The Swine Flu
The A(H1N1) virus better known as swine flu has received huge media attention and many people in the U.S. are taking preventive measures. As of May 4, 11:00AM EST the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 279 confirmed cases, in 36 states, with one death. Mexico, where the outbreak was thought to have started, has 802 confirmed cases with a suspected number of cases of 2,500. Mexico also has the most deaths attributed to swine flu, 25. The spread of the H1N1 virus has struck fear in many, but early research might be reassuring.
Preliminary evidence suggests that the H1N1 virus maybe more mild than originally thought. Wired.com has learned that Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory computer scientists Jonathan Allen and Tom Slezak did not find similarities between swine flu and historical strains that spread widely, with catastrophic effect. These recent findings suggest that more Mexicans are infected than was originally suspected, and thus the mortality rates are actually much lower. Early research also shows that the swine flu seems to infect the upper respiratory tract as opposed to the lower respiratory tract, which reduces the damage it causes. Many scientist believe that the swine flu will not hit us hard in the northern hemisphere because swine flu like any other flu spreads less easily in the summer, and vaccines should be ready by the winter. However, the southern hemisphere should be concerned because they are going into winter right now, and they could be at a great risk.
The CDC gives tips on what you can do to stay healthy. One thing is to stay informed, by checking the CDC’s website and being aware of confirmed cases in your area. Also, to cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue when you cough or sneeze you should use your arm or elbow to cover up rather than your hand to lower the chance of spreading it through person to person contact. They also suggest you wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. You should avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as well. Lastly, if you get sick the CDC recommends that you STAY HOME!!!
UPDATE: As of May 8, 2009 at 11:00 AM ET, which is 4 days after I reported the original statistics, there are now 1639 confirmed cases in the US, in 43 states, with now 2 deaths. The number of confirmed cases are almost 6 times higher. However, I don't believe that the spreading of the virus is increasing, but rather more people are coming forward. This could actually be reassuring because with such a high number of cases and a low mortality rate means that the virus is much milder than what scientist first thought.
Alex Pavidapha (Group C week 12)
posted by PWH @ 11:31 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Alex,
I couldn't believe someone hadn't blogged about this sooner. Especially with all of the talk about it. I think it's important for people to know that this is something the media has taken out of control. It can be easily treated and prevented.
Crystal Cabral
I've heard that if the virus had one more amino acid in its RNA it could replicate much easylier and would thus be much more of a threat. Do you know the specific differences scientists have come up with for A(H1N1) as compared to the Spanish flu?
Interesting, though, that the infection spreads 'most easily' amongst the supposedly healthier 'younger' population of 15-40yr olds, instead of the older generations, and that it is much less virulent (or so we hope) than previously thought.
[Nathan Beck, Group A]
I agree that it has been spun out of control and made out to be more then it's really worth staying off of planes and subways for. With allergies around at this time i think people might have the wrong idea and think it's the Swine Flue instead. In a recent Baystate Health memo it said clinicians were only to see people who had been to Mexico, a fever over 100 and had upper respiratory symptoms. I believe the majority of cases in Mexico have been mild.
Samantha DeBiasio
It is good to read in your blog that the H1N1 virus that is spreading now is not believed to be the same strains of the historical flu that was disastrous. It will be interesting to see if the scientist are correct with their thoughts that the flu will spread less since the summer is coming.
Shonneau L.
I didn't realize there were that many people in the us that were confirmed. Let's hope this doesn't become a full blown epidemic. Thank god it's mild so far.
-Katie Cyr
Alex,
Thanks for writing about Swine Flu. So many people are freaking out about it and yet have no idea what it is or how it’s affecting people. Airports are going crazy every time they see someone cough or sneeze. It’s good they are taking preventative measures, but to that extreme? What would the situation need to be like for this to become an epidemic nowadays? Why are people getting so worried about it, because of the deaths in Mexico? Were the deaths in Mexico younger people, or the usual target for flu, elders and young?
Sarah Bello
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