• H1N1 Swine flu

Swine flu is the public name for the H1N1 flu
virus, which is a subtype of type A influenza virus.

The reason that this virus has become a pandemic
Outbreak is that it has developed a new strain that
easily mutates and is transmitted from human to human; spreading among people who have not had any contact with pigs.

• swine flu cases AND swine flu spread :

Swine flu transmission methods are coughing, sneezing or touching surfaces that are contaminated by the virus then touching your own eyes, mouth & nose. It widely spreads in winter and is expected to peak in November in the northern hemisphere.

•  symptoms of the swine flu 

Symptoms of the swine flu are similar to those of the seasonal flu; which are fever, coughing, sneezing, headache, sore throat, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and runny nose. They often last for a week and it takes a lab test to determine whether it is swine flu and not seasonal flu.

Certain groups of people are at higher risk of serious illness than others. Pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions like diabetes, heart diseases, weak immune system or obesity are at higher risk of serious complications & represent most of the reported death cases, together with children under 5 years old or elderly of age 65 and older.

The infected person can pass the virus 1day before developing the symptoms and up to a week after getting sick.

To protect yourself from infection make sure you wash your hands regularly with soap or alcoholic-based cleansers.

Avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

If you sneeze or cough, use a tissue then wash your hands after you safely dispose the used tissue.

Avoid crowded places or being in contact with sick persons, or use a medical mask and keep at least 6 ft of distance from ill persons.

It is also recommended to boost your general health by keeping your stress levels low, eating healthy diet and getting plenty of sleep. If you become sick with Influenza virus then stay at home so that you don’t infect other people. As a parent you should also keep yourself aware of the precautions taken in the school of your child, and plan handling education if school was temporarily closed due to swine flu.

There are trials on a swine flu vaccine underway, an early result are promising that only one shot will be necessary and is expected to take effect after 8 to 10 days of inoculation. Good news is that China is said to be the first country in the world to develop a swine flu vaccine (PANFLU.1), 5 million doses will be ready by the end of September.

First doses should go to priority groups which are pregnant women, people who live near babies under 6 months old, children 5 months to 4 years old and health care workers. However, there are concerns of further rare side effects of the Chinese vaccine, but other more effective vaccines are expected to be available by mid-October.

Swine flu is treated by Oseltamivir (Brand name Tamiflu) & Zanamivir (brand name Relenza) which are antiviral drugs given in the first 48 hours after developing the symptoms to be most effective. Some people have recovered without taking medication.

Those drugs are advised to be used wisely; indiscriminate use of the antiviral drugs may cause drug-resistant strains to emerge.

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