SWINE FLU

SWINE FLU


DEFINITION OF SWINE FLU

• Is a flu that occurs in pigs and in rare cases is passed from pigs to human. The strain now circulating is worrisome because it can pass from person to person. Like human flu, the effects of swine flu can range from mild to severe.
• It has human, pig and avian virus strains

INITIAL OUTBREAK IN U.S. AND MEXICO

• Analysis has suggested that the H1N1 strain responsible for the current outbreak first evolved around September 2008.
• The new strain was first diagnosed in two children by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), on April 14 in San Diego County, California.
• The outbreak was first detected in Mexico City, where surveillance began picking up a surge in cases of influenza-like illness starting March 18, 2009.
• It was assumed as “late-season flu”

INTERNATIONAL CASES

• The outbreak comes at the beginning of the flu season for Southern Hemisphere countries such as New
Zealand, Australia, South Africa and parts of the South America.
• Other countries like Canada, UK, Spain, Germany, Italy and Panama also had cases with Swine Flu.
• On May 2, it was announced that a Canadian farm worker who had traveled to Mexico had transmitted the disease to a herd of pigs, showing that the disease can still move between species.

DEBATE OVER NAME

• Some authorities object to calling the flu outbreak “Swine Flu” to avoid suggestions that eating pork products carried a risk of infection.
• In the Netherlands, it was originally called “pig flu”
• National Health Institute and Media called it as “Mexican Flu”
• South Korea and Israel called it as “Mexican Virus”, then later it was called by the South Korean Press “SI”, short name for “Swine Influenza”

SCIENTIFIC NAME OR COMMON NAME

• Finland suggested the names “ Sika Flunssa” and Shalah Pietari Flunssa”
• Taiwan suggested the names “H1N1 flu” or “New flu”, which most local media now used it.
• The World Organization for Animal Health has proposed the name “ North American Influenza”
• The European Commission uses the term “novel flu virus”
• The WHO announced they would refer to the new influenza virus as Influenza A (H1N1) or “Influenza A (H1N1) virus
• The outbreak has also been called the “H1N1 influenza”, “2009 H1N1 flu” or “swine-origin influenza”.

GENES PRESENT IN SWINE FLU

• Haemagglutinin-similar to that of swine flu virus present in U.S. pigs since 1999
• Neuraminidase and Matrix Protein genes-resembled version present in European swine flu isolates
• RNA polymerase subunit-avian North America
• RNA polymerase subunit PB1 human 1993

H1N1 INFECTIONS AND TRANSMISSION

Influenza viruses happen naturally among pigs, hogs and boars. Swine influenza is very contagious among swine. It can make some domesticated pigs very sick.

It is unusual for humans to catch swine flu viruses, but occasional cases happen, usually in people who have contact with infected pigs. Swine flu viruses have also been reported to spread from person to person in the past but previous episodes of transmission were very limited.

The recent infections are caused by anew strain or type of the swine flu virus known as type A, which infects both human and animals, subtype H1N1. That is why the flu is called influenza A H1N1 or simply H1N1 flu.

Flu viruses are spread from person to person when infected people cough or sneeze, sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

Infected people may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop & up to seven or more days after becoming sick, children, especially younger children, might be contagious for longer periods.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

In children some emergency warning signs include:

 Fast breathing or trouble breathing
 Bluish skin color
 Not drinking enough fluid
 High or prolonged fever

You should also seek immediate medical attention if you notice changes in your childs’ mental status such as:
 Not waking up
 Not interacting
 Extreme irritability and not wanting to be held

In adults, some emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention:
 Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath
 Pain or pressure in the chest/abdomen
 Sudden dizziness
 Near-fainting/fainting
 Confusion
 Severe or persistent vomiting
 High or prolonged fever

TREATMENT

Antiviral drugs are prescription medications that can help the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. These include pills, liquids or inhalers.

Antiviral medications must be taken within 48 hours after symptoms appear.

Other treatments that should work for H1N1 flu include rest, medications to bring down a high fever and drinking plenty of water. If complications happen & you become very sick, hospitalization may be needed.

Hospitalized patients may be given oxygen/ use a respirator. Children or teenagers with a flu should get plenty of rest and drink lots of liquids. The medicines that they take to relieve their symptoms should not contain aspirin. Giving aspirin to children and teenagers who have influenza can cause Reye Syndrome.

PREVENTION

1. Wash your hands often with soap and water.
2. Use alcohol to clean hands.
3. When sneezing or coughing cover your mouth and nose with your elbow
or use a tissue and throw away the tissue after used. Then, wash your
hands after you sneeze or cough.