Swine Flu - From Pigs to Humans

The Swine flu infection which originated in Mexico has caused a worldwide health threat in 2009. The symptoms and treatment associated with this virus are very similar to a typical influenza. However, there is no vaccine currently. Travelers should consult with a travel doctor before departure.

What is swine flu?

Swine flu is a viral infection that typically causes illness in pigs. This virus is a close relative of the common influenza virus. Pigs can transmit the virus to humans, but this is an uncommon event. Until the 2009 outbreak developed, this infection occurred in the U.S. only once or twice per year.

How serious is the 2009 swine flu outbreak?

Epidemiologists, who study worldwide disease patterns, do not know yet how much damage this infection will cause. Health experts around the world are concerned and are following the situation hour by hour. The outbreak, which started in Mexico, has migrated to the United States and has also been reported in Europe, South America and Australia. Governments are bracing themselves for a swine flu pandemic, which means a worldwide plague of illness. However, the disease may reverse course and fade, much as happened with other viral threats, such as the SARS virus in 2003.

Why is the infection attacking humans now?

Viruses, like all germs, are constantly under pressure to mutate in order to adapt to new environments. These mutations, which occur by chance, become permanent if they offer an advantage to the virus. The new strain of swine flu can attack humans and easily spreads from person to person. This has been a very favorable development for the virus at the expense of its human hosts.

How is this infection transmitted?

The new influenza strain is highly contagious. It is primarily spread through the air from coughs and sneezing from infected individuals, but it can also be picked up from contaminated surfaces, such as a doorknob. Although some governments have banned pork products from countries with swine flu activity, health experts state that you cannot contract this infection in this manner.

What are the symptoms?

Swine flu symptoms cannot be distinguished from typical influenza or other viral infections. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, headache, chills, body aches and fatigue. These symptoms are termed non-specific by doctors meaning they could be caused by any of a variety of illnesses. While recovery is generally expected, the disease can become more serious. Fatalities have occurred.

How is it diagnosed?

Physicians suspect this infection based on your symptoms and your own particular circumstances. For example, if you just returned from Mexico City and developed flu symptoms, your physician will certainly suspect swine flu. Most of the worldwide swine flu cases that we are reading in the newspapers have not been confirmed with a diagnostic test. Most of these individuals are assumed to be infected with this infection. There are special tests that can be performed to establish the diagnosis, but these are usually only done by health authorities who need to confirm the spread of the virus.

Is treatment available?

The CDC advises that Tamiflu and Relenza are both effective treatments, particularly if administered early in the disease course.

Can swine flu be prevented?

Although there is no human vaccine for this virus, common sense measures can reduce your risk of infection. Avoid contact with ill people who may have the flu. If you must be in close quarters with an infected individual, then the sick individual and all contacts should wash their hands frequently with soap and water, not hand sanitizers. All sneezing and coughing should be covered followed immediately with a vigorous hand washing. Exercise more caution if you are in contact with an individual who was potentially exposed to this virus. This person could be unknowingly infected and could transmit the virus to others.

Do international travelers need to be protected?

Swine flu has cancelled thousands of vacations in April 2009 and list will grow steadily. Travelers are urged to consult with their travel doctors before departure for the latest information on worldwide swine flu trends. Your physician may advise you to modify your itinerary to minimize your risk. For example, if you absolutely must go to Mexico for an important business trip, then you might postpone watching a bullfight until your next excursion south of the border.

Michael Kirsch, MD is a full time practicing physician and freelance author. He writes about the joys and challenges of medical practice including controversies in the doctor-patient relationship, medical ethics and measuring medical quality.

By:NITIN VERMA

Swine Flu Emergency Food Supplies

Medical experts watching the Swine Flu tell us that once the flu is detected in an area, the entire community can be QUARANTINED for 6 to 12 weeks, the normal time for the Swine Flu to run its course, IF no further outbreaks are detected.

The "Swine 90 DAY FOOD SUPPLY" unit is compact enough to fit under most large beds, or stow in a large closet. It's ideal for homes, apartments, businesses, emergency operation centers, etc.

Swine Flu Emergency Readiness Kit

Being prepared for all types of emergencies should be a priority for everyone in the U.S. With more threats than ever before, we know that any number of events can be right around the corner. But lately its completely understandable that many of us probably have our mind on economic worries at the very least. But knowing what we do know about the swine Flu break out, it might be a good time for us to consider investing in our own safety just in case.

As of now there are over 1,000 deaths in the country of Mexico. Granted we are not Mexico, and we do have an outstanding heads up on the current situation, that doesnt mean that we shouldnt take precaution anyways.

But a bigger point can be made - We should be ready for any other crisis that could happen, even if the Swine Flu stays contained.

Swine Flu preparation should be just one state of preparation we should be concerned with. I would say that this Swine Flu problem should be at the least, a wake up call. Preparing for this could end up saving us in the future. If we take action now, and nothing too serious comes of the Swine Flu virus, than we will still be prepared for any future occurences that could happen.

But just because we have caught this virus earlier than Mexico, doesnt mean its going to be O.K. Honestly, we are right nesxt door to the country, and we havnt done a great job of keeping Mexican immigrants out of our country in the past. And it only takes 1 unknowing victim to spread the Swine Flu virus to a large group of unsuspecting colleagues , classmates, or total strangers in a supermarket.

I am definitely not trying to be someone that tries to scare people, but whenever a society takes something like this too lightly , things can spiral out of control in the blink of an eye. It is our responsibility to take stock of situations like these and make honest assesments.

In the coming weeks we will know for sure if the Swine Flu will become epidemic, pandemic, or nothing more than a slight outbreak. I hope that its the latter. But I really hope that we are all prepared for anything and everything.

By:NITIN VERMA

Sand sculpture on swine flu draws crowds

Bhubaneswar, June 19, Crowds have been flocking to Orissa’s Puri beach to see a 15-feet long sand sculpture of a pig and a message on swine flu by renowned artist Sudarsan Patnaik.
Sand sculpture of pig with a message on display in Orissa.

Patnaik, who created the image with the help of his students, on the golden beach has depicted the pig wearing a mask with the message “Beware of swine flu”. The sculpture was put on display late Thursday on the beach in Puri, 56 km from the state capital Bhubaneswar.

“Hundreds of tourists, both foreign and domestic, visited the sculpture early (Friday) morning and praised our effort. I created this image to create awareness among them and others,” Patnaik told IANS.

Though no swine flu cases have been reported in the state yet, Orissa sounded an alert about a fortnight ago.


Nine people, including a 12-year-old boy, were Thursday confirmed to have contracted the swine flu virus in India, taking the total number of people infected with influenza A (H1N1) in the country to 44.
BY:NITIN VERMA

Swine Flu - How to Protect Yourself and How to Prepare For Hard Times

Wow! What is going on in the world these days? It seems that every time I turn around there is some sort of bad news about the economy or real estate market and now the infamous Swine Flu which has reached epidemic proportions! News and Panic of the Swine Flu is spreading like wild fire, but there are things you can do to prepare and protect yourself as well as clever ways to use this opportunity to make smarter decisions for your financial future!

What is the Swine Flu?

The Swine flu is caused by a strain of flu that is native to pigs. Symptoms of swine flu appear to be similar to other general strains of the flu. Most cases appear to exhibit only mild symptoms, however there are some which have become worse and even fatal.

3 Simple Ways to Prepare and Protect Yourself:

There are some very simple ways to protect yourself from catching Swine Flu:

1-Masks: If you live in an area where there are larger outbreaks and the sickness is spreading quickly, it would be smart to wear a surgical mask to protect yourself from the spread of airborne pathogens. Also cover your mouth whenever you have to sneeze or cough, using a tissue that you can throw away.

2- Hand Sanitizer: This is a simple and inexpensive way to kill germs on your hands to both protect yourself and limit spread of any germs from person to person or commonly touched items such as door handles or stair railings.

3- Wash your Hands!: This is the most obvious but sometimes most missed method of protecting yourself from the spread of any illness. Don't forget to wash your hands!

Swine Flu's Effect on Business and E-commerce:

It seems that nothing drives people to the media and the news like the breakout of a pandemic. The Swine flu has people listening to news updates daily and even hourly for any new facts about what is going on with this worldwide illness. The swine flu may even stir up increased business for some online business people. The fear of getting sick may cause some to want to stay home and avoid contact with large groups, increasing the likelihood of people who will choose to stay home and do their shopping and business online.

The more I hear about recent scares on the news such as swine flu and the recession, the more relieved I am to have chosen an online career instead of a traditional 9-5 job or bricks-and-mortar style business. E-commerce and Online Marketing is just so much more resistant to the effects of the recession or the negative impacts of an epidemic like the swine flu. Plus, by working online and at home, I definitely don't have to worry as much about the chances of infection from constant person to person contact.

While the Swine flu is definitely nothing to be excited about, it is a very real threat and everyone should do what they can to be aware and protect themselves. I also think that a savvy, forward-thinking person can take this opportunity and make the most of it by making smart health and business decisions for their future!

BY: NITIN VERMA

Swine Flu Virus

A Swine Flu virus has health officials around the world working to contain the growing outbreak. One out of every five residents of Mexico's most populous city wore masks to protect themselves against the virus as Mexico City seems to be the epicenter of the outbreak. As many as 103 deaths have been attributed to the swine flu so far with many more feared to be on the horizon. The health department of Mexico said an additional 1,614 reported cases have been documented.

So far, however, only 18 of the deaths in Mexico have been confirmed by laboratory tests to be from swine flu virus and reported to the World Health Organization as such.

In the US preparations have been upgraded for a possible swine flu virus outbreak after 20 cases were reported, also the first cases of the virus was reported in Canada on Sunday -- six mild cases.

Swine flu or Swine Influenza is a contagious respiratory sickness that is normally only found in pigs. It is caused by a type-A influenza virus. Outbreaks in pigs occur year-round. The current strain is a new variation of an H1N1 virus, which is a mix of human and animal versions.

Normaly the swine flu virus only spreads from animal to person containing the spread but When the flu spreads person-to-person, it can continue to mutate, making it harder to combat because people have no natural immunity.

The symptoms are similar to the common flu. They include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Learn more about swine flu and how to treat it in the link below.

The swine flu virus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes around another person. People can become infected by touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes.

Calling it a "public health emergency of international concern" the World Health Organization (WHO) is very concerned. The WHO also says a public health emergency is an occurrence or imminent threat of illness or health conditions caused by bioterrorism, epidemic or pandemic disease, or highly fatal infectious agents or toxins that pose serious risk to a significant number of people.

Swine Flu Virus Protection?

Advice of health experts is to follow common-sense instructions: Wash your hands, stay home if you're sick and listen to your local health authorities. Advice from the CDC about the situation is, "Very frequent hand-washing is something that we talk about time and time again and that is an effective way to reduce transmission of disease,". They also advise, "If you're sick, it's very important that people stay at home. If your children are sick, have a fever and flu-like illness, they shouldn't go to school. And if you're ill, you shouldn't get on an airplane or another public transport to travel. Those things are part of personal responsibility in trying to reduce the impact. "

Swine Flu Symptoms

It is also noted that swine flu symptoms are relatively general and nonspecific. "So many different things can cause these symptoms. it is a dilemma," says one doctor interviewed by CNN. "It is a challenge that we are wrestling with. There is not a perfect test right now to let a doctor know that a person has the Swine Flu." It has been noted that most individuals with Swine Flu had an early on set of fever. Also it was common to see dizziness, body aches and vomiting in addition to the common sneezing, headache and other cold symptoms.

If you become sick and notice early onset of body aches, vomiting and dizziness you should consult with your doctor immediately. Although it is very unlikely that you have the Swine Flu virus, you should get medical confirmation just to be safe.

This Swine Flu virus outbreak could be a very dangerous epidemic or just another bump in the road. Health officials are still trying to figure out where exactly the virus originated, how transmissible it is and why it is mild in some cases and deadlier in others. In the mean time. Wash your hands, use common sense and be on a heightened alert to signs and symptoms of the Swine Flu virus. See you doctor if any unusual flu like symptoms occur.

By:NITIN VERMA