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The Lowdown on The 2009 Swine Flu Outbreak

The 2009 outbreak of swine flu or H1N1 virus is recently hugging the limelight due to the potential harm or effects it can have on a patient or on a community. Unfortunately, the source of the virus still cannot be traced.

Before the first case in the United States was discovered, the illness was believed to have started in Mexico which eventually spread to other countries. Recently, the first case of swine flu was reported in
Costa Rica. Alarmed that it could grow into a worldwide flu epidemic, the World Health Organization of the United Nations and the Center for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) in the United States raised its pandemic alert level to Phase 5, which signifies that a “pandemic is imminent.”
While experts believed that the recent outbreak is not as fatal as previous epidemics, such as the SARS virus, health officials believe that the number of cases could go up as the new flu is expected to make its way throughout the United States.

The new swine influenza strain is apparently a new variant of four strains of influenza A virus subtype H1N1. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the strain is endemic in humans and birds and a couple are endemic in pigs.

However, according to scientists the 2009 H1N1 outbreak is of swine origin which is associated with the virus isolated in North America in 1998. To hasten understanding of the current outbreak as well as in coming up with a vaccine, scientists from Canada have completed the full genetic sequencing of the H1N1 virus.

The new strain of H1N1 has become widespread in Mexico and the United States with confirmed cases in 18 countries and suspected cases in 42 others. Travelers have been warned not to travel to affected countries such as Iceland, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, to name a few.

In addition, warnings have also been issued warnings to visitors of countries affected by the outbreak. It is advisable for visitors to see the doctor right away if they experience flu-like symptoms.
In Mexico, schools, universities, and all public events were suspended from April 24 to May 6, 2009. In the United States, over 400 schools were closed as of May 3, 2009, which included schools in Texas and about 250,000 confirmed or probable cases.

Dr. Keiji Fukuda, who is the Assistant Director-General for Health Securiy and Environment of the World Health Organization confirmed that efforts to control the outbreak is already too late and should now focus on lessening the effects of the virus. He also clarified that closing borders or limiting travel to infected areas will do little in stopping the spread of the H1N1 virus.

On April 28, 2009, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggested that as much as possible, people should avoid non-important travel to Mexico.

According to Dr. Ira Longini, who is an expert in the mathematics and statistics of epidemics, staying at home, seeking medical care, closing public venues, and making anti-flu medicines accessible can help reduce the sickness by almost two-thirds.

Finally, according to Dr. Longini, the focus of efforts is to slow transmission until there is a vaccine that can be developed and made available for controlling swine flu outbreaks.

Tamiflu And Relenza Against Swine Flu

Newsbreak on the flash: A new strain of Swine Flu that has killed 149 and sickened nearly two thousand in Mexico has spread to the United States and is raising fears of a possible pandemic. Through this article you will learn more about the disease and why it is causing concern among health officials and inform the readers about the two suggested antiviral drugs by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to fight Swine Flu pandemics.

This prescription of antiviral medication that can be used to treat influenza infections between children and adults is called Tamiflu. If their symptoms have started within the last two days they are advice to start taking the Tamiflu. This antiviral medication can also be used to prevent children, teens and adults if they are exposed to the influenza virus.

Relenza (ruh-LENS-uh) is more active than the Tamiflu. This kind of medicine, aside from treatment of influenza they can also prevent the suspect to getting the flu again. While some antiviral medicines only protect against influenza A, Relenza is effective against both influenza A and B. This Relenza drug belongs to neuramidase inhibitors group of medicines. These medications target the influenza virus and prevent it from spreading inside your body.

Relenza treats the cause of influenza at its source, rather than simply treating the symptoms like the role of Tamiflu. Simulations suggest that if physicians choose a second effective antiviral such as zanamivir. Zanamivir is the generic name of Relenza as first-line treatment in even a few percent of cases, but can solve to delay the spread of resistant strains.

The available antiviral treatments for influenza, the virus is resistant to rimantadine and amantadine, but sensitive to the oseltamivir and zanamivir. Oseltamivir is the generic name Tamiflu. This strain may mutate develop resistance of oseltamivir in the future.

Tamiflu and Relenza is highly recommended by the CDC for both treatment and prevention of the new strain. The shelf life of federally stockpiled Tamiflu from the original five years to seven years because studies indicated that the medication continues to maintain its effectiveness had already extended by the United States government and Roche Applied Science. Not only that, the other members of the G8 Countries extended their contract stockpiled of Tamiflu from vaccine manufacturers.

It is highly recommended not to buy from online pharmacies without an address of these two types of medications because their stockpiled are counterfeited. Consult to the World Health Organization for information about the antiviral drugs before making any steps in your country.

Medical experts warned the public not to take the antiviral drugs if you are not ill. You only want to be safe but the worst thing is if you take any of this antiviral drugs may lead you to a virus developing drug resistance. They suggest that antiviral drug should be taken only to very sick people or an individual with low immune system.

From the undetermined source that only one out of three Americans would get Swine Flu vaccine or antiviral drugs. So, it means the vaccine manufacturers especially the manufacturers of Tamiflu and Relenza have no enough capability to do more drugs against the pandemics.

According to CDC, testing has found that the Swine Flu virus remains at risk to two common antiviral drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza.

Swine Flu: Overview, Treatment, and Prevention

Swine flu is an illness that is affecting hundreds of individuals in the United States as well as worldwide. According to the CDC, the illness may take some more time. Since one is likely to become infected with the condition, they need to understand swine flu symptoms in order for them to obtain proper treatment or medicaion.

The Symptoms

The symptoms of H1N1 infection is similar to that of seasonal flu. Among the symptoms include cough, sore throat, running or stuffy nose, chills and fatigue, to name just a few. Several people infected with the virus have complained of diarrhea and vomiting. The high risk groups prone to H1N1 is not yet known at the moment but it is likely that they are similar to those suffering from seasonal influenza.

People at greater risk of serious side effects from seasonal flu include people more than 65 years old, children below 5 years old, pregnant women, and people with chronic medical consitions as well as those who are taking immunosuppressive medications or with HIV infection.

Avoid Social Contact

If you are feeling sick, your condition may last for more than a week. You should remain at home and refrain from making social contact. As much as possible, you should not communicate with other people to avoid the spread of the virus.

At the moment, the CDC believes that H1N1 has similar properties on the aspect of transmission with seasonal flu virus. If you go out of the house to consult your doctor, wear a mask or use a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

According to recent studies, people suffering from seasonal flu are at risk to transmit the disease a day prior to development of symptoms for up to seven days after getting sick.

Children are more likely to be at risk for a longer period of time so it is best to consult a healthcare provider.

Emergency Warning Signs

If you suddenly become sick and experience any of the following warning signs, this is your cue to seek emergency medical assistance.

In the case of children becoming ill due to H1N1infection, the following warning signs may require immediate medical attention:

* Fast or difficulty in breathing
* Bluish or gray colored skin
* Insufficient amount of liquids
* Severe or continuous vomiting
* Lack of sleep or interaction
* Irritability
* Recovery from flu-like symptoms but the symptoms come back with fever and worse coughing

Among adults, the following emergency warning signs demand immediate medical attention:

* Trouble with breathing or shortness of breath
* Abdominal pains or pressure in the chest
* The individual suddenly becomes dizzy
* The patient is confused
* Severe or continuous vomiting
* Recovery from flu-like symptoms but the symptoms come back with fever and worse coughing

Prevention Is The Best Treatment

You can do your part in preventing the spread of the H1N1 virus. Here are some tips on how you can take part in efforts for preventing the spread of infection.

* Be aware. Obtain information about H1N1 by visiting the website of the CDC.

* Use a tissue in covering your mouth and nose when sneezing. Afterwards, throw the tissue in the trash.

* With soap and water, wash your hands after coughing or sneezing. If possible, use alcohol-based sanitizers.

* Refrain from touching your nose or mouth as this could lead to easy transmission of germs.

By being aware of swine flu symptoms, the spread of the H1N1 virus would easily be prevented.

Swine Flu Vaccine Productions

To discuss and make strong decisions to fight the widespread Swine Flu, the World Health Organization set a meeting with the vaccine manufacturers together with other health experts to stop the Swine Flu Outbreak. Different Pharmaceutical companies are ready to begin making a Swine Flu vaccine but as the virus may alter, there are questions formed:

How much should they have to produce? How will the government distribute the vaccines to the infected areas? Who should get it, babies, youngsters, adults, men, women, pregnant?

Most flu vaccine companies mentioned that they can only make one vaccine at a time: either seasonal flu vaccine or pandemic vaccine. Production takes months and it is impossible to switch halfway through if health officials make a mistake. Vaccine makers can make limited amounts of both seasonal flu vaccine and pandemic vaccine though not at the same time but they cannot make massive quantities of both because that exceeds manufacturing capacity.

Even if we are in the modern era, still the health officials have a big problem to solve the spreading of deadly swine flu is, and whether they will need more seasonal flu vaccine or swine flu vaccine. Scientists are not sure the effectiveness of a vaccine, if the swine flu will transmute. Only two billion doses of swine flu vaccine could be produced annually based on the estimation of World Health Organization officials, though the first batches wouldn’t be available for four to six months.

A “seed stock” to make the vaccine, which should be ready and it will be distributed to manufacturers worldwide so they can start producing the vaccine is now on the go as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention works on. After the vaccine manufacturers get the seed stock, they won’t know how many doses of vaccine they can make or how long that would take.

Including vaccine producer, GlaxoSmithKline PLC, the World Health Organization is under negotiation process to save some of their swine flu vaccine for poorer nations. A couple of years ago members of the rich nations like United States, Switzerland, France, Denmark, Canada and Britain signed deals with the vaccine makers to guarantee them pandemic vaccines as soon as they’re available.

Cipla (The pharmaceuticals giant in India) instructed by the World Health Organization to make a generic version of Tamiflu antiviral drug. Tamiflu also known as oseltamivir, one of the two antiviral drugs to treat the Swine Flu. Then WHO said Cipla’s generic version was more effective than the original made by Swiss firm Roche Holding AG and would hopefully make the drug more accessible to the third world countries. As we all know that Indian pharmaceuticals produce drugs in very affordable prices.

North America has been the hardest-hit continent for the Swine Flu virus that kills two Americans from Texas (including a pregnant woman) and one in Washington. If the vaccine productions are enough to all suspected Swine Flu carrier, it wont happen again that a simple pregnant woman died fighting the virus.

Through this article, we will inform the public of an early planning and prevention against Swine Flu for their safety. Consult to the Health Officers about planning and prevention against the virus. According to an unidentified source that one out of three Americans can only take the Tamiflu.