Swine Flu - 331 confirmed cases worldwide

noungning

Heartless
According to World Health Organization (WHO), it's up to level 4 now, very close to being the next pandemic. Here's a look at what I'm talking about and how close we are to peak - Graph of Levels. It's currently level 4 out of 6 so we are confronting a very scary outbreak. :mellow: Approximately 150 or more people have died in Mexico in relation to this flu :(

Here's some info that I'm copying off the Center for Disease Control's website:

for those that don't know what it is -

Swine Influenza and You
What is swine flu?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.

Are there human infections with swine flu in the U.S.?
In late March and early April 2009, cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses were first reported in Southern California and near San Antonio, Texas. Other U.S. states have reported cases of swine flu infection in humans and cases have been reported internationally as well. An updated case count of confirmed swine flu infections in the United States is kept at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm CDC and local and state health agencies are working together to investigate this situation.


Is this swine flu virus contagious?
CDC has determined that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it not known how easily the virus spreads between people.

What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

How does swine flu spread?
Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

How can someone with the flu infect someone else?
Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

What should I do to keep from getting the flu?
First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Are there medicines to treat swine flu?
Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

How long can an infected person spread swine flu to others?
People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to 7 days following illness onset. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?
Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. Germs can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

How long can viruses live outside the body
?
We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent handwashing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:


Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?

If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?

If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water. or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. we recommend that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

What should I do if I get sick?
If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact their health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.

If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting

How serious is swine flu infection?
Like seasonal flu, swine flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Between 2005 until January 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu were detected in the U.S. with no deaths occurring. However, swine flu infection can be serious. In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman in Wisconsin was hospitalized for pneumonia after being infected with swine flu and died 8 days later. A swine flu outbreak in Fort Dix, New Jersey occurred in 1976 that caused more than 200 cases with serious illness in several people and one death.

Can I get swine influenza from eating or preparing pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

other news in reference to this:
Flu moving up from level 3 to 4
US number of cases up to 50
Mexican doctors turn ill away
Misinformation on Twitter on the Swine Flu
Borders Tightens to Prevent Spread of Flu
40 Cases in US, 28 in New York

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Feel free to add more info ;)
 

noungning

Heartless
It's important to not touch your face after touching other things i.e. doors and etc. especially in public areas.

Again, this is human to human now, I know many people dies from having regular flus yearly but this is a rapid outbreak and contraction from humans to humans, so do whatever it is to protect yourself and your own family.

They said the consumption of pork should be fine. However, personally, I'll be careful with consuming anything raw of that nature. Make sure everything is cooked 100% especially if it's pork. The virus was said to be only an animal to animal type of virus but is not the case with this strain which cross the border to humans.

I've also watched the news this morning and they said that the contamination can be on non-moistured items such as money for up to 72 hours. So whatever you touch do not touch your face: mouth, nose, etc. epsecially if you have a lot of interaction with the public be very careful as the symptoms do not appear visible in the immediate hours of contraction.

Students that went to Mexico for a school trip came back with it and spreaded some more to others so close to their school mates in NYC... I'm getting kind of paranoid. :eek:

Remember to always wash your hands!!! Stay safe ;)
 

kulyia

RUK
super scary. i caught a cold. dont worry ive check my doc already today rite away because of the ACTS test tomorrow thursday and the same for next week. He said its Just a regular flu. my sytoms are dizziness, migraine headaches, wanting to vomit, swollen tonsil. My doc told me if i am contaminated, i will be way worser than my condition as of now. i went to the skool nurse in fifth period and they sent me home even though i had to walk home. I am happy im not contaminated with it. WOAH! watch out you guys!... my doc prescribed me with telyno the Strong kind he said for my headches.. its been working Verdy good btw. If you are sick or just curious... You should contact your doc Immediately. better safe than sorry.
 

noungning

Heartless
good advice kulyia, hope you feel better btw.

more early morning breaking news:
a toddler has been confirmed dead due to the virus in Texas, 1st US person to die outside of Mexico and anywhere else - Read the article here

gosh, i really hope this will get contained faster than they think which is 6 months to develop a vaccine and many many months more after that to produce it :(
 

noungning

Heartless
yes genks, 1 died this morning a 23 moth old kid.

this is scary, a probably case just appeared in RI. 2 in Lowell, MA.

91 cases confirmed in US. :eek: i think i should just crawl up in a ball now and not go anywhere? but i work at a hub of diseases.. maybe i should invest in a face mask and gloves...
 

lady0fdarkness

Professional Lakorn Watcher
shit.. I've got my sister's wedding to attend this saturday.. there will be 300 guests from all over the nation.. I hope there is no swine flu lingering in the air that day.. sigh. :(
 

fun

Expired Sarnie
Thanks for the head up. Phew, I was sick a few ago and now I am a lot better.
 

Liberty

sarNie Adult
I'm in Austin and not the least bit worried about the flu, then again I haven't really left the house much since the weekend.

I was watching the news a few mins. ago and they said the first US death was someone who's actually from Mexico City and traveled to visit family in Texas.

Just practice good hygiene and you should be fine.
 

noungning

Heartless
The level has been raised as of this morning (or was it last night, but whatever) to level 5 - link :eek:

For those that aren't so worried. It's now a cause for concern because this is just 1 level below peak of pandemic and once it's at 6 i'm sure this world will need to be in one big bubble... and it's going to stop all suddenly.



gosh man... i'm in a hub of diseases... so i might as well just wear a ball suit to work ^_^
 

lady0fdarkness

Professional Lakorn Watcher
We're all gonna die!!!!!!!!

Okay, maybe not all of us.. but I'm scareddddd! I won't ever leave my house now.
 

fun

Expired Sarnie
Yesterday when I got home, my sister said one student got another student infected with the Swine Flu. OMG it's in CA!!!

This reminded me when I was a sophomore, a teacher found out a student had TB. So every classroom that that student was in, the students in her class had to be examine. Scary!
 

ijohn

sarNie Adult
Key Facts About Seasonal Influenza (Flu)

What is Influenza (Also Called Flu)?
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year.

Every year in the United States, on average:

  • 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu;
  • more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications; and
  • about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes.
Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at high risk for serious flu complications.


Symptoms of Flu
Symptoms of flu include:

  • fever (usually high)
  • headache
  • extreme tiredness
  • dry cough
  • sore throat
  • runny or stuffy nose
  • muscle aches
  • Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults
Complications of Flu
Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.


How Flu Spreads
Flu viruses are thought to spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.


Preventing Seasonal Flu: Get Vaccinated
The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each year. There are two types of vaccines:

  • The "flu shot" – an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle. The flu shot is approved for use in people 6 months of age and older, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
  • The nasal-spray flu vaccine – a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for “Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine”). LAIV is approved for use in healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.
About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that protect against influenza virus infection. Flu vaccines will not protect against flu-like illnesses caused by non-influenza viruses.


When to Get Vaccinated
Yearly flu vaccination should begin in September or as soon as vaccine is available and continue throughout the influenza season, into December, January, and beyond. This is because the timing and duration of influenza seasons vary. While influenza outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time influenza activity peaks in January or later.


Who Should Get Vaccinated?
In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, certain people should get vaccinated each year either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for high risk persons. During flu seasons when vaccine supplies are limited or delayed, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) makes recommendations regarding priority groups for vaccination.

People who should get vaccinated each year are:

  1. Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
  2. Pregnant women
  3. People 50 years of age and older
  4. People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
  5. People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
  6. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
    • a. Health care workers
      b. Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
      c. Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
Use of the Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine
Vaccination with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is an option for healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant, even healthy persons who live with or care for those in a high risk group. The one exception is healthy persons who care for persons with severely weakened immune systems who require a protected environment; these healthy persons should get the inactivated vaccine.


Who Should Not Be Vaccinated
Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. They include:

  • People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
  • People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.
  • People who developed Guillian-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously.
  • Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for use in this age group).
  • People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.
If you have questions about whether you should get a flu vaccine, consult your health-care provider.

For more about preventing the flu, see the following:

* "Healthy" indicates persons who do not have an underlying medical condition that predisposes them to influenza complications.




my 2 cents---this out break is of great concern for the vulnerable part of our population because no real vaccine exist as of yet, but those of us that have healthy immune systems can weather this most likely unless it mutates as feared into a stronger virus!!!
 

lady0fdarkness

Professional Lakorn Watcher
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SWINE FLU!

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/30/ep.sw...wers/index.html

1. Hasn't swine flu been around for a while?


Yes. Swine flu was first identified in 1930 when researchers isolated the virus in a pig. In 1976, more than 200 soldiers at Fort Dix, New Jersey, got swine flu. From 1976 until 2005, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention received approximately one report every year or two of humans with swine flu. From December 2005 until January 2009, there were 12 cases of swine flu reported.

2. The folks who have it now, did they get it from pigs or people?

It appears that no one in the United States with swine flu had any contact with pigs. Dr. David Besser, the acting director of the CDC, said in a news conference Friday that among the first seven cases, no one had contact with pigs. In another press conference Monday, he added that investigators have looked to see whether any of the infected people had contact with pigs, and "we're not finding that linkage here."

3. Swine flu is transmitted from animals to humans. Does that happen a lot?

Yes. More than 200 "zoonotic diseases" are transmitted from animals to humans, including illnesses caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites. Rabies and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (better known as "mad cow disease") are two well-known examples.

4. Should I cancel my trip to Mexico?

Yes, you should, unless it's essential. That's the advice from a recent CDC travel warning.

5. Should I be freaking out?

A new virus spreading quickly around the world. Young, healthy people struck dead in Mexico. Should we all be panicking?

"Absolutely not," said Dr. William Schaffner, chairman of the department of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Swine flu, he said, "is not spreading all that rapidly. Take the St. Francis School in New York. There's been very little transmission from the schoolchildren to family members, and it certainly hasn't spread throughout Queens." iReport.com: Share your thoughts, concerns about swine flu

But, Schaffner added, this doesn't mean we shouldn't pay attention to swine flu. "We should be alert, keep up with the information coming out daily, and take control by being attentive to your hygiene. Wash your hands very, very frequently and avoid people who are coughing and sneezing."

<H4 _extended="true">Don't Miss</H4>6. How close do you have to be to a sick person to get swine flu?

"You can acquire this infection if you're within the 'breathing zone' of a sick person, which is about three to six feet," Schaffner said. "And we usually mean being this close to someone in a confined space. We're not talking about fleeting contact. We're not talking about walking past someone in the street. You need sustained contact." If you think you might have sustained contact with someone who's ill, read this guidance from the CDC's Web site.

7. Yikes! Every day I'm that close to countless people -- at work, on the bus, at church, in a movie theater. Could I get swine flu from them?

Yes.

"If you're standing next to someone on a bus, or sitting next to someone or in front of someone in a theater, you could acquire the infection in that fashion," Schaffner said. That's why people with the symptoms of any kind of flu -- fever, diarrhea, body aches, vomiting, etc. -- are urged to stay home and away from groups of people.

8. Wasn't there a vaccine at one time? Is there one now?

Yes, a swine flu vaccine was given to 45 million people in 1976. There is no vaccine now, although researchers are working on one.

The 1976 vaccine wouldn't be helpful anyway, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy & Infectious Diseases.

"That was a completely different virus than the virus we are dealing with right now, completely different in the sense that the genes are different, and it doesn't have any relationship," said Fauci. "The designation of each one was called the swine flu, but from a viral standpoint and spreading it is quite, quite different."

Here are two scientific articles about the swine flu outbreak and vaccination program in 1976:

Reflections on the 1976 Swine Flu Vaccination Program

Swine Influenza A Outbreak, Fort Dix, New Jersey, 1976

9. Many young, healthy people have become sick in the United States. Many of the dead in Mexico have been young and healthy. What's going on? Usually we think of flu as affecting the very young and the very old.

This sometimes happens with new viruses. For example, in 1918 when a new flu virus emerged, many of those stricken were young and healthy. One theory is that young people, who have strong immune systems, mount a particularly vigorous response to new viruses. But there's a potential side effect to the response: the body releases dangerous levels of signaling proteins, called cytokines, which can damage the lungs. Scientists believe these "cytokine storms" can be fatal.

Here is a scientific article about the proposed mechanism of cytokine storms.

10. Why are large numbers of people dying in Mexico, but not in other countries?

This is the big mystery doctors are trying to solve right now. Many infectious disease experts say it's most likely a matter of numbers: with more illnesses in Mexico, there are also more deaths. Other explanations: that in Mexico people have, in addition to swine flu, other viruses that make for a more deadly combination than swine flu alone. It's also possible that the virus infecting the rest of the world is a weaker version than the one in Mexico. Among the swine flu mysteries: Why only deaths in Mexico?

11. Could this new swine flu virus have been manufactured by bioterrorists?

That's the theory on some conspiracy theorists' Web sites. But experts don't believe it.

"If you were a bioterrorist you'd want to create something that's a lot more deadly than this," said Dr. Gerald Evans, an associate professor of microbiology at Queen's University in Canada. "The problem with influenza is that the second you put it into people, it replicates and mutates very quickly. Even if you created the perfect bioweapon, within a few generations of transmissions, it wouldn't do what you planned for it to do."

12. I get a flu shot every fall. Will that help protect me against swine flu?

"The short answer is that the CDC says it's very unlikely," Schaffner said. But he said it might be possible. "I think it's a bit of an open question whether repeated flu shots over years would provide a measure of protection."

<H4 _extended="true">Health Library</H4>13. I was in Mexico two weeks ago. Could I have contracted swine flu, and the symptoms just haven't shown up yet?

No. The incubation period of the swine flu is one to seven days.

"If you just traveled to Mexico and you're home and feeling well you should get on with your daily life and not worry about it," Evans said.

14. Can the swine flu virus live on inanimate objects? If someone with swine flu touches a doorknob, then I touch it, could I get swine flu?

Flu viruses can live on inanimate surfaces. So theoretically, you could get swine flu from touching a doorknob that was just touched by an infected person. However, that's pretty unlikely, according to Dr. Arthur Reingold, head of epidemiology in the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley.

"I personally would not have a major fear of environmental contamination," he said. "Virtually all influenza is transmitted from sneezing and coughing."

Schaffner agrees, adding that flu viruses don't survive in large numbers on surfaces. "A doorknob isn't a warm, nourishing environment for a virus," he said.

15. What should I do if I develop symptoms of swine flu?

Call your doctor -- don't just drive on over, Schaffner advised. "Follow the instructions of your doctor. He might not want you in the waiting room spreading germs to others," he said.
 

noungning

Heartless
Yesterday when I got home, my sister said one student got another student infected with the Swine Flu. OMG it's in CA!!!

This reminded me when I was a sophomore, a teacher found out a student had TB. So every classroom that that student was in, the students in her class had to be examine. Scary!
i think CA was one of the very first states reported to have the flu...

i guess we all shouldn't be so scare -_- ... maybe this is being blown outta proportion :mellow: i hope, think, maybe, being wishfully positive.

but i had a stubborn like debate with my coworker and she refuses to think that level 5 is considered dangerous because the government didn't announce that it's dangerous lol. gosh talk about naive.

but anyways, if anything, i'll be shopping... and wearing gloves lol.. that reminds me, i should bring my purrell with me :p
 

Diamend

sarNie Oldmaid
i don't think we all should panic. like liberty said just practice good hygiene. and if u come down w/ symptoms go see a doctor right away. if we all panic it'll just make other people panic and all hell could break loose lol
 

noungning

Heartless
[...]
my 2 cents---this out break is of great concern for the vulnerable part of our population because no real vaccine exist as of yet, but those of us that have healthy immune systems can weather this most likely unless it mutates as feared into a stronger virus!!!
yeah, this is true to a certain extent. however, from various sources and ladyofdarkness' post, u'd see that there were some that are young healthy people that died.

however it's also that the certain confirmed cases that died due to the virus is still blurry... the information is kinda like wushy washy everywhere... one place saying one thing, another saying another.

i'm just hoping it is only a scare and nothing produces of it... but it's really not the case since it is spreading. but will it kill us? who knows because we don't have the statistics of how long one has been infected and etc. so we can't really determine how long does a person need to be infected to be truly affected by the flu.

in a way, i think the scare is good to refrain people from going out so much when they are sick in the first place. they shouldn't be spreading their nasty germs all over the place. people who are experiencing the like symptoms should get tested for early precaution, in case they do have it... it's early enough to stop it from spreading within the area.

i guess only time will tell... and there's not much we can do but wait. ;)
 
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