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Dr.Kedar Karki
The influenza virus has also caused several pandemic threats over the
past century, including the pseudo-pandemic of 1947, the 1976 swine
flu outbreak and the 1977 Russian flu, all caused by the H1N1
subtype. The world has been at an increased level of alert since the
SARS epidemic in Southeast Asia (caused by the SARS corona virus).
The level of preparedness was further increased and sustained with the
advent of the H5N1 bird flu outbreaks because of H5N1's high fatality
rate, although the strains currently prevalent have limited human-to-
human transmission capability, or epidemicity.
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deaths due to the virus. The actual origin of the flu is still a mystery,
and includes the possibility that it may have started in Eurasia but
taken root in Mexico. On June 11 after an emergency meeting the
WHO raised the alert level to phase 6 indicating that a flu pandemic is
under way. The WHO noted that this alertness level indicates the
global spread of the virus, not its severity. Most cases throughout the
world have so far been mild relative to seasonal flu. However, because
it is recent, most people do not have immunity to the virus, and illness
may eventually become more severe and widespread in different
demographic and population groups. This new H1N1 flu mainly spreads
in humans in the same way that regular seasonal influenza spreads,
which is through the air from coughs and sneezes or touching those
infected. It cannot be transmitted from eating properly cooked pork.
As of May 24, 2009, nearly 90% of reported deaths had taken place in
Mexico. This has led to speculation that Mexico may have been in the
midst of an unrecognized epidemic for months prior to the current
outbreak, thereby showing a fatality rate that was much higher than it
would have been if earlier cases had been counted. According to the
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the fact that the flu's
infection activity is now monitored more closely may also help explain
why more flu cases than normal are being recorded in many countries.
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degrees Celsius) kills the swine flu virus along with other bacteria and
viruses. Vaccines are available to be given to pigs to prevent swine
influenza. There is no vaccine to protect humans from swine flu,
although the CDC is formulating one. The seasonal influenza vaccine
may help to provide partial protection against swine H3N2, but not
against swine H1N1 viruses like the one circulating now. In 1976 a
new strain of swine flu started infecting people and worried U.S. health
officials started widespread vaccination. More than 40 million people
were vaccinated. But several cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a
severe and sometime fatal condition that can be linked to come
vaccines, caused the U.S. government to stop the program. The
incident led to widespread distrust of vaccines in general.
There are four influenza antiviral drugs approved for use in the United
States (oseltamivir, zanamivir, Amantidine and rimantadine). The
swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses that have been detected in humans
in the United States and Mexico are resistant to Amantidine and
rimantadine so these drugs will not work against these swine influenza
viruses. Laboratory testing on these swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses
so far indicate that they are susceptible (sensitive) to oseltamivir and
zanamivir . If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder
and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious
influenza complications. Influenza antiviral drugs work best when
started soon after illness onset (within two 2 days), but treatment with
antiviral drugs should still be considered after 48 hours of symptom
onset, particularly for hospitalized patients or people at high risk for
influenza-related complications. CDC recommends the use of
oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of
infection with swine influenza viruses. Oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu
is approved to both treat and prevent influenza A and B virus infection
in people one year of age and older Zanamivir (brand name Relenza is
approved to treat influenza A and B virus infection in people 7 years
and older and to prevent influenza A and B virus infection in people 5
years and older.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Washing your hands
often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. We
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can also use alcohol-based hand cleaners. Avoiding touching your
eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way. Trying to avoid close
contact with sick people. Stay home from work or school if you are
sick.
Although in last fortnight there has been reports from many part of our
country about flu like illness but still non of these illness neither
suspected for this dreaded illness till date for us it seems to be some
relief. But as the disease has been detected in Delhi and city of Punjab
our own public health authorities need to be alerted at air and land
embarkment site.