Swine Flue - Facts - Please read

Following content is an honest effort to spread awareness of this disease - This mostly compiled data - I tried to simplify a little bit. 

Some important numbers:

All India toll free H1N1 helpline: 1075 or 1800-11-4377

Delhi: Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital: 011-24525211, 23404328, 23365525

Deen Dayal Hospital: 011-2512 5259

Chennai: Communicable Diseases Hospital - 044-25912686.

Coimbatore Medical College Hospital - 09442012555

Kolkata: Infectious Diseases Hospital: 09433392182/ 09434009077

Hyderabad: AP Chest Diseases Hospital: 040-23814939

Mumbai: Kasturba Hospital: 022-23083901, 23083902, 23083903, 23083904

Pune: Dr Naidu Infectious Disease Hospital - 09923130909 (108)

Bangalore: Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases - 91-80-26632634

 

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by Type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. 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.

Various international agencies (US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, World Health Organization) have determined that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human.

WHO has escalated the world Pandemic Phase from Phase 3 to Phase 4 (in a 6-scale Phase), indicating that a worldwide pandemic due to swine flu H1N1 is possible.

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.

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 live flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick.

That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Hence people with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to 7 days following illness onset. Children, especially younger children & especially pregnant woman might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

Now lets see the mechanism of spread of the virus.

Swine flu viruses for that matter all the viruses are lighter than air so if the infected person is coughing or sneezing the virus travels long distance in the air. The contaminated air may get inhaled by the normal person. The virus then enters into the body and feeds on cells (host cells). Low immunity individuals fail to fight against these invaders. When there are increased number of host cells are present in the body, the imbalance is generated in the body, resulting in the complications, such as pneumonia etc.

The virus can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with the virus and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. The virus can then be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk, doorknob, child’s toy or phone handset and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness (when an infected person is most likely to be shedding virus).

Because the virus is new, there will be no vaccine ready to protect against pandemic flu.Vaccine against Swine Flu virus H1N1 needs at least 6-12 months to be produced. Seasonal flu vaccine or past flu immunization will not provide protection. Even though the vaccine is not available yet, there are clinical trial happening in Australia, USA, and UK in which 2800 patients were administered the vaccine. In India however the trial is scheduled to start in December by Pune’s Serum Institute.

How it should be treated?

The US CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) or zanamivir (Relenza®) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses.Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body.If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications.For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).Homeopathic medication Influenzin is possible preventive medication.

Precautionary measures:

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. The virus can spread this way.Try to avoid close contact with sick people. If you get sick with influenza, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent handwashing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.

Important tips:

If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

The hand wash standard operating procedure (SOP)

Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. When you wash your hands with soap and warm water wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores.If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

What would you do if you become the victim?

If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact their health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

Fast breathing or trouble breathing

Bluish skin color

Not drinking enough fluids

Not waking up or not interacting

Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Fever with a rash

The recent trend in children observed that, initially there is occurence of symptom of acute pain in the stomach without fever which lasts for 1-3 days which eventually results in fever.

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

Sudden dizziness

Confusion

Severe or persistent vomiting

Use of mask 

It is advisable. But it does not give guranteed protection.

N95 masks should be used which gives 95% protection. Unfortunately those masks are short of supply, but a clean cloth will be more helpful rather than using low grade unknown sourced green coloured surgical masks.

Dont ever forget to destroy the mask properly after its use of 1-2 days.

Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You can not get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe.Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F (72°C) kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.

The NIV pune stated yesterday that if you have the swine flu and if it is treated at the right time and gets cured then you will develop the immunity against these virus. 

As the current strain of h1n1 is milder than the normal flu strain, it is likely to evolve the structure and become more lethal. Therefore if you get infected and treated for swine flue now you will be 'hopefully' immune for its future descendants.

For now, just maintain a simple hygine, have a regular 8 hrs sleep which will rebuild your immunity, be happy as stress reduces your immunity, and avoid unnecessary public contact.

Source: (Johnson Diversey)