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Learn abt Swine FLUPosted 1 year ago #
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What is swine flu?
Swine flu is a respiratory disease, caused by influenza type A which infects pigs.
There are many types, and the infection is constantly changing.
Until now it has not normally infected humans, but the latest form clearly does, and can be spread from person to person - probably through coughing and sneezing.
What is new about this type of swine flu?
The World Health Organization has confirmed that at least some of the human cases are a never-before-seen version of the H1N1 strain of influenza type A.
H1N1 is the same strain which causes seasonal outbreaks of flu in humans on a regular basis.
But this latest version of H1N1 is different: it contains genetic material that is typically found in strains of the virus that affect humans, birds and swine.
Flu viruses have the ability to swap genetic components with each other, and it seems likely that the new version of H1N1 resulted from a mixing of different versions of the virus, which may usually affect different species, in the same animal host.
Pigs provide an excellent 'melting pot' for these viruses to mix and match with each other.
How dangerous is it?
Symptoms of swine flu in humans appear to be similar to those produced by standard, seasonal flu.
These include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue.
Most cases so far reported around the world appear to be mild, but in Mexico lives have been lost.
How worried should people be?
When any new strain of flu emerges that acquires the ability to pass from person to person, it is monitored very closely in case it has the potential to spark a global epidemic, or pandemic.
The World Health Organization has warned that taken together the Mexican and US cases could potentially trigger a global pandemic, and stress that the situation is serious.
However, experts say it is still too early to accurately assess the situation fully.
Currently, they say the world is closer to a flu pandemic than at any point since 1968 - upgrading the threat from three to four on a six-point scale following an emergency meeting on Monday.
Nobody knows the full potential impact of a pandemic, but experts have warned that it could cost millions of lives worldwide. The Spanish flu pandemic, which began in 1918, and was also caused by an H1N1 strain, killed millions of people.
The fact that all the cases in the US and elsewhere have so far produced mild symptoms is encouraging. It suggests that the severity of the Mexican outbreak may be due to an unusual geographically-specific factor - possibly a second unrelated virus circulating in the community - which would be unlikely to come into play in the rest of the world.
Alternatively, people infected in Mexico may have sought treatment at a much later stage than those in other countries.
It may also be the case that the form of the virus circulating in Mexico is subtly different to that elsewhere - although that will only be confirmed by laboratory analysis.
There is also hope that, as humans are often exposed to forms of H1N1 through seasonal flu, our immune systems may have something of a head start in fighting infection.
However, the fact that many of the victims are young does point to something unusual. Normal, seasonal flu tends to affect the elderly disproportionately.
Can the virus be contained?
The virus appears already to have started to spread around the world, and most experts believe that containment of the virus in the era of readily available air travel will be extremely difficult.
Can it be treated?
The US authorities say that two drugs commonly used to treat flu, Tamiflu and Relenza, seem to be effective at treating cases that have occurred there so far. However, the drugs must be administered at an early stage to be effective.
Use of these drugs may also make it less likely that infected people will pass the virus on to others.
The UK Government already has a stockpile of Tamiflu, ordered as a precaution against a pandemic.
It is unclear how effective currently available flu vaccines would be at offering protection against the new strain, as it is genetically distinct from other flu strains.
US scientists are already developing a bespoke new vaccine, but it may take some time to perfect it, and manufacture enough supplies to meet what could be huge demand.
A vaccine was used to protect humans from a version of swine flu in the US in 1976.
However, it caused serious side effects, including an estimated 500 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome. There were more deaths from the vaccine than the outbreak.
What should I do to stay safe?
Anyone with flu-like symptoms who might have been in contact with the swine virus - such as those living or travelling in the areas of Mexico that have been affected - should seek medical advice.
But patients are being asked not to go into GP surgeries in order to minimise the risk of spreading the disease to others. Instead, they should stay at home and call their healthcare provider for advice.
After the WHO raised its alert level over swine flu, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office began advising against all but essential travel to Mexico.
What measures can I take to prevent infection?
Avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have fever and cough.
General infection control practices and good hygiene can help to reduce transmission of all viruses, including the human swine influenza. This includes covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible and disposing of it promptly.
It is also important to wash your hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people and cleaning hard surfaces like door handles frequently using a normal cleaning product.
If caring for someone with a flu-like illness, a mask can be worn to cover the nose and mouth to reduce the risk of transmission. The UK is looking at increasing its stockpile of masks for healthcare workers for this reason.
But experts say there is no scientific evidence to support more general wearing of masks to guard against infections.
Is it safe to eat pig meat?
Yes. There is no evidence that swine flu can be transmitted through eating meat from infected animals.
However, it is essential to cook meat properly. A temperature of 70C (158F) would be sure to kill the virus.
What about bird flu?
The strain of bird flu which has caused scores of human deaths in South East Asia in recent years is a different strain to that responsible for the current outbreak of swine flu.
The latest form of swine flu is a new type of the H1N1 strain, while bird, or avian flu, is H5N1.
Experts fear H5N1 hold the potential to trigger a pandemic because of its ability to mutate rapidly.
However, up until now it has remained very much a disease of birds.
Those humans who have been infected have, without exception, worked closely with birds, and cases of human-to-human transmission are extremely rare - there is no suggestion that H5N1 has gained the ability to pass easily from person to person.
Where can I get further advice?
Further information and advice on swine flu can be found at websites of leading health and research organisations around the world. The World Health Organisation gives background information on the virus. The UK's Health Protection Agency advises the public about what to do if returning from an affected area. NHS Choices outlines how swine flu is different from other flu. The US government's Centre for Disease Control is counting the number of cases in the US.
I think it was a Nice information shared abt Swine flu any further qns Please ask....For non medicos and med students mainly....Posted 1 year ago # -
Wat more i can post abt Swine Flu Dr.Ruby Can u SuggestPosted 1 year ago #
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dr-ruby
offlineMemberThank you very much for aptly sharing info on swine flu. I would suggest a few lines about the mode of virulence by the Influenza virus- the shift and drift theories here will be a good revision for medical students and doctors alike. It is necessary to keep this in mind while talking about the vaccines available.Posted 1 year ago # -
The H5N1 influenza viruses transmitted to humans in 1997 were highly virulent, but the mechanism of their virulence in humans is largely unknown. Here we show that lethal H5N1 influenza viruses, unlike other human, avian and swine influenza viruses, are resistant to the antiviral effects of interferons and tumor necrosis factor alpha. The nonstructural (NS) gene of H5N1 viruses is associated with this resistance. Pigs infected with recombinant human H1N1 influenza virus that carried the H5N1 NS gene experienced significantly greater and more prolonged viremia, fever and weight loss than did pigs infected with wild-type human H1N1 influenza virus. These effects required the presence of glutamic acid at position 92 of the NS1 molecule. These findings may explain the mechanism of the high virulence of H5N1 influenza viruses in humans.
I think this information will be enough Dr.Ruby
Am i ritePosted 1 year ago # -
dr-ruby
offlineMemberYes very much Dr Logarangan. Keep up the good work:)Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks Dr.Ruby it is a gr8 pleasure to receive some good comments from U...Anyways I will again come with different Ideas of Swine FluPosted 1 year ago #
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mahen_sharky
offlineMemberI think if people(media) stop talking about H1N1, it would be great. I live in Texas and there has been 1 death. That death was also an infant. Over 200 people are affected in Texas and almost all have recovered. This was beat up because there were deaths in Mexico. I doubt if they died because of the virus or of inadequate healthcare. Hype and Hysteria are taking over. Anyone having a flu is being tested for H1N1. There is only one testing center in Texas. Dallas-Fortwoth areas schools are closed. Even some Austin-area schools are closed.Posted 1 year ago # -
Yes Mr.Mahen_sharky there is more Hype than the disease ...............Ur 100% right .......but there is one more Reason why there is a hype .....Swine Flu is not an Usual disease .......Its uncommon and there is no proper well tested drugs though we have
Tamiflu and Relenza but still we are not crytal clear of the mechanisms and I have already said in the previous post that they are not effective in the later stages ..........So the docs are afraid to take a chance bcoz we are dealin wit lifes and its not a good choice to not take a H1N1 to look for Swine flu in an endemic of swine flu(area where its spread)
So i think its the best chance to hype it up
and being a Mutant virus its very well easy to erradicate it from the world
but i dont think so much hype is necessary ............
But the Hype is to make people aware of the disease and to Help the people realize how worse the disease can be if left untreated ..........................
I think US and Aussi are the countries taking greater steps when it comes for healthPosted 1 year ago # -
This image explains the spread of SwineFlu and Bird flu to Humans .................................Its By mutation is like change in the gene coding .......................<div class="attachtitle">Attachment:</div><div class="attachcontent"><!-- ia0 -->image001.jpg<!-- ia0 --></div>
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image001.jpg (10.1 KB, 0 downloads) 1 year old
Posted 1 year ago # -
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This picture Changes like this in the mutation stages
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- image003.jpg (11 KB, 1 downloads) 1 year old
Posted 1 year ago # -
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And at last the mutant virus gets transmitted............From Pigs to HumansPosted 1 year ago #
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so i think u pepl can get the mechanism..............There is a Mechanism of Antigenic shift in this Mutation where all the flu Antigens mix affecting the Pigs and Humans both by the Same Flu Virus .........................So i think u can get the mechanism of Antigenic Mutation in Flu virus ........And how new strains are produced
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- image002.jpg (13.5 KB, 0 downloads) 1 year old
Posted 1 year ago # -
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dr-ruby
offlineMemberNICE WORK DR. LOKKU. That was pretty informative. Best so because you conveyed the necessary thru those good diagrams. Keep the knowledge flow steady!!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks Dr.Ruby Its always a pleasure getting good comments from u ..................................................Keep posting and keep commenting
Urs Obediently
Dr.LokkuPosted 1 year ago # -
daredevil
offlineMemberVery Nice article.Well done I'm Loving ItAttachment:xanimal5.jpgPosted 1 year ago # -
Thanks Mr. DaredevilPosted 1 year ago #
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pinastro
offlineKey MasterPosted 1 year ago # -
HI, Mr.Pinastro Nice job u have did here, I did love ur videos i think ur a better search engine than the google itself /.....hehehehe
Regards
Dr-LokkuPosted 1 year ago #
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