Swine Flu Virus*****beware*****, ******must read***** Options

[qatreena sheikh]

introduction:

Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs first isolated in swine in 1930, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The illness is caused by four different type A influenza strains that can cause outbreaks in pigs, though subtypes H1N1 and H3N2 seem to be more common. The death rate among pigs is low, with most infections occurring in the late fall and winter.
Symptoms of infected pigs include fever, depression, coughing (barking), sneezing, difficulty breathing, red or inflamed eyes, lack of appetite and discharge from the nose or eyes.

How do people get infected?


Human infection happens intermittently, with most cases occurring when patients have direct contact with pigs. But cases of an infected person transmitting the swine flu to others have also been documented, says the CDC. (A 1988 outbreak in pigs in Wisconsin led to multiple human infections, and there was evidence that a patient transmitted the virus to health care workers.)


About one case of swine flu in humans is reported to the CDC every one to two years, but from December 2005 through February 2009, 12 cases were reported to the agency. According to WebMD.com, 11 of those people had direct or indirect contact with infected pigs.


Human-to-human infections do occur similar to the way the human seasonal flu virus is transmitted — through coughing, sneezing and coming in contact with a person or object with the virus.
People cannot become infected by eating pork or pork products. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit kills the virus as well as other bacteria, notes the CDC.


What are the symptoms?
They are similar to those of the regular human influenza virus: fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, and coughing. Some who have been infected with the swine flu also reported having a runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

How is it diagnosed?
A respiratory specimen must be collected within the first four to five days of illness, when the infected person is most likely to be shedding the virus. However, some patients (such as children), may shed the virus for 10 days or longer, according to the CDC. Specimens must be sent to the CDC for laboratory testing in order to identify swine flu.

.How is it treated?


Four antiviral drugs are licensed to treat the disease in the U.S.: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir. Most of the viruses are susceptible to all four, but the CDC currently recommends oseltamivir or zanamivir to treat and prevent swine flu infections. The antivirals should be taken as soon as possible symptoms appear.


Tamiflu, the generic name for oseltamivir, appears to be effective against the new strain when taken early, says the CDC.
There is currently no human vaccine for swine flu, but the flu vaccine may provide some protection against the H3N2 strain, though not the H1N1 strain.


Should I be worried?

In April 2009, a unique strain of the swine flu was found in eight people in California and Texas. The strain was connected to the deadly flu that had broken out in Mexico and killed as many as 61 and sickened close to 1,000.


The mutated strain combines bird, pig and human viruses in a way that researchers have not seen until now, the CDC reported.


All eight patients from the U.S. recovered, but it is currently unclear how they became infected since none came in contact with swine prior to their infection. Officials believe that this new strain can spread from human to human, according to the CDC.
It is currently unclear if this unique virus is new, or if it has just gone undetected until now.

This post has been edited by qatreena sheikh: Apr 25 2009, 02:43 PM

[qatreena sheikh]

At least two cases of the human swine influenza have been confirmed in Kansas and one more in California, bringing the U.S. total to 11 and stoking fears that the virus could trigger a pandemic.

At least eight students at a New York City high school probably have swine flu, but health officials said Saturday they don’t know whether they have the same strain of the virus that has killed scores of people in Mexico.

A strain of the flu has killed as many as 68 people and sickened more than 1,000 across Mexico. The World Health Organization chief said Saturday the strain has “pandemic potential” and it may be too late to contain a sudden outbreak.



Kansas health officials said Saturday they had confirmed swine flu in a married couple living in the central part of the state after the husband visited Mexico. The couple, who live in Dickinson County, were not hospitalized, and the state described their illnesses as mild.

Dr. Jason Eberhart-Phillips, the state health officer, said, “Fortunately, the man and woman understand the gravity of the situation and are very willing to isolate themselves.”

The man traveled to Mexico last week for a professional conference and became ill after he returned home. His wife became ill later. Their doctor suspected swine flu, but it wasn’t confirmed until flu specimens were flown to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

NBC News has also learned there are suspected cases in Minnesota.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A flu viruses. Human cases of swine flu are uncommon but can happen in people who are around pigs and can be spread from person to person. Symptoms of the flu include a fever of more than 100 degrees, body aches, coughing, a sore throat, respiratory congestion and, in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea.

'Be prepared for uncertainty'
It may be too late to contain the sudden outbreak, warned the CDC, which has stepped up surveillance across the United States. "We are worried," said the CDC's Dr. Anne Schuchat.

[safir]

It has the potential of becoming a pandemic.

[God.Father]

if MP is the first place people learn about Swine Flu, I think its pointless to make them aware.

[d-tox..ed]

It has the potential of becoming a pandemic.

agreed...i work for Health Protection Agency UK and I can tell you that they are taking this very seriously....

[Inc0gnito]

I have a flu since friday. I dont know what type though. If I die of it, you'll know. It doesn't feel like I am dying though. Coz I am still enjoying God's creation - Women. I am after all Adam's Son.

This post has been edited by Inc0gnito: Apr 27 2009, 07:57 AM

[qatreena sheikh]

What should you do if you think you are sick with swine flu?

Contact your health care professional, inform them of your symptoms, and ask whether you should be tested for swine flu. Be prepared to give details on how long you've been feeling ill and about any recent travels. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed. If you feel sick, but are not sure what illness you may have, stay home until you have been diagnosed properly to avoid spreading any infection.

Watch for these symptoms in children. Seek emergency medical care if your child experiences any of the following warning signs:

Fever with a rash

Dehydration

Fast breathing

Bluish skin coloration

Slow to wake or sluggish interaction

Flu-like symptoms improve, but then return and cough worsens

Severe irritability

For adults, emergency medical care is needed if you experience these warning signs:

Difficulty breathing

Dizziness

Confusion

Severe or persistent vomiting

Pain/pressure in the chest or stomach

Remember that the symptoms for swine flu are almost identical to those you might experience with the regular flu. Only your doctor can give you the correct diagnosis.

Are there medicines effective in treating swine flu in humans?

The swine flu responds to the use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) for those infected. For treatment, these antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

This post has been edited by qatreena sheikh: Apr 27 2009, 10:42 AM

[desiplease]

[Inc0gnito]

what!? I never goto a doctor when I have the flu. Go white blood cells!

[Kukkr]

I'm kinda scared, coz I was reading this news article about Chinese being careful and saying that there is probably no case in China, and then moments later I read about them declaring an alert state or something and finding multiple patients

same thing happened with some other countries =| I might have mixed old and new articles, causing this, but it still kinda spooked me out :S

...
Symptoms of infected pigs include fever, depression, coughing (barking), sneezing, difficulty breathing, red or inflamed eyes, lack of appetite and discharge from the nose or eyes.

what the-

seems like you're worried about us Q. Sheikh thanks =P

if MP is the first place people learn about Swine Flu, I think its pointless to make them aware.

P.S.: Islam told thee, thy body shall stay away from pigs

what!? I never goto a doctor when I have the flu. Go white blood cells!

same here

[qatreena sheikh]

[safir]

WHO has ungraded the warning for Pandemic from 4 / 6 to 5 / 6. Everyone needs to take precautions and not take unnecessary risks.

[hypertensive]

agreed...i work for Health Protection Agency UK and I can tell you that they are taking this very seriously....

there is a helluva lot of media hype surrounding it though..it's like 50's paranoia in the streets.
agreed, it has the potential to become very serious and there's a hive of activity in health institutes, but at the moment there are so many unknowns that everyone just keeps giving worse case scenarios.

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besides we're due a pandemic

[safir]

It is all to make the public aware of the dangers. In the past Flu epidemics killed thousands of people and at that time the transportation facilities were not that well developed and not too many people travelled to far off places. Now the whole world is within your reach. People are travelling to all parts of the world, thus there is a greater danger of spread of the virus than ever before. Just one undetected case can infect thousands of other people. That is why such a hype. As they say better to be on guard than to take a casual attitude towards it.

[abracadabra]

WA MA MIN DABAH