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The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the H1N1 swine flu a pandemic - that is to say it is a flu infection that has spread worldwide. Certainly this announcement comes with questions and concerns. For you to get the facts on causes and severity of this worldwide outbreak and how they relate to you and your family go to our Links/Resources Page.
The six resource links that you should query are:
The many articles of information that appear related to swine flu news, regional severity, associated facts and practical advice are far more informative and complete than can be provided here.
A Presidential advisory group of the nation’s leading scientists and engineers released a new report August 24 assessing the Obama Administration’s preparations for this fall’s expected resurgence of 2009 influenza A (H1N1) flu (swine flu). They outlined key steps officials can take in the coming weeks and months to minimize the disease’s impact on the nation. The swine flu is different from the usual seasonal flu.
The report concludes that the 2009-H1N1 flu is not likely to resemble the deadly flu pandemic of 1918-19. But in contrast to the benign version of swine flu that emerged in 1976, the report says the current strain "poses a serious health threat" to the nation. The issue is not that the virus is more deadly than other flu strains, but rather that it is likely to infect more people than usual because it is a new strain against which few people have immunity. This could mean that doctors’ offices and hospitals may get filled to capacity.
With schools back in session in the next few weeks the expectation is that there will be an increase in the number of cases since, unlike previous flu seasons, this swine flu has persisted through the summer months. In the United States a total of 7,983 hospitalizations and 522 deaths associated with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus have been reported to CDC.
Symptoms of the flu include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, sore throat and coughing. Steps to reduce the risk of infection are the same as for any viral illness: frequent hand washing, covering your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, and avoiding close contact with sick people. If you think you may have the flu, either swine flu or seasonal flu which have the same symptoms, wear a mask to reduce the risk of transmission and limit your exposure to others in the community.
A vaccine against 2009 influenza A (H1N1) is in the testing stage but is unlikely to be available before mid-October and the number of vaccines will be quite limited. CDC has issued guidelines targeting high risk persons who should have priority receiving this vaccine. These include pregnant women, persons who live with or provide care for infants aged <6 months (e.g., parents, siblings, and daycare providers), health-care and emergency medical services personnel, persons aged 6 months--24 years, and persons aged 25--64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications. As noted above, the swine flu virus is different from the annual seasonal flu. Flu vaccine for seasonal flu will be readily available by the beginning of October.
There are medications that are at times used to treat the flu. Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) is a pill taken twice a day for 5 days. There has been increasing resistance by the swine flu to this medication. Zanamivir (Relenza) is given by inhalation. Thus far there has been no resistance to this medication but there is a concern that with increased use resistance may develop.
For more information visit any, or all, of the six Resource/ Links sites listed in the accompanying article.
The newest tool for preventing heart attack is a flu shot!Between 10% to 20% of people catch the flu annually, and a bad case can be deadly for individuals with coronary heart disease. Yet only one in three adults with cardiovascular disease gets an annual flu shot. People with heart disease are not only at higher risk for flu than the general population but also are more likely to have a severe case and to develop complications such as viral or bacterial pneumonia. What's more, the flu can worsen coronary heart disease and trigger a heart attack. No one is absolutely sure how the flu increases the risk of a heart attack. One possibility is that the inflamation associated with the flu can trigger the rupture of unstable plaque, leading to the formation of a blood clot that could cause a heart attack. The strongest evidence for protection from a flu shot in people with heart disease comes from the Flu Vaccination in Acute Coronary Syndromes (FLUVACS) study. In that study, some 300 individuals who had been hospitalized for either a heart attack or a planned angioplasty were randomly assigned to receive a flu vaccine or remain unvaccinated. Over the next year, twice as many of the unvaccinated group (23%) died of heart disease, had a nonfatal heart attack, or developed severe ischemia (insufficient blood supply to the heart tissue), compared with those who were vaccinated (11%). The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends a flu shot with the same enthusiasm as it does the control of cholesterol, blood pressure, and other modifiable risk factors for heart atacks. In a scientific advisory issued by the AHA and the American College of Cardiology heart doctors were asked to do something they may not normally do - give their patients flu shots. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued extensive recommendations pertaining to those individuals who should obtain flu shots. Go to our Home Page and click on Flu Alert for full details. Besides getting a flu shot, two other simple measures - frequent hand washing (see Hand Washing 101) and, if possible, avoiding close contact with a flu sufferer - can help reduce the risk of catching the flu.
Source: Johns Hokins Health Alerts
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