Learn The Facts About Swine Flu
TInfluenza
Each winter hospitals, emergency departments and others anticipate the arrival of “flu season”. Public health officials and emergency planners have been worried about something else – an influenza pandemic. In the spring of 2009 it happened. Fortunately, we have avoided the worst-case scenario. Still, “Swine Flu” has caused much misery and quite a few deaths.
Influenza Virus
The influenza viruses are a diverse family of viruses that cause respiratory illness in birds and mammals. There are two major types of influenza viruses, A and B. There are many subtypes of these viruses; each showing a preference for infecting humans, other mammals or birds.
Seasonal Flu
Each year, a limited number of specific strains of influenza viruses circulate in people around the world. These subtypes slowly change in minor ways. These new subtypes are different enough to require a new vaccine each year.
Because it happens every year, many people don’t appreciate the seriousness of the seasonal flu. The CDC estimates that between 5% and 20% of people get seasonal flu each year and 200,000 are sick enough to be admitted to the hospital. Estimates are that over 30,000 die from complications of the flu. For the last few years, the CDC has kept careful track of the number of children who die from complications of the flu. Each of the last several years less than one hundred children died from influenza.
Pandemic Flu
Occasionally, a virus strain emerges that is very different from the current seasonal strains. This new virus is so different form the usual virus strains that most people have little or no natural immunity. Pandemics occurred several times last century, the worst being the devastating 1918 pandemic.
In the spring of 2009 a new virus strain emerged. This virus has a mixture of genes that have all been seen before but never in the same virus. The genes come from two viruses that normally infect pigs, one seen in birds and one in humans.
This new virus, first called “Swine flu” but now called 2009 A H1N1 or Novel Influenza A H1N1 by the CDC, has rapidly circulated around the world and been officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.
The 2009 H1N1 virus is sufficiently different from the existing seasonal flu strains so younger people seem to less natural immunity. In contrast, older people seem to be less susceptible to illness from this virus.
Signs and symptoms
The illness caused by influenza viruses can vary from relatively mild to life-threatening. The majority of people recover without any treatment.
Typically, the illness begins suddenly with fever, body aches, fatigue, sore throat, cough and headache. Sometimes people have stomach symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea but this is not typical.
Occasionally, some people will develop a severe complication such as pneumonia. This usually happens in people who are very young, very old or who have serious chronic illness.
Tests for Influenza
Testing to confirm influenza is usually not necessary. During an outbreak, most people can be diagnosed by a physician without tests. The readily available tests for influenza are inaccurate enough the limit their usefulness.
The most accurate tests are done in sophisticated regional public health labs. They take several days so they are used mostly to help public health officials track general trends.
Treatment
Most people with influenza, whether seasonal or pandemic flu, need no specific medical treatment. The illness will go away after a week or two. Simple, time-honored advice such as getting plenty of rest, drinking enough fluids and taking over-the-counter pain relievers are all most people need.
Certain antiviral medications are available. These have been shown to shorten the course of the illness slightly when started within the first 2 days of the illness. These medications are recommended for people with severe illness or at risk for complications. These antiviral medications are not without side effects. If you think you or a loved one has the flu you should discuss the treatment with your doctor.
Prevention
The best treatment for influenza is to prevent getting it. Vaccination is effective and very safe. As much as possible we should avoid close contact with people who are sick. Hand washing and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers are another way to prevent the spread of infections. To avoid spreading illness to others we should stay home if you are sick and cover your cough or sneeze.
For more information about influenza:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/txflu/splash/index.html
Definitions:
Virus: A virus is a small infectious particle that contains a handful of genes. Viruses “hijack” living cells and use those cells to make copies of the virus.
The influenza A viruses are by the structure of two proteins on the surface of the virus. These are called Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase thus the “H” and “N” in the name.
Learn The Facts About Swine Flu
TInfluenza
Each winter hospitals, emergency departments and others anticipate the arrival of “flu season”. Public health officials and emergency planners have been worried about something else – an influenza pandemic. In the spring of 2009 it happened. Fortunately, we have avoided the worst-case scenario. Still, “Swine Flu” has caused much misery and quite a few deaths.
Influenza Virus
The influenza viruses are a diverse family of viruses that cause respiratory illness in birds and mammals. There are two major types of influenza viruses, A and B. There are many subtypes of these viruses; each showing a preference for infecting humans, other mammals or birds.
Seasonal Flu
Each year, a limited number of specific strains of influenza viruses circulate in people around the world. These subtypes slowly change in minor ways. These new subtypes are different enough to require a new vaccine each year.
Because it happens every year, many people don’t appreciate the seriousness of the seasonal flu. The CDC estimates that between 5% and 20% of people get seasonal flu each year and 200,000 are sick enough to be admitted to the hospital. Estimates are that over 30,000 die from complications of the flu. For the last few years, the CDC has kept careful track of the number of children who die from complications of the flu. Each of the last several years less than one hundred children died from influenza.
Pandemic Flu
Occasionally, a virus strain emerges that is very different from the current seasonal strains. This new virus is so different form the usual virus strains that most people have little or no natural immunity. Pandemics occurred several times last century, the worst being the devastating 1918 pandemic.
In the spring of 2009 a new virus strain emerged. This virus has a mixture of genes that have all been seen before but never in the same virus. The genes come from two viruses that normally infect pigs, one seen in birds and one in humans.
This new virus, first called “Swine flu” but now called 2009 A H1N1 or Novel Influenza A H1N1 by the CDC, has rapidly circulated around the world and been officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.
The 2009 H1N1 virus is sufficiently different from the existing seasonal flu strains so younger people seem to less natural immunity. In contrast, older people seem to be less susceptible to illness from this virus.
Signs and symptoms
The illness caused by influenza viruses can vary from relatively mild to life-threatening. The majority of people recover without any treatment.
Typically, the illness begins suddenly with fever, body aches, fatigue, sore throat, cough and headache. Sometimes people have stomach symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea but this is not typical.
Occasionally, some people will develop a severe complication such as pneumonia. This usually happens in people who are very young, very old or who have serious chronic illness.
Tests for Influenza
Testing to confirm influenza is usually not necessary. During an outbreak, most people can be diagnosed by a physician without tests. The readily available tests for influenza are inaccurate enough the limit their usefulness.
The most accurate tests are done in sophisticated regional public health labs. They take several days so they are used mostly to help public health officials track general trends.
Treatment
Most people with influenza, whether seasonal or pandemic flu, need no specific medical treatment. The illness will go away after a week or two. Simple, time-honored advice such as getting plenty of rest, drinking enough fluids and taking over-the-counter pain relievers are all most people need.
Certain antiviral medications are available. These have been shown to shorten the course of the illness slightly when started within the first 2 days of the illness. These medications are recommended for people with severe illness or at risk for complications. These antiviral medications are not without side effects. If you think you or a loved one has the flu you should discuss the treatment with your doctor.
Prevention
The best treatment for influenza is to prevent getting it. Vaccination is effective and very safe. As much as possible we should avoid close contact with people who are sick. Hand washing and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers are another way to prevent the spread of infections. To avoid spreading illness to others we should stay home if you are sick and cover your cough or sneeze.
For more information about influenza:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/txflu/splash/index.html
Definitions:
Virus: A virus is a small infectious particle that contains a handful of genes. Viruses “hijack” living cells and use those cells to make copies of the virus.
The influenza A viruses are by the structure of two proteins on the surface of the virus. These are called Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase thus the “H” and “N” in the name.