In the wake of this swine flu outbreak, I want to do my part & inform you, my wonderful followers, on the specifics of the swine s=flu, as well as the difference between an epidemic & pandemic. We all know information is power, & education is imperative to a world transformed. Enjoy this article of some of the Swine Flu 2009 Frequently Asked Questions, & be enlightened.
with so much in the news about swine flu, also called H1N1, it's wise to know what it is, what you can expect, and how to protect yourself and your loved ones. Empowered patients can use this knowledge to reduce their fear of swine flu.
What is swine flu?
The swine flu is a strain of virus that pigs contract and transmit. The swine flu of interest in 2009 is the H1N1 strain, which can be passed from pigs to human beings. It was first identified in pigs in 1930. Now it is causing illness in humans, with the potential of reaching pandemic7 levels.
Why is this flu different from other flus?
Influenza is caused by a virus. There are thousands of different kinds of viruses that can cause the flu and new strains develop each year. The seasonal flu is actually comprise of several different strains. Swine flu is just one more strain.
What are the swine flu stages I keep hearing about?
The World Health Organization, WHO, developed a plan to respond to health emergencies, like swine flu, which have the potential to become pandemic8. Each stage represents a different level of response. For example, Stage 4 means that the disease can no longer be contained inside any specific country, therefore governments must take steps to handle community spread of the disease. If we get there, Stages 5-6 will indicate the swine flu has become pandemic. You can follow WHO swine flu staging10 for changes and updates.
What exactly is a pandemic?
WHO defines a pandemic along those stages mentioned above. They describe the prevalence of the disease, across populations and countries. There is a difference between a pandemic and an epidemic.
I keep hearing "swine flu" and "avian flu" in the same sentence.
What's that all about?
Avian flu is another name for bird flu. This pairing is heard as "swine, avian, human" and refers to the fact that this flu strain seems to be a combination of all three.
How is the swine flu transmitted?
The swine flu is transmitted just the way any viral disease is transmitted -- person-to-person contact, by touching something someone with a virus has already touched, or from droplets in the air which come from a sneeze or a cough of a person who has the swine flu.
What are the symptoms of swine flu?
Symptoms of swine flu are the same as typical flu symptoms. Fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue are the most prevalent symptoms. Some patients report diarrhea and vomiting, too.
Do people die from swine flu?
People can die, but most do not.
Is there a swine flu vaccine like seasonal flu vaccine?
No. The CDC and WHO report there is no vaccine available for this strain of swine flu. A vaccine may be developed, but if so, it will not be available until Fall 2009.
There are many spam emails circulating that claim a vaccine is available. Since this strain, the H1N1 strain, is only weeks old, it would be impossible for a vaccine to have been developed. Any claims to the contrary would likely be counterfeit.
Is it possible to track swine flu outbreaks?
Yes. There are a number of ways to track incidents of swine flu across the world.
You and Swine Flu
I never come into contact with pigs. Am I safe from swine flu?
No. This is a myth. Transmission of the virus doesn't require you to come into contact with pigs. It can pass from one human to another. According to the CDC, there is some evidence that people who do come into contact regularly with pigs may be immune to the swine flu
.
People in Mexico have died from swine flu, but I don't live anywhere near Mexico.
Am I safe?
No. This is another myth17. Any contagious disease can easily be transmitted around the world within a very short period of time because people don't stay in one place. Vacationers and business travelers may go to or leave Mexico or any other area where flu is prevalent. Any of them may have been exposed to the flu. If they are contagious, they may transmit the virus on planes, trains, in airports or other travel-related places, exposing others.
I got a flu shot. Am I protected?
Health officials say that a seasonal flu shot (which addresses different strains of flu) will not protect us from the swine flu. The seasonal flu shot was developed to combat strains that are not related to the swine flu strain, H1N1.
If I think I have the swine flu, what should I do?
If you find yourself with flu-like symptoms, contact your doctor's office immediately and stay home from work or school18. It may be the swine flu, or it could be seasonal flu, or any upper respiratory problem. Let your doctor figure that out for you.
Don't just show up at your doctor's office. Call first, to make an appointment. If others have symptoms, you don't want to be in the waiting room with them and your doctor will know how to be sure the illness can't pass in the waiting room.
There are some prescription drugs that your doctor may recommend that can make the illness easier to tolerate, and may help you avoid complications. Those drugs must be started within 48 hours of symptoms onset to be effective. A report from Bloomberg about the deaths in Mexico stated that most of the people who died did not seek medical attention until later stages of the disease.
Make sure you cover your mouth and nose if you cough or sneeze using a tissue or your sleeve -- not your hands. You don't want to transmit it to others.
If I get the swine flu, how long will it last, or how long will I be contagious?
The length of illness will depend on the severity of your case of flu. You will be contagious from the onset of symptoms, plus an additional seven days after your symptoms go away. Children may be contagious even longer.
Should I travel during this time?
There is no simple answer. As incidents of flu spread, there will be more and more hot spots to be concerned with.
You can find travel warnings20 at the CDC website. Or ask your doctor or your local public health officials for their advice about travel to these areas.
Who Is Most at Risk for Catching Swine Flu?
Like any contagious disease, older people, babies or anyone with a compromised immune system are vulnerable.
However, what it is unusual about swine flu and is that healthy people may be at a similar level of risk. Health professionals theorize that a stronger immune system may cause the body to develop highly vigorous antibodies to attack that virus, and those antibodies inflame the lung cells, making healthy people even sicker.
People who have died from swine flu in Mexico were mostly older than age 3 and younger than age 60, although a 23-month old toddler visiting the United States from Mexico did die of swine flu.
What about my pets? Can my cat or dog get swine flu?
According to Janet Tobiassen Crosby, About.com's Guide to Veterinary Medicine, the answer is very likely no. She does a good review of CDC data and information to come to that conclusion.
If you have a pot-bellied pig as a pet, you'll want to check with your veterinarian.
How can I protect myself and my family from the swine flu?
Follow some common sense protections emphasized for any flu, including seasonal flu:
Keep your hands washed and sanitized.
Carry hand sanitizer with you and use it liberally each time you touch something that someone else may have touched. Show your children how to use sanitizer, too. Items at work, at school, church, the supermarket, the library, soccer practice -- anywhere others who may have been exposed.
Avoid being near others who might be sick to avoid breathing droplets they have sneezed or coughed, or touching something they have touched.
When you greet others, consider not shaking their hands or hugging or kissing them during this time. Those are generally courtesies. You might even explain that you are doing them a favor! They'll respect you for it.
If you have travel plans, do some due diligence and consider changing plans if you will be traveling to an area where cases of swine flu, even possible cases of swine flu, have been identified. The CDC issues travel advisories.
Plan ahead for the possibility that you or your children (meaning, you, too) might need to stay home from work or school. If it seems like people at work or school have an upper respiratory illness, even if they have not identified it as swine flu, you may want to consider staying home, too.
Can I get the swine flu from eating pork?
No. The swine flu virus is not contained in pork meat. This is another myth.
Why do I see people on the TV news wearing masks over their nose and mouth?
In areas where any virus is running rampant, they hope to protect themselves from breathing any droplets of virus that might be left in the air from someone who sneezed or coughed. Health officials are not sure whether those masks are helpful or not, but they certainly can't hurt.
epidemic or pandemic - what is the difference between epidemic and pandemic?
By Trisha Torrey, About.com
Definition:
The words pandemic and epidemic are easily confused, so here is some clarification.
An epidemic refers to a contagious, infectious or viral illness that spreads to many people in one geographic region that occurs in excess of the numbers of cases that would usually be expected.
A pandemic refers to a contagious, infectious or viral illness that spreads, and may include millions of people in many areas across the globe, according to the World Health Organization's description.
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