May 5, 2009
As of this morning, 21 countries have officially reported 1124 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection (aka Swine Flu). Among the hundreds of confirmed cases as of 06:00 GMT, 26 individuals have died, 26 in Mexico and 2 in Texas. There are confirmed cases in 40 states within the US.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) mapping of countries reporting infections (http://whoterrance.vo.msecnd.net/mediacentre/swine_flu/GlobalSubnationalMaster_20090505_0800.jpg ), this is a multi-continent pandemic staged at phase 5 – 6. Phases 5 – 6 indicate the “pandemic phase of an influenza outbreak which indicates the need for response. Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus within a WHO region while phase 6, the pandemic phase, is characterized as the spread of the virus outside of WHO regions. With the current multi-continental spread of H1N1, we are in a pandemic scenario with H1N1.
Officials are closely watching the effect the five-day moratorium on work and school in Mexico has on the spread of the virus. Questions emerge on whether five days is enough time to let the virus die out or go dormant, and whether the moratorium, estimated at a cost to Mexico of $150 million per day will be effective.
Influenza H1N1 cause a wide range of symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. People with this strain may also have vomiting and diarrhea. Like seasonal flu, H1N1 in humans varies in severity from mild to severe. Severe disease with pneumonia, respiratory failure and even death is possible with H1N1 flu infection. Sometimes bacterial infections may occur at the same time as or after infection with influenza viruses and lead to pneumonias, ear infections, sinus infections or blood infections.
So, what can you do today to help protect yourself and your family? Wash your hands, cover your mouth when coughing, wash your hands some more! In addition:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol based hand cleansers are also effective. This lessens the spread of disease.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth to avoid spreading germs.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Reduce unnecessary social contacts and crowded settings when possible
People with respiratory illness or fever should stay home from work or school to avoid spreading infections, including influenza, to others in the community. If you think you have the flu, please call your health care provider and discuss whether you need to be seen in their office or an emergency department, or stay home. Oftentimes, if you have mild to moderate symptoms, the best choice for yourself and your community is to stay home. Persons with influenza A (H1N1) virus infection should be considered potentially contagious for up to 7 days following the onset of the illness. Persons who continue to be ill longer than 7 days after illness onset should be considered potentially contagious until symptoms have resolved, and should not return to work until one to two days after the symptoms end.
As with all influenza viruses, treatment for H1N1 virus will generally be focused on symptoms such as fever, cough, and nausea. There are also antiviral medications available by prescription. If you get sick, antiviral drugs may make your illness milder and may make you feel better. They may also prevent serious influenza complications. The effective use of these agents is within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms – the sooner, the better chance of symptom worsening. These medications are often reserved for those individuals that are more likely to progress into secondary infections with a greater chance of worsening condition.
H1N1 flu is not transmitted by food and you cannot get it from eating pork products.
