Tips On How To Prevent Catching Swine Flu

With many deaths recorded in Mexico, a new strain of swine flu virus is sweeping the globe. Several nations have suspect cases reported, from as far away as Hong Kong, Canada, Israel France and New Zealand.

Caused by type A influenza Swine flu, is a respiratory disease. Studies have shown that the swine flu, H1N1, is...

common throughout pig populations worldwide, with 25% of all animals displaying antibody evidence of having the disease. These are scary facts.

Swine flu viruses don't usually infect humans. The current swine flu, however, has a toxic mix of a gene segment from bird flu, a segment from human flu, plus two genes from pig flu. Pigs are well known as being the earth's most efficient 'mixing bowls'. The completely unknown virus is creating havoc, as humans have no immunity to it.

Swine flu can’t be contacted through eating pork products, however human-to-human infections are happening, without the victims having any contact with infected animals.

Here are a few simple precautions you need to take to provide effective self-protection against the threat of a global pandemic:

•Make sure you cover your nose and mouth if you sneeze or cough. Ensure you get rid of the tissue in the rubbish can after you use it. Keep a mask handy in case anyone sneezes or coughs around you.

One sneeze alone projects 100,000 droplets into the air at a speed of approximately 90 mph, settling on ATM and computer keypads, elevator buttons, door knobs, escalator railings and grocery trolley handles.

British researchers report that in a subway rail-station at rush hour, as high as 10 percent of all travellers can come in contact with the spray and residue from just one sneeze. That means as many as 150 commuters can be infected by one uncovered cough, or sneeze. The stream of air hurtling from a cough, moves at speeds that are close to 600 mph.

•Always wash your hands frequently, for up to 20 seconds, with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Always wash your hands thoroughly prior to eating and whenever possible do not eat with your hands.

It is estimated that around 80 percent of all infections are passed on by hands. If you aren't able to wash your hands, use hand-sanitizers which have 60% alcohol content. These are readily available in handy pocket size containers.

•Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth and definitely avoid kissing on the cheeks.

Germs are spread more quickly through that method of transmission.

•Try to stay away from sick people. Isolation and keeping your distance are your most efficient protective measures.

•Stay home from work or school if you get sick and keep your contact with others limited, so as to not infect anyone else.

•Keep aware and recognize any abnormal symptoms. If you are in doubt, go and seek professional advice.

•Ensure you eat well, closely monitor your sleep habits and make sure you exercise regularly. Upgrade your vitamin C intake and ensure you practice good hygiene.

Swine flu can be treated. Though it is unaffected by two of the four drugs approved for treating flu, two new arrivals, Tamiflu and Relenza have proven to be successful.

Mexico has hundreds of industrial-scale pig facilities, known as 'confined animal feeding farms', where the hogs are packed in tight rows. Thousands of pigs are contained in indoor pens and grain-fed for the market. Breeding sows are baled-up in small metal crates where they spend most of their lives, either pregnant or nursing a new litter of piglets.

Up until now, Mexican hog workers, infected with swine flu, have rarely been the cause of infecting other humans, except for close family members.
by: Wendy Stenberg-Tendys

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Confirmed cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus in three countries in the WHO European Region

On 27 April 2009, National Focal Points (NFPs) for the International Health Regulations (IHR) informed WHO/Europe about the detection of four confirmed cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection: two cases...

each in Spain and the United Kingdom. On 28 April 2009, the NFP of Israel reported an additional confirmed case.

The five people with confirmed cases in the WHO European Region presented with mild illness and had recently returned from travel in Mexico. As of 27 April 2009, 43 additional people in 8 countries in the Region were under investigation for infection.

Situation in the European Region

The reports of confirmed cases from Israel, Spain and the United Kingdom reflect important steps taken by the national authorities to ensure early detection and response in association with the evolving situation in the Americas. National authorities are advised to intensify surveillance efforts for the early detection of people who may be infected with swine influenza A (H1N1) virus and may transmit the infection to others.

On 27 April 2009, the WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Marc Danzon, informed the health ministers, chief medical officers and NFPs in the Region of WHO/Europe’s response. He acknowledged that cooperation between WHO and national and international counterparts was crucial in preparing for and responding to the potential spread of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus in the European Region.

WHO/Europe is working closely with the Directorate-General for Health and Consumers of the European Commission and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Similarly, WHO is in close consultation with development partners, United Nations agencies and other international organizations (including those involved in trade and travel), and manufacturers of vaccines, drugs, diagnostic equipment and personal protection equipment.
Global situation

The five cases in the WHO European Region are the first confirmed cases identified outside the Americas. The WHO headquarters web pages on swine influenza offer additional information on the global situation, including Canada, Mexico and the United States of America.
Change in pandemic alert level

On 27 April 2009, the second meeting of the Emergency Committee was convened as stipulated under the IHR. Following the Committee’s advice, the WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, decided to change the current phase of pandemic alert from level 3 to level 4.

This decision was based primarily on epidemiological data demonstrating human-to-human transmission and the ability of the virus to cause community-level outbreaks. As further information becomes available, WHO may decide either to revert to phase 3 or to raise the level of alert further.

The outcome of the Emergency Committee’s meeting included recommendations to countries not to close borders or to restrict international travel. It is considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for those developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention. In addition, WHO will facilitate the process needed to develop a vaccine effective against the A (H1N1) virus.

WHO published interim guidance for the surveillance of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) virus, including case definition and requirements for reporting to WHO, on 27 April 2009.


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Anthrax

Anthrax is primarily a disease of herbivorous mammals, although other mammals and some birds have been known to contract it. Until the introduction and widespread use of effective veterinary vaccines, it was a major cause of fatal disease in cattle, sheep,...

goats, camels, horses, and pigs throughout the world. Anthrax continues to be reported from many countries in domesticated and wild herbivores, especially where livestock vaccination programmes are inadequate or have been disrupted.

Humans generally acquire the disease directly or indirectly from infected animals, or occupational exposure to infected or contaminated animal products. Control in livestock is therefore the key to reduced incidence. The disease is generally regarded as being non-contagious. Records of person-to-person spread exist, but are rare.

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Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is an infection in rodents and other wild and domesticated species. Rodents are implicated most often in human cases. The infection in man is contracted through skin abrasions and...

the mucosa of the nose, mouth and eyes. Exposure through water contaminated by urine from infected animals is the most common route of infection. Human-to-human transmission is rare.

Outdoor and agricultural workers (rice-paddy and sugarcane workers for example) are particularly at risk but it is also a recreational hazard to those who swim or wade in contaminated waters. In endemic areas the number of leptospirosis cases may peak during the rainy season and even may reach epidemic proportions in case of flooding because the floods cause rodents to move into the city.

Prevention strategies of human leptospirosis include wearing protective clothing for people at occupational risk and avoidance of swimming in water that may be contaminated. Leptospirosis control in animals is dependent on the serovar and animal species but may be either vaccination, a testing a culling programme, rodent control or a combination of these strategies.

Surveillance

The attached excerpt provides WHO recommended standards and strategies for the surveillance, prevention and control of Leptospirosis. This section is part of a larger document entitled "WHO recommended standards and strategies for surveillance, prevention and control of communicable diseases " developed by the WHO Emerging Diseases and Pandemic Response Department (EPR), in collaboration with the Department Food Safety, Zoonoses and Foodborne Diseases (FOS), for major zoonoses involving livestock. The full document will be available on the WHO website early in 2007. Each section, after giving essential information on the main characteristics of the disease and its causative agent(s) and mode of transmission, provides definitions for possible, probable and definite cases of the disease as well as the rational for surveillance and WHO recommended systems for surveillance. Major control and prevention activities in humans and animal hosts are also described. A list of WHO reference materials is provided at the end.

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Influenza A(H1N1) - update 35

21 May 2009 -- As of 06:00 GMT, 21 May 2009, 41 countries have officially reported 11 034 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection, including 85 deaths.

The breakdown of the number of laboratory-confirmed cases by country is given in the following table and map.
Map of the spread of Influenza A(H1N1): number of laboratory confirmed cases and deaths [jpg 616kb]...next

As of 06:00 GMT, 21 May 2009
Laboratory-confirmed cases of new influenza A(H1N1) as officially reported to WHO by States Parties to the International Health Regulations (2005)

Country Cumulative total Newly confirmed since the reporting period
Cases Deaths Cases Deaths
Argentina 1 0 0 0
Australia 3 0 2 0
Austria 1 0 0 0
Belgium 5 0 0 0
Brazil 8 0 0 0
Canada 719 1 223 0
Chile 5 0 0 0
China 8 0 1 0
Colombia 12 0 0 0
Costa Rica 20 1 11 0
Cuba 4 0 1 0
Denmark 1 0 0 0
Ecuador 1 0 0 0
El Salvador 6 0 0 0
Finland 2 0 0 0
France 16 0 1 0
Germany 14 0 0 0
Greece 1 0 0 0
Guatemala 4 0 1 0
India 1 0 0 0
Ireland 1 0 0 0
Israel 7 0 0 0
Italy 10 0 1 0
Japan 259 0 49 0
Korea, Republic of 3 0 0 0
Malaysia 2 0 0 0
Mexico 3892 75 244 3
Netherlands 3 0 0 0
New Zealand 9 0 0 0
Norway 3 0 1 0
Panama 69 0 4 0
Peru 3 0 0 0
Poland 2 0 0 0
Portugal 1 0 0 0
Spain 111 0 4 0
Sweden 3 0 0 0
Switzerland 1 0 0 0
Thailand 2 0 0 0
Turkey 2 0 0 0
United Kingdom 109 0 7 0
United States of Amer 5710 8 241 2
Grand Total 11034 85 791 5
Cumulative and new figures are subject to revision





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Avian Influenza: Current H5N1 Situation

The highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) epizootic (animal outbreak) in Asia, Europe, the Near East, and Africa is not expected to diminish significantly in the short term. It is likely that H5N1 virus infections among domestic poultry have become endemic in certain areas and that sporadic human infections resulting from direct contact with infected poultry and/or...

wild birds will continue to occur. So far, the spread of H5N1 virus from person-to-person has been very rare, limited and unsustained. However, this epizootic continues to pose an important public health threat.

There is little pre-existing natural immunity to H5N1 virus infection in the human population. If H5N1 viruses gain the ability for efficient and sustained transmission among humans, an influenza pandemic could result, with potentially high rates of illness and death worldwide. No evidence for genetic reassortment between human and avian influenza A virus genes has been found to date, and there is no evidence of any significant changes to circulating H5N1 virus strains to suggest greater transmissibility to or among humans. Genetic sequencing of avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses from human cases in Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia shows resistance to the antiviral medications amantadine and rimantadine, two of the medications commonly used for treatment of influenza. This leaves two remaining antiviral medications (oseltamivir and zanamivir) that should still be effective against currently circulating strains of H5N1 viruses. A small number of oseltamivir resistant H5N1 virus infections of humans have been reported. Efforts to produce pre-pandemic vaccine candidates for humans that would be effective against avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses are ongoing. However, no H5N1 vaccines are currently available for human use.

Research suggests that currently circulating strains of H5N1 viruses are becoming more capable of causing disease (pathogenic) in animals than were earlier H5N1 viruses. One study found that ducks infected with H5N1 virus are now shedding more virus for longer periods without showing symptoms of illness. This finding has implications for the role of ducks in transmitting disease to other birds and possibly to humans as well. Additionally, other findings have documented H5N1 virus infection among pigs in China and Vietnam; H5N1 virus infection of cats (experimental infection of housecats in the Netherlands, isolation of H5N1 virus from domestic cats in Germany and Thailand, and detection of H5N1 viral RNA in domestic cats in Iraq and Austria); H5N1 virus infection of dogs (isolation of H5N1 virus from a domestic dog in Thailand); and isolation of H5N1 viruses from tigers and leopards at zoos in Thailand). In addition, H5N1 virus infection in a wild stone marten (a weasel-like mammal) was reported in Germany and in a wild civet cat in Vietnam. Avian influenza A (H5N1) virus strains that emerged in Asia in 2003 continue to evolve and may adapt so that other mammals may be susceptible to infection as well.
Notable findings of epidemiologic investigations of human H5N1 cases include:

* Thailand, 2004: An investigation concluded that probable limited human-to-human spread of influenza A (H5N1) had occurred in a family as a result of prolonged and very close contact between an ill child and her mother in a hospital. Transmission did not continue beyond one person.
* Vietnam, 2004: While the majority of known human H5N1 cases have begun with respiratory symptoms, one atypical fatal H5N1 case in a child in southern Vietnam presented with fever, diarrhea and seizures, and was initially diagnosed as encephalitis. The etiology was identified retrospectively as H5N1 virus through testing of cerebrospinal fluid, fecal matter, and throat and serum samples. Further research is needed to ascertain the implications of such findings.
* Vietnam, 2005: Investigations suggest transmission of H5N1 viruses to two persons through consumption of uncooked duck blood.
* Azerbaijan, 2006: Investigations revealed contact with H5N1-infected wild dead birds (swans) as the most plausible source of infection in several cases in teenagers involved in removing feathers from the birds.
* Indonesia, 2006: WHO reported evidence of limited human-to-human spread of H5N1 virus. In this situation, 8 people in one family were affected, with 7 deaths. H5N1 virus was isolated from 7 cases. The first family member is thought to have become ill through contact with infected poultry. This person then infected six family members. One of those six people (a child) then infected another family member (his father). No further spread outside of the exposed family was documented or suspected.
* Vietnam, 2006: A study reported a correlation between high H5N1 viral concentration and elevated inflammatory cytokine levels in fatal cases. The authors concluded that early antiviral treatment is needed to suppress H5N1 viral replication to prevent the inflammatory response that appears to be implicated in the pathogenesis of H5N1 virus infection.

Human H5N1 Cases

(WHO) has reported human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) in Asia, Africa, the Pacific, Europe and the Near East. Indonesia and Vietnam have reported the highest number of H5N1 cases to date. Overall mortality in reported H5N1 cases is approximately 60%. The majority of cases have occurred among children and adults aged less than 40 years old. Mortality was highest in cases aged 10-19 years old. Studies have documented the most significant risk factors for human H5N1 infection to be direct contact with sick or dead poultry or wild birds, or visiting a live poultry market. Most human H5N1 cases have been hospitalized late in their illness with severe respiratory disease. A small number of clinically mild H5N1 cases have been reported. The current cumulative number of confirmed human cases of avian influenza A/(H5N1) is available on the WHO Avian Influenza website. Despite the high mortality, human cases of H5N1 remain rare to date.
Clusters of Human H5N1 Cases

Clusters of human H5N1 cases ranging from 2-8 cases per cluster have been identified in most countries that have reported H5N1 cases. Nearly all of the cluster cases have occurred among blood-related family members living in the same household. Whether such clusters are related to genetic or other factors is currently unknown. While most people in these clusters have been infected with H5N1 virus through direct contact with sick or dead poultry or wild birds, limited human-to-human transmission of H5N1 virus cannot be excluded in some clusters.
Animal H5N1 Cases

Since December 2003, avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infections in animals have been reported in Asia, Africa, the Pacific, Europe and the Near East. View the update on avian influenza in animals from the World Organization for Animal Health Web site.
Bird Import Ban

There is currently a ban on the importation of birds and bird products from H5N1-affected countries. The regulation states that no person may import or attempt to import any birds (Class Aves), whether dead or alive, or any products derived from birds (including hatching eggs), from the specified countries. For more information, see Embargo of Birds from Specified Countries.
Travel

Updated Information for Travelers about Avian Influenza A(H5N1) is available at the CDC Travelers’ Health Web site. Also see Guidelines and Recommendations - Interim Guidance about Avian Influenza A (H5N1) for U.S. Citizens Living Abroad.
CDC Response

CDC is working with WHO and other international partners to monitor the situation closely. In addition, CDC continues to work with WHO and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on development of a vaccine for influenza A (H5N1). For more information view CDC's Response to Avian Influenza.

* Also see Updated Interim Guidance for Laboratory Testing of Persons with Suspected Infection with Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus in the United States for CDC’s domestic H5N1 surveillance recommendations.

The World Health Organization has additional resources and information on avian influenza A H5N1, including

* Recommendations and laboratory procedures for detection of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in specimens from suspected human cases (pdf 165K, 28 pages)
* WHO guidelines for investigation of human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) (pdf 115K, 18 pages)
* Collecting, preserving and shipping specimens for the diagnosis of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection Guide for field operations (pdf 2.36M, 83 pages)

Background on the Current Outbreaks

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus is an influenza A virus subtype that occurs mainly in birds and is highly contagious among birds, causing high mortality among domestic poultry. Outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 among poultry and wild birds are ongoing in a number of countries. Currently, there are two different groups (or clades) of H5N1 viruses circulating among poultry (clade 1, and clade 2 viruses). At least three subgroups or subclades of clade 2 H5N1 viruses have infected humans to date: subclades 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 viruses. H5N1 virus infections of humans are rare and most cases have been associated with direct poultry contact during poultry outbreaks. While the H5N1 virus does not now infect people easily, infection in humans is very serious when it occurs; so far, more than half of people reported infected have died. Rare cases of limited human-to-human spread of H5N1 virus may have occurred, but there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.

Nonetheless, because all influenza viruses have the ability to change, scientists are concerned that H5N1 viruses one day could be able to infect humans more easily and spread easily from one person to another. Because H5N1 viruses have not infected many humans worldwide, there is little or no immune protection against them in the human population and an influenza pandemic (worldwide outbreak of disease) could begin if sustained H5N1 virus transmission occurred. Experts from around the world are watching the H5N1 situation very closely and are preparing for the possibility that H5N1 viruses may begin to spread more easily from person to person.

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Malaysia Konfirmasi Kasus Ke 2 Flu babi

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia telah mengidentifikasi kasus kedua influenza A/H1N1 atau flu babi. Kasus kedua terjadi di negara bagian Penang.

Deputi Kementerian Kesehatan Malaysia Datuk Ramlee Rahmat mengatakan...

pasien adalah seorang perempuan dan dilarikan ke Rumah Sakit Penang sejak Jumat kemarin.

"Hasilnya sudah dikonfirmasi pagi ini," kata Ramlee dikutip dari The Star, Sabtu (16/5/2009).

Perempuan itu merupakan kawan dari pasien yang pertama kali dikonfirmasi kemarin, yaitu seorang pelajar berusia 21 tahun yang dirawat di sebuah rumah sakit di negara bagian Selangor. Pasien pertama itu menderita gangguan tenggorokan, demam, dan sakit di sekujur tubuhnya.

Keduanya diketahui baru kembali dari Amerika Serikat.

Menyusul terjadinya dua kasus tersebut, Kementerian Kesehatan mendesak para penumpang dari penerbangan yang sama, yaitu yang berangkat dari New York pada 11 Mei, untuk menghubungi petugas terkait.

Hingga 15 Mei, Badan Kesehatan Dunia (WHO) menyatakan flu babi telah terjadi di 34 negara, yaitu sebanyak 7.520 kasus pasien terinfeksi dengan korban tewas 65.

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