US outbreak: It’s the swine flu, not the bird flu!
April 27, 2009 by Grace Ibay
Filed under Health
And we all thought the bird flu pandemic was going to be it! DANG.
This morning I wake up to a breaking news from Associated Press that governments (yes, plural – around the world) are “racing” to prevent the threat of a pandemic and public panic caused by the spread of swine flu.
Swine flu outbreaks in Mexico and US. Image: Newscom
SWINE FLU OUTBREAKS. Not the bird flu that caused outrageous panic three years ago, but a sneaky influenza virus that began in Mexico and crept up the southern US border. Up to 103 deaths have been reported, and cases of confirmed swine flu are found in Canada (6) and the U.S (20)!
New York – 8. California – 7. Kansas – 2. Ohio –1. Texas – 2.
The swine flu outbreak is not global pandemic yet but it has “the potential to become a pandemic and a global threat” according to a spokesperson for the World Health Organization. The virus is spreading quickly in Mexico and the southern US, with travelers being suspected carriers of infection.
President Obama will address the health crisis today, Monday, and report on a meeting with top US scientists.
The CDC website prepared a primer on swine flu. Here’s what we need to know about swin flu:
- Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs.
- Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans, but there have been reports of sporadic human infection from pigs, and human-to-human transmission caused by close contact.
- SYMPTOMS of swine flu are similar to regular seasonal influenza:
- fever
- lethargy
- lack of appetite
- coughing
- also reports of runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
- There is no vaccine to protect humans from swine flu, but the seasonal influenza vaccine can give partial protection against swine H3N2, but not swine H1N1 viruses.
What can you do to prevent the flu?
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
- Clean your hands often.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth to prevent spread of germs.
- More guidelines from the CDC
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