Posts Tagged ‘Flu’
What Can I Do When I Catch The Flu?
It is very common for the majority of persons to suffer from the influenza at one point or another in the course of their lives. Those persons that come into contact with big groups of people either in the course of work or school are more liable to pick up not just one bout of influenza but are likely to endure the flu numerous times. This happens because of the sizable number and varieties of viruses that are ready and waiting to take aim at us.
They change, they mutate and they attack our systems several times before we are able to come up with helpful treatments.The majority of familiar influenza viruses are those ones that affect nearly all of the bird species as well as all mammals. It is the wild marine bird species that are infected time and again with the type A viruses. These viruses are transmittable as well. In the case of the avian influenza, the bug was passed from wild birds to domestic birds who subsequently passed the bug on to human beings. In the case of the swine flu outbreak that we are presently experiencing, the bug was passed between mammals.
Even though there are a lot of different varieties of the influenza bug, the symptoms are all pretty common. These are headaches and body aches, extreme tiredness, fever and chills, coughing, sneezing, watery eyes and flushed face. It is frequent as well to suffer from nausea and abdominal pain above all for those that have contracted the Type B virus. The symptoms of the Type B virus are a good deal more severe and come on awfully swiftly.
It is key to obtain treatment right away if these symptoms begin.
It is imperative that medications be provided to the sufferer right away. In a few cases you are able to mix allopathic and homeopathic medicines to acquire the greatest outcome nevertheless please only do this after consulting your family physician or pharmacist. Tests are able to be done as well to establish if vaccination would be effective for both treatment as well as prevention. All persons are different and so is their reaction to vaccine.
It is reasonably possible that a few persons might have developed a resistance to a particular vaccine. This is for the reason that there appears to be more drug resistance to the latter and the former is less lethal and seemingly more effective. Paracetamol helps to reduce pain and furthermore helps to diminish fever so this allopathic medicine should be given along with antiviral medications. In the case of homeopathic treatment, it is significant to get guidance from your family doctor regarding what medicines ought to be utilized to ease your individual symptoms. The amount of medicine given is directly correlated to the severity of the illness itself. Smaller doses of homeopathic medicines can be given in an attempt to avoid a bout with the influenza virus.
As you are in all probability already aware, it is imperative that you cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, wash your hands often and wash all contaminated surfaces with disinfectants in an attempt to stop the spread of the illness. It is effective also to eat correctly including plenty of fruits and vegetables, exercise and keep away from crowded places where the virus can be passed with no trouble from person to person.
What is swine flu?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.
Human infections with swine flu in the U.S.
In late March and early April 2009, cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses were first reported in Southern California and near San Antonio, Texas. Other U.S. states have reported cases of swine flu infection in humans and cases have been reported internationally as well. An updated case count of confirmed swine flu infections in the United States is kept at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm CDC and local and state health agencies are working together to investigate this situation.
Is the swine flu virus contagious?
Yes. The CDC has determined that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it is not known how easily the virus spreads between people.
How is the swine flu spread?
Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is most likely to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.
Swine Influenza (Flu)
Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in the United States. Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection also have been identified internationally. The current U.S. case count is provided below.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infection and whether additional people have been infected with swine influenza viruses.
CDC is working very closely with officials in states where human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) have been identified, as well as with health officials in Mexico, Canada and the World Health Organization. This includes deploying staff domestically and internationally to provide guidance and technical support. CDC has activated its Emergency Operations Center to coordinate this investigation.
Laboratory testing has found the swine influenza A (H1N1) virus susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir and has issued interim guidance for the use of these drugs to treat and prevent infection with swine influenza viruses. CDC also has prepared interim guidance on how to care for people who are sick and interim guidance on the use of face masks in a community setting where spread of this swine flu virus has been detected. This is a rapidly evolving situation and CDC will provide new information as it becomes available.
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/index.htm
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The World Health Organization now says there are 40 confirmed cases of swine flu in the United States and that it is “very concerned” about the spread of the disease, the Associated Press reports.
The figures have been confirmed by the U.S. government Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, the AP says. WHO also reports that it has now begun work on a swine flu vaccine.
None of the U.S. cases has been fatal, WHO says.
The U.N. agency could decide soon whether to raise its pandemic alert level as a result of the increasing number of confirmed cases in Mexico and elsewhere, said WHO spokesman Paul Garwood.
He says the health body recommends that anyone suffering from some kind of flu-like ailment should see a doctor. “There are measures in place that can treat this illness,” Garwood says.
Swine Flu Investigation
The CDC is actively investigating isolated human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) in several states (CA, TX, OH, KS, NY) and is working closely with Canada and Mexico and with the WHO. The CDC is continuously updating investigation information
As with any infectious disease, CDC recommends that people should take everyday preventive actions.
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Obama: Swine flu not reason for ‘alarm’
Associated Press
By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer - Mon Apr 27, 8:06 AM PDT
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said Monday the threat of spreading swine flu infections is matter of concern but “not a cause for alarm.” The United States and other countries across the globe increased their vigilance as the World Health Organization said there are now 40 confirmed cases in the U.S.
That’s twice the number previously reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
The WHO, a United Nations agency, said none of the cases in the U.S. has been fatal.
Amid increasing worries about a possible global pandemic, Obama told a gathering of scientists that his administration’s Department of Health and Human Services “has declared a public health emergency as a precautionary tool to ensure that we have the resources we need at our disposal to respond quickly and effectively.”
The acting head of the CDC said earlier Monday that people should be prepared for the problem to become more severe, and that it could involve “possibly deaths.” Dr. Richard Besser said officials were questioning people coming into the U.S. about how their health.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said Monday the threat of spreading swine flu infections is cause for concern but “not a cause for alarm,” as the United States stepped up border monitoring and countries across the globe increased their vigilance as well.
“The Department of Health and Human Services has declared a Public Health Emergency as a precautionary tool to ensure that we have the resources we need at our disposal to respond quickly and effectively,” Obama told a gathering of scientists, amid increasing worries worldwide about a possible pandemic.
The acting head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier Monday had said that people should be prepared for the problem to become more severe, and that it could involve “possibly deaths.” Dr. Richard Besser said U.S. officials were questioning border visitors about how their health.
The quickening pace of developments in the United States in response to some 1,600 swine flu infections in neighboring Mexico was accompanied by a host of varying responses around the world. The European Union advised against nonessential travel to the United States and Mexico, China, Taiwan and Russia considered quarantines and several Asian countries scrutinized visitors arriving at their airports.
In the United States, a private school in South Carolina was closed Monday because of fears that young people returning from Mexico might have been infected.
“We are closely monitoring the emerging cases of swine flu in the United States,” Obama said. “I’m getting regular updates on the situation from the responsible agencies, and the Department of Health and Human Services as well as the Centers for Disease Control will be offering regular updates to the American people so that they know what steps are being taken and what steps they may need to take.”
“But one thing is clear: Our capacity to deal with a public health challenge of this sort rests heavily on the work of our scientific and medical community,” the president said. “And this is one more example of why we cannot allow our nation to fall behind.”
Besser described the new U.S. border initiative as “passive screening.” He said authorities were “asking people about fever and illness, looking for people who are ill.”
The U.S. declared a national health emergency in the midst of uncertainty about what the mounting sick count — 1,600 or more in Mexico alone — meant ongoing infections or merely resulted from health officials missing something that had been simmering for weeks or months. The declaration did, nevertheless, allow Washington to ship roughly 12 million doses of flu-fighting medications from a federal stockpile to states in case they eventually need them.
Besser traveled the morning news-show circuit Monday, telling interviewers the U.S. government was being “extremely aggressive” and saying he wouldn’t personally recommend traveling to parts of Mexico where the new virus has taken hold. But he noted that the issue of a travel ban was under discussion and that nothing had been decided.
Besser said he was not reassured by the fact that so far in the U.S., no one has died from the disease.
“From what we understand in Mexico, I think people need to be ready for the idea that we could see more severe cases in this country and possibly deaths,” he said. “That’s something people have to be ready for and we’re looking for that. So far, thankfully, we haven’t seen that. But we’re very concerned and that’s why we’re taking very aggressive measures.”
Meanwhile, officials of Newberry Academy in South Carolina said Monday in a statement that seniors from the school were in Mexico earlier this month and some had flu like symptoms when they returned.
State Department of Health and Environmental Control spokesman Jim Beasley said test results on the students could come back as early as Monday afternoon. The agency has stepped up efforts to investigate all flu cases in South Carolina. There have been no confirmed swine flu cases in the state.
A New York City school where eight cases were confirmed will be closed Monday and Tuesday, and 14 schools in Texas, including a high school where two cases were confirmed, will be closed for at least the next week. Some schools in California and Ohio also were closing after students were found or suspected to have the flu.
In Mexico, the outbreak’s epicenter, soldiers handed out 6 million face masks to help stop the spread of the novel virus that is suspected in up to 103 deaths. Most other countries are reporting only mild cases so far, with most of the sick already recovering. Cases have been confirmed in Canada — six — and the U.S. — 20.
Spain reported its first confirmed swine flu case on Monday and said another 17 people were suspected of having the disease. The European Union health commissioner advised Europeans to avoid nonessential travel to Mexico and the United States. Also, three New Zealanders recently returned from Mexico are suspected of having it.
Complicating response strategies was what World Health Organization spokesman Peter Cordingley described as major difficulty that experts were having in assessing precisely the nature of the threat.
“These are the early days. It’s quite clear that there is a potential for this virus to become a pandemic and threaten globally,” Cordingley said. He said it was spreading rapidly in Mexico and the southern United States.
Cordingley said “honestly don’t know” the extent of the problem. He added: “We don’t know enough yet about how this virus operates. More work needs to be done.”
Multiple airlines, including American, United, Continental, US Airways, Mexicana and Air Canada, said they were waiving usual penalties for changing reservations for anyone traveling to, from, or through Mexico, but have not canceled flights.
The World Bank pledged to send Mexico $25 million in loans for immediate aid and $180 million in long-term assistance to address the outbreak, plus advice on how other nations have dealt with similar crises. Mexico officials say the flu strain may have sickened 1,614 people since April 13 but laboratory testing to confirm that and how many truly died from it — at least 22 so far out of the 103 suspected deaths — is taking time.
Worldwide, attention focused sharply on travelers.
“It was acquired in Mexico, brought home and spread,” Nova Scotia’s chief public health officer, Dr. Robert Strang, said of Canada’s first confirmed cases.
Besser said that while the U.S. hasn’t advised against travel to Mexico, it has urged people to take precautions, such as frequent hand-washing while there.
Associated Press
Associated Press writers Mark Stevenson and Olga R. Rodriguez in Mexico City; Frank Jordans in Geneva; Mike Stobbe in Atlanta; and Maria Cheng in London contributed to this report.