people in 2003. However, now that the virus has become global, its category standing is under consideration of changing to a pandemic. A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. Determination of a pandemic ranges from levels 1-6, level 6 being a complete global pandemic. The H1N1 virus is currently at 5. Viruses that have been considered pandemics are the Spanish Flu, and HIV/Aids.
How Do You Get It & Once You’ve Got It, How Do You Know?
Swine flu is known to be air borne, meaning it can be transmitted through the air, and is highly contagious. Despite any rumors that may have circulated, the H1N1 virus is not, I repeat not transmitted through the ingestion of pork/ pork products (as long as they’re properly cooked). Symptoms of swine flu include sore throat, headaches, nasal congestion, and fever. In addition to these most common of flu symptoms, swine flu is known to cause diarrhea and vomiting which are not usually associated with normal influenza. So if you find yourself with a fever and diarrhea you may be in danger.
Because symptoms of swine flu are akin to symptoms of other conditions, it is difficult to know if this is the condition you are suffering from. The only way to verify if you have been infected with H1N1 virus is through lab testing. These tests are administered through state health departments. The down side to this however, is because the demand of tests is high these tests are being reserved for patients with severe, critical flu conditions. Moreover, doctors are also reserving antiviral drugs for people who are at a high risk of the flu.
Prevention & Treatment
Prevention of infection falls back to personal hygiene. Washing your hands with soap and water and using/ disposing of tissues when you sneeze or cough is very important. Although wearing a surgical mask outside of surgery may earn you some puzzled looks, it can go a long way to help keeping you healthy. Vaccination is also an option, but it’s not foolproof. There is always the possibility that the vaccination is ineffective, or the virus mutates and develops immunity. Worse still, the vaccination itself may kill you. Antibiotics are always present, but not always the way to go. The overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistant viruses (super bugs) that show no mercy on their hosts.
In some reported cases of the swine flu in the US, patients who have had flu like symptoms have recovered without receiving medical attention. Despite the possibility of the virus automatically going away, it is still very important to contact a local health provider if you have any concerns or feel you are at risk of experiencing any of these symptoms.
What is Swine Flu?
Swine flu is the common term for the influenza virus strain that commonly infects pigs. Swine flu, in most cases, is not transmittable from pigs to humans, and is not transmitted by eating pork. Swine flu, like the “regular flu” has been afflicting people for ages with cases being reported as early as 1917.
So What’s The Big Deal Now?
Although reports of humans infected with swine flu has been around for decades, the previous cases of swine flu used to only inflict people who direct close contact with pigs. What makes this outbreak so bad is that it isn’t the same virus that has been around for decades. According to reports, this recent outbreak of swine flu is caused by a new sub strain of the influenza virus. This new strand has not been shown to originate from pigs. The source of the disease in humans at this time is still unknown. The new strain is believed to be a composite of at least four different strains of the influenza virus. It has been dubbed swine flu, because it’s reported to cause similar symptoms and pathogenic affects as the original. Since discovery of the differences between the two viruses, the new outbreak has officially been named Novel influenza A (H1N1).
The changes in the virus have helped the virus spread more easily than the previous strains of the swine flu. The only plus side to this is that because of the change, it has made it less deadly than the other strains… but this could change at any time, depending on the potential mutation growth of the virus. Currently, the H1N1 virus is an epidemic but it is still uncertain if the virus is to be considered a pandemic. An epidemic is when an infectious disease is spread rapidly to many people. Because of the far-reaching effects of the H1N1 virus (transferred from Mexico to the US), it had been categorized as an epidemic. An example of an epidemic is the severe acute respiratory syndrome, better known as SARS that killed over 800 people in 2003. However, now that the virus has become global, its category standing is under consideration of changing to a pandemic. A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. Determination of a pandemic ranges from levels 1-6, level 6 being a complete global pandemic. The H1N1 virus is currently at 5. Viruses that have been considered pandemics are the Spanish Flu, and HIV/Aids.
How Do You Get It & Once You’ve Got It, How Do You Know?
Swine flu is known to be air borne, meaning it can be transmitted through the air, and is highly contagious. Despite any rumors that may have circulated, the H1N1 virus is not, I repeat not transmitted through the ingestion of pork/ pork products (as long as they’re properly cooked). Symptoms of swine flu include sore throat, headaches, nasal congestion, and fever. In addition to these most common of flu symptoms, swine flu is known to cause diarrhea and vomiting which are not usually associated with normal influenza. So if you find yourself with a fever and diarrhea you may be in danger.
Because symptoms of swine flu are akin to symptoms of other conditions, it is difficult to know if this is the condition you are suffering from. The only way to verify if you have been infected with H1N1 virus is through lab testing. These tests are administered through state health departments. The down side to this however, is because the demand of tests is high these tests are being reserved for patients with severe, critical flu conditions. Moreover, doctors are also reserving antiviral drugs for people who are at a high risk of the flu.
Prevention & Treatment
Prevention of infection falls back to personal hygiene. Washing your hands with soap and water and using/ disposing of tissues when you sneeze or cough is very important. Although wearing a surgical mask outside of surgery may earn you some puzzled looks, it can go a long way to help keeping you healthy. Vaccination is also an option, but it’s not foolproof. There is always the possibility that the vaccination is ineffective, or the virus mutates and develops immunity. Worse still, the vaccination itself may kill you. Antibiotics are always present, but not always the way to go. The overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistant viruses (super bugs) that show no mercy on their hosts.
In some reported cases of the swine flu in the US, patients who have had flu like symptoms have recovered without receiving medical attention. Despite the possibility of the virus automatically going away, it is still very important to contact a local health provider if you have any concerns or feel you are at risk of experiencing any of these symptoms.
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