Swine Flu and You

For the past week, the media has been overflowing with stories on the swine flu, now officially called H1N1 flu. Some are advising an abundance of caution, restricting unnecessary travel and staying away from large gatherings. Others stress the importance of maintaining a normal life, advising hand washing and sanitizing but encouraging life as usual.

The ever-shifting news and advice can make it tough for anyone to decide what to do. If you have phobias, however, it is easy to become overwhelmed and even paralyzed with fear and indecision.

H1N1 Swine Flu Is Now a Pandemic

The World Health Organization gathered for an emergency meeting today and decided to declare the H1N1 swine flu officially at the Phase 6 pandemic stage.

So Is it Time to Panic Now?

Absolutely not. The change in phase really doesn't mean a lot for the United States, which has been treating this new flu virus like a pandemic for a while now. It also doesn't have any bearing on how severe the virus is. The change in phase simply indicates that it is spreading in several countries around the world.

In all honesty, this has been happening for a few weeks and the alert level could have been raised then. But the WHO has waited for a number of reasons, but mostly because they didn't (and don't) want people to panic for no reason.

There is still no reason to restrict travel or shut down schools and businesses. The disease really has not been severe so far. When you hear that over 140 people have died from it so far, it may sound scary. But over 35,000 people die from the seasonal flu every year - just in the United States. You just have to keep it in perspective.

What Does This Pandemic Mean Then?

To those of us who are not sick, it means we should remain vigilant about using precautions such as hand washing to keep ourselves healthy. To those who do get sick, you should take care of yourself, stay home and try not to expose other people to your germs and seek medical attention if you feel your symptoms are getting severe.

We should all:

* Know the Symptoms of H1N1 Swine Flu
* Learn How to Prepare for the Flu Pandemic
* Learn What the Pandemic Phases Mean
* Focus on How to Prevent H1N1 Swine Flu

Declaring this an official pandemic allows other less developed countries greater access to medical supplies so they will be able to care for their citizens as the disease spreads. It may also speed up the development of the pandemic flu vaccines that are already in production.

Should You Fear H1N1 Swine Flu?

With increasing numbers of deaths in Mexico, and more incidents of possible swine flu being identified across the world, we seem to have little control over this advancing disease, possibly pandemic, giving us reason to fear it. But should we really fear the swine flu?

No. Fear is unnecessary. But a healthy respect is definitely called for.

A "Public Health Emergency"

It does sound frightening -- those words -- "Public Health Emergency." And calling swine flu a public health emergency most definitely gets our attention.

Behind those words, though, is the fact that the actual declaration is really a vehicle for making money available and suggesting that local governments begin using their predetermined plans for managing public health problems. It doesn't mean there is a crisis.

Let those words remind you to take precautions yourself. But don't be afraid of them.


Flu is Flu

H1N1 swine flu is one more strain of flu. It sounds really scary because it originally came from pigs, and that creates some mystery around it. It also sounds scary because we don't have any vaccine to protect those who are most vulnerable.

But it behaves like other flus. We catch it the same way, and we can protect ourselves the same ways. We can make choices to protect ourselves and our families.

Do you fear the seasonal flu? Probably not. And this flu is really no more frightening than seasonal flu. Seasonal flu takes tens of thousands of lives each year. Deaths from H1N1 swine flu have not approached those of seasonal flu.


Pandemic Describes Geography Only

We hear the word "pandemic" used by the media and that reminds us of history class in high school. It sounds like it means millions of people might die. But that's not what it means at all!

Pandemic simply means it is found large groups of people in many countries around the world. Pan comes from Latin and Greek meaning across or around. Demos means populations or people. Pan-demic. Geography and demographics. Not deaths.

Learn more about the definition of pandemic and how it could affect you in the 21st Century.

What About Those Face Masks?

When I see those masks on the people on TV, it reminds me of SARS and bird flu in China a few years ago. Again, that was scary because so many of the people who contracted those diseases did die.

Masks just keep the wearers from inhaling the water droplets that might be breathed out by someone who has the flu bug. Or when worn by someone who has any upper respiratory disease, they may contain some of the spread of that illness. They aren't a bad idea, but they don't indicate that the flu is any more dangerous than any normal flu.

Thousands of people die of seasonal flu each year, but we don't all wear masks.

Why Does It Seem Like We are Unprepared?

Another reason some fear the swine flu is because, unlike seasonal flu, we don't have vaccines available, people are still traveling, and we seem unprepared to stop it.

Again, this fear is unwarranted. Thousands of strains of viruses could potentially cause flu. We have no way of creating vaccines for all of them, nor would anyone ever be willing to be vaccinated against them all.

We do have two drugs available to help with symptoms, which the CDC tells us is in plentiful supply. Relenza and Tamiflu, both of which are used during seasonal flu seasons each year, are also useful for helping swine flu patients, too.

H1N1 Swine Flu 2009 Frequently Asked Questions

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 pandemic levels.

What does H1N1 Influenza A mean?

The official, scientific name for swine flu, its serologic classification, is H1N1 Influenza A. The H means hemagglutinin and the N means neuraminidase and the 1s refer to their antibody type. Influenza A is a genus of the Orthomyxoviridae family of viruses, and refers to the fact that the virus is first identified in an animal, usually a pig or a bird. When put together, they describe the 2009 swine flu virus.

Why is this flu different from other flus?

There are thousands of different kinds of viruses that can cause the flu. New strains develop frequently and each one is different from the one before it. The seasonal flu is actually comprised of several different strains of flu. Swine flu is a new, different strain, as described above.

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 pandemic. 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 staging 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.

SWINE and SWINE FLU

Swine influenza or swine flu is a type of flu that normally only affects pigs.

That pigs can get the flu shouldn't be too surprising to people, as there have been many reports in recent years about the bird flu (Avian Influenza), another type of flu virus that affects birds.

Although both types of flu have long caused outbreaks in animals, the main problem occurs when these flu viruses infect humans. This was highlighted by a swine flu outbreak in Fort Dix, New Jersey in 1976, in which at least four soldiers got sick and one died, and the more devastating bird flu outbreaks that have killed hundreds of people worldwide.

Swine Flu

Swine flu is actually very common in pigs. And surprisingly, many things about swine flu are the same as the human flu, including that:

* pigs can get a swine flu vaccine
* swine flu outbreaks usually occur among pigs in the late fall and winter, just like our flu season
* swine flu symptoms in pigs can include the sudden onset of fever, coughing, running nose, sneezing, trouble breathing, and not wanting to eat

Fortunately, especially as we have enough to worry about with our own flu viruses, humans do not usually get swine flu. Occasionally they do however, especially children and adults who have close contact with pigs. In fact, the CDC usually reports one or two human cases of swine flu each year.

Swine Flu Symptoms

Swine flu symptoms in humans are the same as regular flu symptoms, and include fever, coughing, decreased appetite, and decreased energy.
2009 Swine Flu Cases

Unlike most years, in which just one or two cases of human swine flu were reported in the United States, at least 40 cases of swine flu in humans were reported as of April 27, 2009 -- the date the CDC declared the issue a public health emergency.

In-flight Quarantine Inspections for the H1N1 Flu End in Japan

Three hundred seventeen cases of the new flu (H1N1 flu) have been confirmed in Japan so far, mostly in Hyogo and Osaka prefectures. To deal with this domestic outbreak, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that quarantine inspections conducted on flights from the U.S. mainland, Canada, and Mexico would no longer be carried out at Japanese airports, except flights carry passengers with flu-like symptoms.

If you develop symptoms of the flu in Japan, you could call the AMDA International Medical Information Center at 03-5285-8088 (Tokyo) or 06-4395-0555 (Kansai) between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. They refer to appropriate medical facilities in several languages.

H1N1 Update

In a new report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention share their findings on 30 people hospitalized with the H1N1 swine flu in California. The report shows that 64 percent of the patients had at least one underlying medical condition, thought to increase their risk for swine flu and its complications. Those underlying conditions included chronic lung disease (such as asthma), heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

As of May 19, the CDC reported 5,469 cases of swine flu in 48 states (including six deaths). That same day, the World Health Organization reported 9,830 diagnosed cases in 40 countries, including at least 79 deaths.

While simple actions such as washing your hands frequently and avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth can guard against swine flu, taking steps to boost your immune system may also help keep you healthy.

Can Colloidal Silver Cure Swine Flu?

As the H1N1 swine flu continues to spread, you may be seeking a powerful defense against this potentially life-threatening virus. Manufacturers of colloidal silver—a solution of tiny silver particles suspended in a liquid base—claim that their products can knock out swine flu, as well as protect against flu-related secondary infections such as pneumonia. However, there's little scientific evidence that colloidal silver can actually stave off disease or infection. What's more, this supplement may lead to adverse effects like argyria (an untreatable, permanent characterized by bluish discoloration of the skin).

Claims for the flu-fighting powers of colloidal silver are rampant on the Internet. But it's crucial to take caution when reviewing these claims: In a 2008 analysis of 49 websites providing information on silver-containing nasal sprays (one form of colloidal silver), researchers found that all linked to shopping sites where such products could be purchased.