Prevent Swine Flu

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Overnight reports filtered in from Louisiana state government officials that confirm 62 cases of suspected N1H1 Swine Flu have been sent to the CDC for strain testing.

We will update this as the virus spreads across Texas and Louisiana.

People around the world are trying to get their hands on more information about the newest crisis headlining the news, swine flu. One source, the Wikipedia site has posted the following information in regard to the swine flu outbreak touching countries around the world:

“The 2009 swine flu outbreak is the spread of a new strain of H1N1 influenza virus that was first detected by public health agencies in March 2009. Localized outbreaks of influenza-like illness were detected in three areas initially in Mexico and soon after in the United States and Canada. Following the discovery of the new strain in the United States, its presence was quickly suspected on most continents, with over 1,800 candidate cases by April 27. Because it is not possible to confirm every one of such cases as being caused by an influenza virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) refers to them collectively as influenza-like illnesses (ILI).

The new strain is derived in part from human influenza virus A (subtype H1N1), and in part from two strains of swine influenza as well as an avian influenza. In April both the WHO and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expressed serious concerns about this novel strain, because it apparently transmits from human to human, has had a relatively high mortality rate in Mexico, and because it has the potential to become a flu pandemic.

On April 25, 2009, the WHO determined the situation to be a formal “public health emergency of international concern”, with knowledge lacking in regard to “the clinical features, epidemiology, and virology of reported cases and the appropriate responses”. Government health agencies around the world also expressed concerns over the outbreak and are monitoring the situation closely.”

Normally found in pigs, swine flu is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease.  It spreads through tiny particles in the air or by direct contact.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO) it has a tendency to infect large numbers of the pig population.   Not every animal infected displays symptoms but the flu kills between 1 and 4 percent of those affected.  Humans usually become infected through contact with pigs; though in some cases human-to-human transmission has been reported.

The recent swine flu outbreak appears to have caused fatalities in humans in Mexico as well as nonfatal cases in the United States. WHO has urged countries around the world to be alert for dubious cases of influenza.  Comparisons with the 1918 epidemic are premature, but WHO Chief Margaret Chan says the global body is taking the outbreak very seriously. Serious study and monitoring is needed and preventing the spread of swine flu is key to stopping it from becoming an pandemic.

Since the swine flu outbreaks in Mexico and U.S. were first noted, the risk of a pandemic has grown.  Health officials worry the swine flu might progress into a variety more easily spread among humans.  Experts worry that it is more likely a pandemic strain will emerge the more the virus circulates.  Though there is no way to accurately predict when and if that will happen.

Swine flu is considered widespread in the United States even though in North America pigs are routinely vaccinated for swine flu.  There is no vaccine for humans at this time.  The flu virus evolves quickly, making vaccines obsolete as almost as soon as developed.  There is no implication that the vaccine prepared for seasonal flu will defend against swine flu according to health officials.

Good hygiene is necessary in terms of prevention. Regular hand-washing and staying a safe distance from those infected are advised.  Q-Based Healthcare offers a variety of products to help with disinfecting needs.   PuraCleenRx READY-TO-USE Disinfectant Spray is designed specifically as a general non-acid cleaner and disinfectant for use in homes, hospitals, nursing homes, patient rooms, operating rooms, ICU areas, schools, transportation terminals, office buildings, manufacturing facilities, lodging establishments, retail businesses, veterinary clinics, pet shops, animal life science laboratories and athlete/recreational facilities where housekeeping is of prime importance in controlling the hazard of cross contamination.