by bintangkecil on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 | Health, News | No Comments

People who think they may have H1N1 flu need to stay away from work, avoid sneezing on their spouses and children. Now, they have to worry about their pets.

U.S. vets reported this week that a pet cat had been infected with the pandemic swine flu virus, apparently by its owners, who had reported flu-like illness in the days before.

Two pet ferrets also caught flu, again apparently from their owners, and several herds of pigs around the world have been reported infected.

Animals have long been known to be a source of new infections. Influenza itself originates in birds, possibly domestic ducks. AIDS appears to have come from chimpanzees and possibly gorillas. Ebola virus comes from bats while rabies is spread by many different species.

And this strain of H1N1 very likely originated in pigs although it is now infecting almost exclusively humans.

But with flu, at least, it can go the other way, too.

“This is just another illustration of why influenza viruses are so tricky and frustrating and interesting at the same time, is this ability to occasionally jump species,” said Dr. Carolyn Bridges of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Bridges said it is impossible to know how many pets may have been infected — this particular cat lived near a sophisticated animal laboratory in Iowa where vets ran an influenza test out of curiosity. The good news is that the cat survived.

Even for people, it is difficult to find out if a fever, cough and stuffy nose was the swine flu or something else because ordinary flu tests can miss H1N1 and doctors do not have easy access to the more sophisticated test needed to diagnose it.

NO KISSING

So no one knows how often pets might get infected. But if there is a season for it to happen, this would be it, says Bridges.

“We have a great deal more disease now than we have in a typical flu season,” she said in a telephone interview.

“With the higher numbers of infected people, that increases the possibility of seeing these transmissions.”

Cats were known to get H5N1 avian influenza, which is still circulating and which has killed snow leopards and tigers that were fed infected chickens. A strain called H3N8 can sicken and kill pet dogs, Bridges added.

“It is hypothesized that dogs got it from horses. There is potential, certainly, for cross-species infection,” she said.

This is bad news for sick pet lovers.

“Even though I think when I am sick in bed the best thing I can have is my cats piling in with me, we realize that is no longer a risk-free activity,” said Dr. Julie Levy of the University of Florida, a specialist in pet diseases.

“When a pet is sick we should use common sense — wash hands, not let them kiss us in the face,” Levy added.

According to the World Health Organization, H1N1 has killed at least 6,071 people worldwide and likely far more.

The Sweden-based European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control projects the virus could kill up to 40,000 people across Europe and be followed by seasonal flu waves that could kill the same number.

The international veterinary disease agency, the OIE, says it is compiling reports of H1N1 in animals.

“It is very likely that there will be additional findings of other influenza strains,” OIE Director Dr. Bernard Vallat said in a statement.

Tags: Dr. Julie Levy, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, h1n1, h1n1 Flu, h1n1 pet risk, h1n1 pets, H5N1 avian influenza, health, obama swine flu, pandemic swine flu virus, pet risk for h1n1, pets risk for h1n1, swine flu, Swine Flu Name, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization

by wildcherry on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 | Deals, Hot | No Comments

LA County Department of Health is giving free H1N1 and regular flu shots at locations around the city through Nov 8, 2009. People can select from nasal or shot for H1N1, shot for the regular flu. I got mine yesterday in Culver City, the line was around 2 hours long halfway through the day. I’d get there early to avoid the line build-up. For a family, assuming $25 per shot, this could be a huge savings (especially since in LA County H1N1 vaccine won’t be available in shot form until Nov).

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Health Officer, Dr. Jonathan E.
Fielding, today released the schedule for the first round of Public Health vaccine clinics, which will provide free H1N1 vaccine to residents who do not have health insurance or a regular source of health care, and are in a priority group.”Increasing amounts of H1N1 vaccine are expected to arrive in Los Angeles County on a weekly basis. Public Health’s vaccine clinics will provide vaccine free of charge to residents in the H1N1 vaccine priority groups who do not have health insurance or a regular source of health care,” said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director and Health Officer.

“For those with health insurance and a regular source of health care, all of the more than 3,000 healthcare providers in the county who ordered H1N1 vaccine should receive it. Starting at the end of this week, these residents may wish to contact their doctor to find out when the H1N1 vaccine will be available to them.”

The priority groups for H1N1 vaccine are:
· Pregnant women
· People living with or caring for infants under six months of age
· Emergency medical services personnel and health care workers
· Children and young adults from six months through 24 years
· People aged 25 through 64 years with chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease, asthma, diabetes, or weakened immune systems

Public Health’s H1N1 vaccine clinics will begin on October 23, and will have H1N1 vaccine in many formulations, including injectable flu shots, FluMist nasal spray, and thimerasol-free vaccine. A list of dates and locations can be found on the Public Health website at www.publichealth.lacounty.gov or by calling the LA County information line at 2-1-1 from any landline or cell phone. The vaccine clinic schedule will be released two weeks at a time.

Residents are urged to check back often if they do not immediately find a clinic that is conveniently located near them. Vaccine clinics will be scheduled from late October through at least December.

Influenza, more commonly known as the flu, causes approximately 36,000
deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations each year in the United
States. While the average case of H1N1 is no worse than other types of
seasonal flu, some individuals are at a higher risk for serious
complications. Since the spring, there have been 57 deaths in Los Angeles County attributed to H1N1.

“The best way to prevent the spread of flu is to wash your hands often; cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes; and get vaccinated,” Dr. Fielding said.

“If you are sick, stay home until at least 24 hours after the fever has gone away without the use of anti-fever medications. The same recommendation applies to children who go to school, daycare, or after-school programs.”

*Talk to your doctor about H1N1 vaccine if you have any of the following:*
· Severe allergy to chicken eggs
· Severe reaction to influenza vaccination in the past
· Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)
· Moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (wait until recovering before getting vaccine)
The viruses in the flu shot are inactive (killed) so you cannot get the flu from the flu shot. Some minor side effects could occur, usually lasting only one to two days. These include:
· Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
· Low-grade fever
· Aches or pain

The viruses in the vaccine nasal spray are weakened and cannot cause the flu. In children, side effects are usually mild and can include runny nose, wheezing, headache, vomiting, muscle aches or fever. In adults, side effects can include runny nose, headache, sore throat or cough.

Most cases of H1N1 and seasonal flu can be treated by staying home, getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of fluids and treating fever and aches and pains with over- the-counter medication, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen (but not aspirin).

Residents should see a doctor if they have any of the following symptoms *along with* flu-like symptoms such as fever, coughing, tiredness, runny nose, etc:
*For children:*
· Fast breathing or trouble breathing
· Bluish skin color
· Not drinking enough fluids or stopping urinating
· Not waking up or not interacting
· Being so irritable that a child does not want to be held
· Flu-like symptoms that improve, but then return with fever and worse cough
· Fever with a rash

*For adults:*
· Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
· Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
· Sudden dizziness
· Confusion
· Severe or persistent vomiting

The Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and improving the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Public Health comprises more than 4,000 employees and has an annual budget exceeding $750 million. To learn more about Public Health and the
work we do, please visit http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov or visit our YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/lapublichealth.

H1N1 Vaccine Clinic Schedule - Sorted by City 10/23/09-11/08-09
*SPA*
*Sup Dist*
*Date*
*Day*
*Location*
*Street*
*City*
*ZIP code*
*Hours of Operation*
1
5
10/27/09
Tue.
Acton Community Ctr
3248 Nickels Ave.
Acton
93510
10am-6pm
3
1
10/29/09
Thurs.
Memorial Park Rec. Ctr
340 N. Orange Place
Azusa
91702
11am-7pm
7
4
10/28/09
Wed
Performing Arts Center
12700 Center Court Dr S.
Cerritos
90703
1pm-9pm
6
2
10/27/09
Tue
El Camino College
1111 E. Artesia Blvd.
Compton
90221
9am-5pm
6
2
10/28/09
Wed
El Camino College
1111 E. Artesia Blvd.
Compton
90221
12pm-8pm
5
2
10/23/09
Fri.
Veterans Auditorium
4117 Overland Ave
Culver City
90230
9am-1pm
7
4
10/27/09
Tue
Downey Theatre
8435 Firestone Blvd.
Downey
90241
1pm-9pm
2
3
10/23/09
Fri.
Balboa SportsCenter
17015 Burbank Blvd.
Encino
91316
9am-5pm
2
3
10/24/09
Sat
Balboa SportsCenter
17015 Burbank Blvd.
Encino
91316
9am-5pm
2
3
10/25/09
Sun
Balboa SportsCenter
17015 Burbank Blvd.
Encino
91316
9am-5pm
2
5
11/03/09
Tue.
Glendale Civic Auditorium
1401 N Verdugo Rd.
Glendale
91208
9:30-3:30
2
5
10/24/09
Sat
Granada Hills Rec Ctr
16730 Chatsworth St.
Granada Hills
91344
9am-5pm
2
5
10/25/09
Sun
Granada Hills Rec Ctr
16730 Chatsworth St.
Granada Hills
91344
9am-5pm
7
4
11/04/09
Wed.
Human Resources Dept.
21815 Pioneer Blvd.
Hawaiian Gardens
90716
11am-7pm
7
1
11/05/09
Thurs
Salt Lake Park
3401 E. Florence Ave.
Huntington Park
90255
11am-7pm
3
1
10/24/09
Sat
Concourse Medical Ctr
18585 E. Gale Ave.
Industry
91748
9am-5pm
3
1
10/26/09
Mon.
Industry Hills Expo Center
16200 Temple Ave.
Industry
91744
9am-4pm
8
2
10/30/09
Fri
Hollywood Park
1050 S. Prairie Ave.
Inglewood
90301
9am-5:30pm
8
2
10/31/09
Sat
Hollywood Park
1050 S. Prairie Ave.
Inglewood
90301
9am-5:30pm
7
4
11/07/09
Sat,
Community Gym
15105 Alicante Rd.
La Mirada
90638
9am-5pm
4
3
10/24/09
Sat
Chevy Chase Rec Ctr
4165 Chevy Chase Dr.
Los Angeles
90039
9am-5pm
4
1
10/24/09
Sat
Lincoln Park Center
3501 Valley Blvd.
Los Angeles
90031
9am-5pm
6
2
10/24/09
Sat
Enterprise Park
13055 Clovis Ave.
Los Angeles
90059
9am-5pm
6
2
10/24/09
Sat
Harvard Rec Ctr
1535 W 62nd St.
Los Angeles
90047
9am-5pm
4
3
10/25/09
Sun
Chevy Chase Rec Ctr
4165 Chevy Chase Dr.
Los Angeles
90039
9am-5pm
4
1
10/25/09
Sun
Lincoln Park Center
3501 Valley Blvd.
Los Angeles
90031
9am-5pm
6
2
10/25/09
Sun
Enterprise Park
13055 Clovis Ave.
Los Angeles
90059
9am-5pm
6
2
10/25/09
Sun
Harvard Rec Ctr
1535 W 62nd St.
Los Angeles
90047
9am-5pm
6
2
10/29/09
Thur
Watts Labor Cmty Action Cmttee
10950 S. Central
Los Angeles
90059
9am-5pm
7
1
10/29/09
Thu
Salazar Park
3864 Whittier Blvd.
Los Angeles
90023
11am-7pm
6
2
10/30/09
Fri
Watts Labor Cmty Action Cmttee
10950 S. Central
Los Angeles
90059
9am-5pm
4
1
11/03/09
Tue.
Cal State University, LA-Gym.
5151 State University Dr.
Los Angeles
90032
9am-5pm
6
2
11/03/09
Tue
USC-Lyons Center
1026 W. 34th St.
Los Angeles
90089
9am-3pm
6
2
11/04/09
Wed
USC-Lyons Center
1026 W. 34th St.
Los Angeles
90089
9am-3pm
6
2
11/05/09
Thu
YMCA
9900 S. Vermont Ave
Los Angeles
90044
9am-5pm

*For more information contact:*
Public Health Communications
(213) 240-8144 | After-hours/wknds: (213) 990-7107

Tags: free h1N1 shot, free regular flu shots, free swine flu shot, h1n1 flu in california, h1n1 flu in LA, h1n1 outbreaks, h1n1 vaccine, swine flu, swine flu california, swine flu H1N1 virus, swine flu los angeles

by wildcherry on Friday, October 16th, 2009 | Health, News | No Comments

L.A. County is seeing the highest levels of flu since the H1N1 flu strain was identified in the spring, said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, the county’s health officer.

Until last week, 276 people had been hospitalized for flu this year. But in the last week alone, 91 additional people were hospitalized.

“Outbreaks are definitely way up,” Fielding said. “It’s a very significant situation.”

The H1N1 flu strain is by far the predominant flu strain circulating in California. It accounts for 95% of the flu samples tested by the state.

L.A. County saw a surge in flu cases beginning in September, just as schools resumed classes.

Children and young adults are being hit disproportionately hard by the strain.

Most of those who have died from H1N1 had underlying medical problems, such as asthma or chronic lung disease. Chronic illness reduces the strength of the immune system to combat the flu. Pregnant women are also at risk because the fetus reduces the expectant mother’s lung capacity.

Because the H1N1 strain grows in a patient’s airways, the lungs become inflamed, limiting the body’s ability to absorb oxygen into the bloodstream.

Most people who get the flu can recover in less than two weeks without seeing a doctor or taking antiviral drugs.

Although officials have been urging the public to get seasonal and swine flu shots, the supply of the latter is limited for now.

California has received 750,000 swine flu doses in the last two weeks, a tiny fraction of the 20 million expected to be delivered to health agencies and private clinicians this flu season.

The swine flu doses are being directed to those considered at highest risk for infection, including children older than 6 months; adults up to age 24; pregnant women; adults between ages 25 and 64 who have underlying medical conditions; and healthcare workers.

Because infants younger than 6 months cannot be vaccinated, their parents and caregivers are encouraged to get the inoculation.

Initial studies of the swine flu inoculation have indicated no major side effects.

“The vaccine has a very good safety profile,” Fielding said.

“It’s made the same way the seasonal vaccine is made.”

L.A. County will begin holding free swine flu shot clinics for the high-priority populations who have no regular source of healthcare on Oct. 23.

Source:LaTimes

Tags: h1n1, h1n1 flu in california, h1n1 flu in LA, h1n1 vaccine, h1n1 vaccine los angeles, swine flu, Swine Flu Chicago, Swine Flu Shot, swine flu vaccine, swine flu vaccine los angeles

by wildcherry on Thursday, October 15th, 2009 | Health, News | No Comments

As of October 9th, 19 Illinoisans have died as a result of H1N1, according to the state Department of Public Health.

From a public health point of view, there hasn’t been much seasonal flu in the community,” said William Werner, the president of the Chicago Medical Society. “So I don’t think there should be a sense of panic.”

But some families have complained about not finding the vaccine at their own trusted doctor’s office, and many pharmacies are not allowed to administer flu vaccine to children younger than 14. So some parents have had to search among pharmacies or wait for a later shipment to a doctor’s office.

On Wednesday, Gov. Pat Quinn’s office announced it would lower the age at which children can be vaccinated by pharmacists to 9. The action would apply to both seasonal and H1N1 flu, but only for 30 days unless state officials extend the period.

Walgreens, the largest pharmacy chain nationwide, already has given 4 million seasonal flu shots since Sept. 1, compared with 1.2 million seasonal shots the entire flu season last year, according to Walgreen Co. representative Vivika Vergara.

Grant, the CDC spokesman, said 77 million seasonal flu vaccine doses have been shipped out across the country and 37 million more are expected to be delivered.

Across the Chicago area, the delay has meant some doctors’ offices have received only part of their shipment, if any at all.

Six free clinics will be opened in Chicago to help combat the H1N1 swine flu pandemic, the city’s health department said Tuesday.

Health officials said free clinics will be set up at six City College locations (all except Harold Washington) to administer the two million doses of swine flu vaccine the city expects to get from the federal government. A first shipment of 16,000 nasal-spray vaccines arrived last week and is being administered to the most at-risk. The city expects weekly shipments of between 50,000 to 150,000 doses of the vaccine.

Tags: h1n1, h1n1 vaccine, h1n1 Vaccine Chicago, swine flu, Swine Flu Chicago, Swine Flu Shot, swine flu vaccine, Swine Flu Vaccine Chicago

by bintangkecil on Tuesday, August 18th, 2009 | Health, News, World | No Comments

With about 55 million U.S. children heading back to school in the next few weeks, concerns are growing that the H1N1 swine flu will spread even further than it already has. Identified by scientists four months ago, the virus has already turned up in nearly every corner of the world, from Argentina to Iran. It defied public-health officials’ predictions of a lull in the warm summer months, proliferating in military units and children’s summer camps.

More than two million people are believed to have contracted the new flu in the U.S.; 7,511 had been hospitalized and 477 had died as of Aug. 13, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. World-wide, 177,457 people have been confirmed with the disease, and 1,462 deaths had been reported as of Aug. 12, according to the World Health Organization.

A vaccine against the new flu is under development, but it is unlikely to be widely available before the flu season gets under way. That could leave many people scrambling to protect themselves and their children.

How dangerous is the H1N1 swine flu?

Public health officials initially feared a deadly scourge, after reports of dozens of deaths in Mexico. Instead, “what we are seeing looks very much like seasonal flu so far,” Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said earlier this month. Most people suffer unpleasant but not life-threatening symptoms, such as fever, body aches, sore throat and runny nose. Gastrointestinal problems—vomiting and diarrhea—are normally rare for adults with flu, but have been reported globally in as many as 50% of nonhospitalized patients with the virus.

Many people don’t even develop a fever, though they had other symptoms, says Richard Wenzel, chairman of the department of internal medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medical College, who observed such cases on trips to Latin America. One academic hospital in Chile told Dr. Wenzel that only half of its outpatients infected with H1N1 swine flu had fever; some had only a runny nose, sometimes with a headache, he says.

Public health officials are monitoring the disease closely. Scientists point to a few hopeful signs: The new H1N1 virus lacks gene sequences that made the 1918 flu virus so deadly, and it hasn’t mutated into a more-virulent form despite its rapid spread.

Who is most at risk?

Pregnant women and people with asthma, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic diseases. About 70% of those hospitalized and about 80% of those who have died in the U.S. had underlying medical conditions, according to the CDC. In a study published in the Lancet, CDC scientists found pregnant women were more than four times as likely to be hospitalized with the new flu than the general population.

It isn’t clear whether obesity itself is a risk factor. Morbidly obese patients have had greater complications, but it may be due to diabetes or other chronic diseases they have, health officials say.

When will a vaccine be available, and how can I get it?

Public health officials say a vaccine is the best defense against the new flu, but you may have to wait until well into flu season to get one. The first 45 million doses—of a total of 195 million—are expected to be ready by mid-October, with approximately 20 million doses delivered each week thereafter. The shots are set to be recommended first for those at highest risk of complications, as well as health-care workers and close contacts of infants.

Officials expect each person will need two separate doses, so if demand is high for the voluntary shots, many people will have to wait. The priority groups total about 159 million people, or more than half the U.S. population. It’s worth getting the vaccine, to boost your immunity, if you believe you had the virus but aren’t sure, or if you did have the virus but are considered at high risk of flu complications, says Nancy Cox, the CDC’s flu chief.

Shots will probably be offered starting in mid-to-late October in many of the same places where you can get seasonal flu vaccine—doctors’ offices, retail outlets and pharmacies. Many schools will also likely offer it.

The H1N1 swine flu shot won’t protect you against seasonal flu, and the seasonal flu shot, which many locales will start offering in September, won’t protect you against the new H1N1 virus. You will need both shots.

Read more from The Walls Street Journal

Tags: influenza, next wave of swine flu, swine flu, swine flu H1N1 virus, swine flu second wave, swine flu spread, swine flu vaccine, swine flu virus

by wildcherry on Monday, July 13th, 2009 | Health, Life | No Comments

As fears of swine flu rise, and it’s confirmed as a global pandemic, children are amongst those most worried about the illness. It’s the little things they catch from the news which worry them, or the headlines in the newspaper (yes, it’s good they can read, but it also opens up a scary world).

The video below will explains about Swine Flu to your children.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza, according to the CDC. It does not normally inflect humans, but cases have occurred among people, especially those who have had direct exposure to pigs. There have also been cases in the past of one person spreading swine flu to other people, the CDC said.

The most common swine flu symptoms include:

* Cough
* Congestion
* Nasal Congestion
* Body aches
* Joint Pains
* Fevers
* Sore throat
* Headaches
* Fatigue
* Decreased energy
* Rarely death

Transmission

The viral infection is transmitted to humans who are in contact with swine, although there are several cases of swine flu in people who had no known exposure to either infected people or pigs. Once the species barrier is crossed, human to human transmission can occur with casual contact or airborne transmission, like when one sneezes or coughs. Eating pork products will not cause one to develop the swine flu.

Read More about Swine Flu How to fight Swine Flu.

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by wildcherry on Tuesday, May 19th, 2009 | Health, News | No Comments

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the flu strain has now spread to 48 states.

CDC officials say around 100,000 people are likely infected with the new flu strain in the United States. The 5,123 confirmed and probable cases and six deaths in the United States were “the tip of the iceberg,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC. “We are not out of the woods; we really need to continue to have our guard up.”

The World Health Organization said Friday that the disease is continuing to spread worldwide. The latest WHO data showed 8,451 people in 38 countries are confirmed to have caught the virus.

How does swine flu spread?
Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought 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 can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
* Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
* If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

More on Swine Flu

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by nate on Monday, May 4th, 2009 | Health, Humour, Life | No Comments

The world may be frightened and fully aware since the swine flu has attacked across nations, but this situation does not stop creative people to stop thinking and mourn in it. Instead, something funny and interesting has come out of it. Laugh and joy can be something rare that we are able to find lately, hopefully this will help us smile a bit. I gather all these images I found through google images. If you have any, please share it…

Tags: cool mask, creative illustarations, creative mask, funny, funny masks, laugh, pig, pig's mask, swine flu, swine's mask

by bintangkecil on Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 | Health, News, World | 1 Comment

NEW : WHO raises influenza epidemic level from 4 to 5. The second highest level indicates the swine flu that originated in Mexico is nearing widespread human infection.

Latest Update:

At least 4298 people in 10 U.S. states have swine flu, and there has been four death of a swine flu patient in the U.S., according to the CDC.

The patient who died was a 22-month-old boy from Mexico who died at a hospital in the Houston area. He had several underlying health problems, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

“Confirmed cases were reported for the first time as far away as New Zealand and Israel, joining the United States, Canada, Britain and Spain. The global swine flu outbreak worsened Tuesday as hundreds of students at a New York school fell ill and federal officials said they expected to see U.S. deaths from the virus. Cuba suspended flights to and from Mexico, becoming the first country to impose a travel ban to the epicenter of the epidemic” source: AP

Swine Flu is probably no longer a mystery to all of you. Everybody knows that the H1N1 virus affects Mexico and some part of the United States. However, the Swine Flu is spreading all over the world and according to the latest reports, it has spread all the way to the Europe, Middle East and Asia-Pacific areas.

The World Health Organisation has called on all governments to prepare for a swine flu pandemic and warned that if the disease takes hold across the globe it could prove a disaster for the world’s poorest countries.

The warning came as a further increase in the pandemic threat level appeared likely as the numbers of confirmed infections rose on three continents and new evidence emerged of human to human transmission of the disease in New York, the first outside of Mexico, after health authorities there said that some among a group of infected school children did not travel to Mexico and caught it from other pupils.

The Mexican authorities today said that three more people died of swine flu yesterday, bringing the total toll to 152 in the only country where there have been deaths.

The number of confirmed infections in the US, the largest outside of Mexico, rose to 50 with new cases in Indiana and New Jersey. A firm in the financial district also reported that one of its workers had contracted the disease.

The number of confirmed swine flu cases continued to rise across the world to more than 90 outside of Mexico. Today, there were 11 new confirmations of the disease in New Zealand and two in Israel, all among people who recently travelled to Mexico. A second case was confirmed in Spain.

Today, anyone can see the spread of diseases such as swine flu in real time, and alert public health officials to potential new cases by using Google (and healthmap.org) below:

Sources:
Guardian.co.uk
msnbc.com

These are the outbreaks — confirmed and suspected — so far:

AUSTRALIA
Cases: None confirmed, but 91 cases were being investigated Wednesday morning, the country’s health department said.

CANADA
Cases: Six mild cases.

COSTA RICA
Cases: One. A 21-year-old woman who returned from Mexico on Saturday tested positive, the Costa Rican health ministry said. The case is not included in the WHO list.

The CDC lab in Atlanta, Georgia, will perform additional tests.

ISRAEL
Cases: Two. Both men recently returned from Mexico.

The 5-year-old niece of one of the men was suspected of having the flu, and was undergoing hospital treatment.

MEXICO
Cases: 159 deaths and more than 2,500 infections are thought to have been caused by swine flu, said Jose Angel Cordova, Mexico’s health secretary.

Only 26 cases — 19 infections and seven deaths — have been confirmed by laboratory tests in Mexico and reported to the World Health Organization.

NEW ZEALAND
Cases: 14. All those infected were part of a study group from Auckland’s Rangitoto College who returned to New Zealand from Mexico over the weekend.

Three people tested positive for the swine flu virus, and those cases were confirmed by the WHO.

Because the rest of the group exhibited similar symptoms, and all of them returned positive result for Influenza A — the general category of strains that includes the H1N1 swine flu — the health ministry said it was assuming that everyone who traveled with the Rangitoto College group has swine flu.

SOUTH KOREA
Cases: A 51-year-old woman, who recently returned from Mexico, tested positive for type-A influenza. Tests are being done to see whether the influenza is of the swine flu strain. The woman has been quarantined.

SPAIN
Cases: Two cases confirmed and 32 others suspected — all of whom had recently traveled to Mexico, the health ministry said. None were in serious condition.

UNITED KINGDOM
Cases: Two confirmed, in Scotland. The patients were recovering.

UNITED STATES
Cases: 64 confirmed by the CDC — 10 in California; six in Texas; two in Kansas; one in Ohio; and 45 in New York.

FAQs about Swine Flu

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.

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.

How does swine flu spread?
Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought 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 can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
* Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
* If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

For more information, visit CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website.

Other source:CNN

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by nate on Thursday, April 23rd, 2009 | Health, Life | No Comments

The suspected number of deaths rose to 149 in Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak with nearly 2,000 people believed to be infected.

The number of U.S. cases rose to 48, the result of further testing at a New York City school, although none was fatal. Other U.S. cases have been reported in Ohio, Kansas, Texas and California. Worldwide there were 73 cases, including six in Canada, one in Spain and two in Scotland.

An original of seven cases of a previously undetected strain of swine flu have been confirmed in humans in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. None of the patients has had direct contact with pigs.

Five of the cases have been found in California, and two have been found in Texas, near San Antonio, said Dr. Anne Schuchat, the CDC’s Interim Deputy Director for Science and Public Health Program.

The CDC reported Tuesday that two children in the San Diego, California, area, infected with a virus called swine influenza A H1N1, whose combination of genes has not been seen in flu viruses in either human or pigs before.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza, according to the CDC. It does not normally inflect humans, but cases have occurred among people, especially those who have had direct exposure to pigs. There have also been cases in the past of one person spreading swine flu to other people, the CDC said.

The most common swine flu symptoms include:

• Cough
• Congestion
• Nasal Congestion
• Body aches
• Joint Pains
• Fevers
• Sore throat
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Decreased energy
• Rarely death

Transmission

The viral infection is transmitted to humans who are in contact with swine, although there are several cases of swine flu in people who had no known exposure to either infected people or pigs. Once the species barrier is crossed, human to human transmission can occur with casual contact or airborne transmission, like when one sneezes or coughs. Eating pork products will not cause one to develop the swine flu.

Prevention of Swine Flu

Washing hands routinely with soap and warm water, and wearing a N99 mask, such as the Wein ViraMask may also be helpful if you must be in public places. N99 masks provide 100 x more protection than a N95 mask. If you are planning on traveling by air, having one available would be a good idea. Also, avoid contact with sick people. Use alcohol based hand sanitizers to minimize infection risk

If I think I have swine flu, what should I do? When should I see my doctor?

If you have flu symptoms, stay home, and when you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. Afterward, throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands. That will help prevent your flu from spreading.

If you’ve got flu symptoms, and you’ve recently been to a high-risk area like Mexico, CDC officials recommend that you see your doctor. If you have flu symptoms but you haven’t been in a high-risk area, you can still see a doctor — that’s your call.

Keep in mind that your doctor will not be able to determine whether you have swine flu, but he or she would take a sample from you and send it to a state health department lab for testing to see if it’s swine flu. If your doctor suspects swine flu, he or she would be able to write you a prescription for Tamiflu or Relenza. Those drugs may not be required; U.S. swine flu patients have made a full recovery without it.

source:CNN.com, webmd.com, news.yahoo.com

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