Showing posts with label how. Show all posts
Showing posts with label how. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
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Monday, November 2, 2009
Online Test Helps You Self-Diagnose H1N1 Flu
Feeling sick? Wondering if it's the H1N1 flu or just a regular old go-away-don't-come-near-me, flu?
Face it, your doctor may not be able to squeeze you right in. But you may be able to figure it out using a Web-based self-assessment tool developed by researchers at Emory University in Atlanta. The tool is now available on several national Web sites, including flu.gov , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Microsoft's H1N1 Response Center .
The online test includes questions like, do you have a fever? Have you been short of breath? Do you have a pain or pressure in your chest that you didn't have before? Were you feeling better and now a fever or cough is returning?
The online test includes questions like, do you have a fever? Have you been short of breath? Do you have a pain or pressure in your chest that you didn't have before? Were you feeling better and now a fever or cough is returning?
The H1N1 flu , also widely known as the swine flu, is a fairly new influenza virus that has spread around the world. The CDC reports that it first appeared in the United States this past April. By June 11, the World Health Organization categorized it as a pandemic . Because its extremely contagious, hospitals and health care workers have been bracing for the H1N1 to hit hard this fall.
With concerns about the new flu running high , health care providers expect to get slammed with a mounting wave of people rushing in to find out if they have the H1N1 virus.
The online test, dubbed the Strategy for Off-Site Rapid Triage, is designed to help a lot of people figure out if they need to see their doctor or go to a hospital.
"This Web site is carefully designed to encourage those who are severely ill, and those at increased risk for serious illness, to contact their doctor, while reassuring large numbers of people with a mild illness that it is safe to recover at home," Arthur Kellermann, professor of emergency medicine and an associate dean at the Emory School of Medicine, said in a statement. "Hopefully, providing easy-to-understand information to the public will reduce the number of people who are needlessly exposed to H1N1 influenza in crowded clinic and ER waiting rooms, and allow America's doctors and nurses to focus their attention on those who need us most."
Face it, your doctor may not be able to squeeze you right in. But you may be able to figure it out using a Web-based self-assessment tool developed by researchers at Emory University in Atlanta. The tool is now available on several national Web sites, including flu.gov , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Microsoft's H1N1 Response Center .
The online test includes questions like, do you have a fever? Have you been short of breath? Do you have a pain or pressure in your chest that you didn't have before? Were you feeling better and now a fever or cough is returning?
The online test includes questions like, do you have a fever? Have you been short of breath? Do you have a pain or pressure in your chest that you didn't have before? Were you feeling better and now a fever or cough is returning?
The H1N1 flu , also widely known as the swine flu, is a fairly new influenza virus that has spread around the world. The CDC reports that it first appeared in the United States this past April. By June 11, the World Health Organization categorized it as a pandemic . Because its extremely contagious, hospitals and health care workers have been bracing for the H1N1 to hit hard this fall.
With concerns about the new flu running high , health care providers expect to get slammed with a mounting wave of people rushing in to find out if they have the H1N1 virus.
The online test, dubbed the Strategy for Off-Site Rapid Triage, is designed to help a lot of people figure out if they need to see their doctor or go to a hospital.
"This Web site is carefully designed to encourage those who are severely ill, and those at increased risk for serious illness, to contact their doctor, while reassuring large numbers of people with a mild illness that it is safe to recover at home," Arthur Kellermann, professor of emergency medicine and an associate dean at the Emory School of Medicine, said in a statement. "Hopefully, providing easy-to-understand information to the public will reduce the number of people who are needlessly exposed to H1N1 influenza in crowded clinic and ER waiting rooms, and allow America's doctors and nurses to focus their attention on those who need us most."
Swine Flu Emergency Should Put IT on Alert
Though the H1N1 flu has been declared a national emergency by President Barack Obama, experts say that many companies remain ill-prepared for its potential consequences, which could include employee absentee rates of 40% or more.
While last month's emergency declaration is targeted mostly at helping health care providers and government agencies bypass regulatory requirements to provide critical care, experts say it should also be a red flag for the IT and business communities.
Organizations probably have not allocated enough resources for virtual private networks nor tested VPNs for the fact that 80% of their staff could be working from home," said Al Berman, executive director of DRI International, a training institute that focuses on helping businesses prepare for emergencies. "We ran some tests with companies, and they ran out of TCP/IP addresses in five minutes."
Berman said that many businesses are probably delaying VPN upgrades because of increasing bandwidth costs. For example, he said, DRI recently met with officials of a large insurance provider and found that it would cost the company $1 million to boost bandwidth enough to support 40% of its staff working from home.
The federal government's Flu.gov Web site, managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, offers guidance to businesses about what to do in the event of a pandemic. Its suggestions range from making sure sick employees stay home to appointing a pandemic coordinator or team to oversee the preparation and implementation of a disaster plan.
Employers should "send a very strong message to employees to stay home if they're sick. No one is that essential," said Kim Elliott, deputy director of Trust for America's Health, a public health advocacy group. "You don't want employees coming in and infecting others to the point where your business shuts down."
The pandemic coordinator or team should monitor employees to ensure that they follow basic rules of hygiene, such as washing their hands, and make sure that face masks are available, according to the Flu.gov Web site.
Elliott said that the planning process should also include an assessment of how the absence of a large number of employees would affect operations, with recommendations on how to keep things running under such circumstances.
"That may mean cross-training employees in some key business functions," Elliott said, citing IT infrastructure maintenance, bookkeeping and accounting duties, and some customer-facing activities.
Businesses should also develop a plan to communicate with municipal agencies, which determine whether bus routes, schools or even businesses need to be shut down, Berman said.
The national emergency declaration came after a weekly U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report called FluView noted that 43 states are now reporting widespread influenza activity and that H1N1 has caused 1,000 deaths in the U.S.
elevating its health emergency alert status to Phase 6 -- its highest level. At that time, the number of influenza cases was close to 30,000 worldwide. The WHO now says there are 414,000 confirmed cases of H1N1 and that there have been nearly 5,000 H1N1-related deaths.
While last month's emergency declaration is targeted mostly at helping health care providers and government agencies bypass regulatory requirements to provide critical care, experts say it should also be a red flag for the IT and business communities.
Organizations probably have not allocated enough resources for virtual private networks nor tested VPNs for the fact that 80% of their staff could be working from home," said Al Berman, executive director of DRI International, a training institute that focuses on helping businesses prepare for emergencies. "We ran some tests with companies, and they ran out of TCP/IP addresses in five minutes."
Berman said that many businesses are probably delaying VPN upgrades because of increasing bandwidth costs. For example, he said, DRI recently met with officials of a large insurance provider and found that it would cost the company $1 million to boost bandwidth enough to support 40% of its staff working from home.
The federal government's Flu.gov Web site, managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, offers guidance to businesses about what to do in the event of a pandemic. Its suggestions range from making sure sick employees stay home to appointing a pandemic coordinator or team to oversee the preparation and implementation of a disaster plan.
Employers should "send a very strong message to employees to stay home if they're sick. No one is that essential," said Kim Elliott, deputy director of Trust for America's Health, a public health advocacy group. "You don't want employees coming in and infecting others to the point where your business shuts down."
The pandemic coordinator or team should monitor employees to ensure that they follow basic rules of hygiene, such as washing their hands, and make sure that face masks are available, according to the Flu.gov Web site.
Elliott said that the planning process should also include an assessment of how the absence of a large number of employees would affect operations, with recommendations on how to keep things running under such circumstances.
"That may mean cross-training employees in some key business functions," Elliott said, citing IT infrastructure maintenance, bookkeeping and accounting duties, and some customer-facing activities.
Businesses should also develop a plan to communicate with municipal agencies, which determine whether bus routes, schools or even businesses need to be shut down, Berman said.
The national emergency declaration came after a weekly U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report called FluView noted that 43 states are now reporting widespread influenza activity and that H1N1 has caused 1,000 deaths in the U.S.
elevating its health emergency alert status to Phase 6 -- its highest level. At that time, the number of influenza cases was close to 30,000 worldwide. The WHO now says there are 414,000 confirmed cases of H1N1 and that there have been nearly 5,000 H1N1-related deaths.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Swine flu vaccine ready, enters Europe
Global pharma major Novartis Friday announced it is ready with a swine flu vaccine and has started first deliveries to governments in Europe, giving hopes to people in many parts of the world.
"Novartis has already started first deliveries of pandemic vaccines under quarantine to governments in Europe, despite the initially low yields with the current production seed strain provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO). A new seed strain could provide higher volumes," the company said in a statement issued in Switzerland.
The company announced that Focetria®, the Novartis Influenza A(H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine, Friday received a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA).
The company has started first deliveries of pandemic vaccines under quarantine to European countries, which means the vaccine is now ready with the governments but only after getting the formal approval the governments can start vaccination.
"The positive opinion clears the way for European Union approval in all 27 member states as well as in Iceland and Norway. Today's announcement marks a significant milestone in bringing a pandemic vaccine to market in Europe," the company added.
"Only three months after the declaration of the pandemic by the WHO, Novartis was able to ship the first batches of our pandemic vaccine under quarantine to governments in Europe pending EU approval," said Andrin Oswald, CEO of Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics.
This CHMP positive opinion paves the way for EU approval, which will allow governments to begin their vaccination campaigns with the goal of reaching more patients before the rapidly spreading virus reaches them, Oswald added.
The pharma major, however, did not give details of the number of doses it has despatched or the countries which have received the first deliveries.
More than 150 countries have been affected by the new millennium's first pandemic. It has taken hundreds of lives across the globe.
In India, the virus has killed 286 people and infected more than 9,200 people till Sep 25.
"Novartis has already started first deliveries of pandemic vaccines under quarantine to governments in Europe, despite the initially low yields with the current production seed strain provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO). A new seed strain could provide higher volumes," the company said in a statement issued in Switzerland.
The company announced that Focetria®, the Novartis Influenza A(H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine, Friday received a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA).
The company has started first deliveries of pandemic vaccines under quarantine to European countries, which means the vaccine is now ready with the governments but only after getting the formal approval the governments can start vaccination.
"The positive opinion clears the way for European Union approval in all 27 member states as well as in Iceland and Norway. Today's announcement marks a significant milestone in bringing a pandemic vaccine to market in Europe," the company added.
"Only three months after the declaration of the pandemic by the WHO, Novartis was able to ship the first batches of our pandemic vaccine under quarantine to governments in Europe pending EU approval," said Andrin Oswald, CEO of Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics.
This CHMP positive opinion paves the way for EU approval, which will allow governments to begin their vaccination campaigns with the goal of reaching more patients before the rapidly spreading virus reaches them, Oswald added.
The pharma major, however, did not give details of the number of doses it has despatched or the countries which have received the first deliveries.
More than 150 countries have been affected by the new millennium's first pandemic. It has taken hundreds of lives across the globe.
In India, the virus has killed 286 people and infected more than 9,200 people till Sep 25.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
H1N1 vaccine data shows no side effects
Early data on the H1N1 vaccines show the vaccines to be highly effective with no adverse effects. Two peer-reviewed articles now published in the online first addition of new England Journal of medicine, which has the preliminary data of the monovalent H1N1 vaccine, have shown that the vaccines are working in a large number of healthy adults.
The two rivals, Greenberg et al and Clark et al, describe preliminary data on the immunogenicity of the influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine. This data has been awaited, as governments, public health officials, and other stakeholders respond to the first influenza pandemic in over 40 years.
The study by Greenberg et al. shows that a single dose of nonadjuvanted vaccine containing the usual 15 �g of hemagglutinin (HA) antigen is immunogenic, or creates immunity, in a high proportion of healthy young and middle-aged adults. The study was conducted in Australia during a time when the virus was circulating, and one participant had laboratory-confirmed infection with the 2009 H1N1 virus.
The report evaluates immunogenicity and safety of the vaccine 21 days after the first of two scheduled doses is given. A total of 240 subjects, equally divided into two age groups, less than and over 50 years of age, underwent randomisation to receive either 15 �g or 30 �g of hemagglutinin antigen by intramuscular injection. No deaths or serious adverse events were reported, but mild discomfort like headaches were reported in a few cases.
The study by Clark et al, involving 175 adults between 18 to 50 years of age, to test the monovalent influenza A/California/2009 (H1N1) surface-antigen vaccine, concluded that the vaccine generates antibody responses within 14 days after a single dose is administered. The antibody tier protection was higher in those who had received two doses of the same vaccine.
The two rivals, Greenberg et al and Clark et al, describe preliminary data on the immunogenicity of the influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine. This data has been awaited, as governments, public health officials, and other stakeholders respond to the first influenza pandemic in over 40 years.
The study by Greenberg et al. shows that a single dose of nonadjuvanted vaccine containing the usual 15 �g of hemagglutinin (HA) antigen is immunogenic, or creates immunity, in a high proportion of healthy young and middle-aged adults. The study was conducted in Australia during a time when the virus was circulating, and one participant had laboratory-confirmed infection with the 2009 H1N1 virus.
The report evaluates immunogenicity and safety of the vaccine 21 days after the first of two scheduled doses is given. A total of 240 subjects, equally divided into two age groups, less than and over 50 years of age, underwent randomisation to receive either 15 �g or 30 �g of hemagglutinin antigen by intramuscular injection. No deaths or serious adverse events were reported, but mild discomfort like headaches were reported in a few cases.
The study by Clark et al, involving 175 adults between 18 to 50 years of age, to test the monovalent influenza A/California/2009 (H1N1) surface-antigen vaccine, concluded that the vaccine generates antibody responses within 14 days after a single dose is administered. The antibody tier protection was higher in those who had received two doses of the same vaccine.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
What scientists know about swine flu
Preliminary analysis of the swine flu virus suggests it is a fairly mild strain, scientists say.
It is believed that a further mutation would be needed in order for the H1N1 virus to cause the mass deaths that have been estimated by some.
But at this point, it is impossible to predict with any accuracy how the virus will continue to evolve.
UK experts at the National Institute for Medical Research outlined on Friday the work they are due to start on samples of the virus sent from the US.
The research, being done at the World Influenza Centre in Mill Hill, will be vital for working out the structure of the virus, where it came from, how quickly it is capable of spreading and its potential to cause illness.
Structure
Analysis done so far suggests what they are dealing with is a mild virus and nowhere near as dangerous as the H5N1 avian flu strain that has caused scientists so much concern over the past decade.
Influenza A viruses are classified according to two proteins on the outer surface of the virus - hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N).
The swine flu strain is a H1N1 virus, the same type as seasonal flu which circulates throughout the world every year, and kills roughly 0.1% of those infected or higher in an epidemic year.
Professor Wendy Barclay, chair in influenza virology at Imperial College London says initial indications suggest there is nothing about the genetic make-up of the new virus which is a cause for particular concern.
The key to its potential lies largely in the H1 protein.
"There are two aspects - one is which receptors the virus tends to bind to and what we see is that it is binding to the upper respiratory tract rather than deep in the lungs."
When a flu virus binds to the upper respiratory tract, it tends to cause mild illness but can be easily spread as people cough and sneeze, Professor Barclay explains.
If a virus binds further down in the lungs, it tends to cause much more severe illness, as in the case of the H5N1 avian flu virus which has caused concern in recent years.
"With the H1 gene we also look at the cleavage site," she adds.
"The virus has to be cut into two pieces to be active and it uses an enzyme in the host to do that.
"Most influenza viruses are restricted to the respiratory tract because they use enzymes in the lungs.
"But some, like H5 viruses can evolve to cut into two pieces outside the lungs, so they can replicate outside the respiratory tract."
Analysis
These initial indications are largely guesswork from looking at the genetic sequence of the virus and comparing that to what is known from work on other influenza viruses.
It will take weeks and months of biological analysis to properly get a handle on the potential of the H1N1 virus.
The team at Mill Hill, one of four World Health Organisation's centres for influenza research will be working in close collaboration with the Health Protection Agency who are carrying out testing in the UK, and their findings will also feed into the development of a potential vaccine.
Soon, the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridge will begin the genetic sequencing of the virus and will also be monitoring any mutations or changes in how virulent it is.
However, there is one other reassuring aspect about what is known so far.
That is there seems to be nothing unusual as yet in another protein in the centre of the virus, called NS1, which is linked to the strength of the immune response the virus produces.
In some more pathogenic viruses, it is this NS1 protein which initiates a "cytokine storm", a particularly severe immune reaction that can be fatal in even healthy young people.
Predictions
Scientists have also played down concerns that the milder H1N1 virus, could combine with the more dangerous H5N1 avian flu virus, causing a super virus that has the ability to both spread easily between humans and cause severe illness.
This is unlikely - or at least just as unlikely as it ever was and the H5N1 virus has been around for a decade without combining with normal seasonal flu.
Professor Jonathan Ball, an expert in molecular virology at the University of Nottingham said: "The chance of swine H1N1 combining with H5N1 is as likely as any other strain recombining.
"What this outbreak does highlight is how difficult it is to predict new pandemic strains.
"Many people suspected that H5N1 was the most likely candidate for the next pandemic strain, but now it appears that this was a mistake - but that's not to say H5N1 or another reassortment containing parts of H5N1 may not happen in the future.
"That's the trouble - you can't predict."
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
India's swine flu deaths 101, preventive homeopathy advised
India Tuesday reported one more swine flu death, taking the total toll due to the influenza A (H1N1) virus to 101, health authorities said here.
The latest death was reported from Goa. While two deaths in Karnataka were suspected to be due to the virus, lab reports were still awaited.
Of the 101 deaths, Maharashtra has recorded the highest number of deaths, 55, followed by 27 in Andhra Pradesh.
The union health ministry recommended preventive homeopathy medicine, Arsenicum album 30. The decision to advise people to take the preventive medicine was taken after the Central Council for Research in Homeopathy (CCRH), a state-run research wing, gave the suggestion for curbing the spread of the diseases.
'It has recommended one doze of the medicine daily on empty stomach for three days. The dose should be repeated after one month by following the same schedule in case flu like conditions prevail in the area,' the ministry said in a statement.
Meanwhile, 114 people were tested positive for the influenza A (H1N1) virus Tuesday in the country, taking the total number of cases to 4,101.
Maharashtra continued to top the charts both in terms of deaths and positive cases. On Tuesday, 48 fresh cases were from the state alone. So far, about 1,687 people have been affected due to the virus in the state.
It was followed by Delhi in the number of cases. At least 665 people have been infected with the disease in the capital. On Tuesday, 10 fresh cases were reported in the Indian capital.
Karnataka reported 22 fresh cases, taking the total number of people infected with the virus to 463 - the third highest in the country.
Other fresh cases were reported from West Bengal (18) and Orissa (3). One case each was reported from Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Chhattisgarh while Puducherry and Chandigarh reported two swine flu cases each.
Meanwhile, a government study has found that swine flu is killing more young and middle-aged people and those suffering from associated diseases like diabetes and chronic heart ailment.
'We have conducted a study and found that more than 50 percent of those affected by the virus were in the age group of 15-45 years,' R.K. Srivastava, director general of the Directorate General of Health Services, told reporters.
'Deaths were also due to late reporting to identified health facilities and delay in initiation of Tamiflu,' he said.
The report, which was presented to Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad during Monday's stock-taking meeting of the ministry, studied the first 82 deaths that occurred till Aug 31.
Among the dead were 43 men and 39 women including three pregnant women.
Srivastava said that of the 82 deaths, 61 were in urban areas and 19 in rural areas.
He said there were five deaths in the age group of 0-5 years and three from 6-15 age group. Thirteen victims were from the age group of 16 to 25 years, while 18 people died in the age group of 26-35 years.
Srivastava said 24 people died in the age group of 36-45, as compared to 18 in the age group of 46-65. Only one person died in the above 65-year category.
The latest death was reported from Goa. While two deaths in Karnataka were suspected to be due to the virus, lab reports were still awaited.
Of the 101 deaths, Maharashtra has recorded the highest number of deaths, 55, followed by 27 in Andhra Pradesh.
The union health ministry recommended preventive homeopathy medicine, Arsenicum album 30. The decision to advise people to take the preventive medicine was taken after the Central Council for Research in Homeopathy (CCRH), a state-run research wing, gave the suggestion for curbing the spread of the diseases.
'It has recommended one doze of the medicine daily on empty stomach for three days. The dose should be repeated after one month by following the same schedule in case flu like conditions prevail in the area,' the ministry said in a statement.
Meanwhile, 114 people were tested positive for the influenza A (H1N1) virus Tuesday in the country, taking the total number of cases to 4,101.
Maharashtra continued to top the charts both in terms of deaths and positive cases. On Tuesday, 48 fresh cases were from the state alone. So far, about 1,687 people have been affected due to the virus in the state.
It was followed by Delhi in the number of cases. At least 665 people have been infected with the disease in the capital. On Tuesday, 10 fresh cases were reported in the Indian capital.
Karnataka reported 22 fresh cases, taking the total number of people infected with the virus to 463 - the third highest in the country.
Other fresh cases were reported from West Bengal (18) and Orissa (3). One case each was reported from Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Chhattisgarh while Puducherry and Chandigarh reported two swine flu cases each.
Meanwhile, a government study has found that swine flu is killing more young and middle-aged people and those suffering from associated diseases like diabetes and chronic heart ailment.
'We have conducted a study and found that more than 50 percent of those affected by the virus were in the age group of 15-45 years,' R.K. Srivastava, director general of the Directorate General of Health Services, told reporters.
'Deaths were also due to late reporting to identified health facilities and delay in initiation of Tamiflu,' he said.
The report, which was presented to Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad during Monday's stock-taking meeting of the ministry, studied the first 82 deaths that occurred till Aug 31.
Among the dead were 43 men and 39 women including three pregnant women.
Srivastava said that of the 82 deaths, 61 were in urban areas and 19 in rural areas.
He said there were five deaths in the age group of 0-5 years and three from 6-15 age group. Thirteen victims were from the age group of 16 to 25 years, while 18 people died in the age group of 26-35 years.
Srivastava said 24 people died in the age group of 36-45, as compared to 18 in the age group of 46-65. Only one person died in the above 65-year category.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Q&A: Swine flu vaccination
The government has unveiled its vaccination programme.
A number of priority groups have been identified and the process should start in October.
What is the current status of the vaccine?
Doses of the vaccine have already been produced. A total of 300,000 doses from the two firms the UK has contracts with are due to be delivered this month.
Human trials are now getting under way and if they go well regulators could approve the jabs by the end of September.
Like seasonal flu vaccines, the jabs can be licensed under a fast-track procedure.
The vaccines have already been tested with a different strain of flu and proven to be safe.
So they just need limited testing with the correct strain to get the green light.
This means the process can take just a month or so, unlike new drugs which can take years to get approval.
How have the priority groups been identified?
The government's official vaccination experts have been studying at the evidence about swine flu for the past few months.
The health service just does not have enough capacity to administer the two shots of the swine flu vaccine needed to give protection to everyone in time for the winter.
So, instead, the government has announced a list of priority groups.
These are mainly people who are most at risk of complications or, in the case of health and social care workers, the people who are most likely to come into contact with the virus.
Many had thought all children would be immunised as they have been getting the infection in the highest numbers.
But the experts decided against such a mass programme as the overwhelming majority of those developing complications were the children with serious health problems.
How does this compare to the seasonal flu programme?
The initial first wave of the vaccination programme is not that different from the average seasonal flu vaccination group.
Only pregnant women and those living with people with immune system problems, such as people with HIV or those receiving chemotherapy treatment, will be getting the swine flu jab without also receiving the seasonal flu one.
The government hopes to be able to combine vaccinations for people who need both.
How will the swine flu vaccine be administered?
The government is still in negotiation with GPs about how the programme will be delivered.
But the vaccine requires people to be given two doses, three weeks apart.
That would mean the first phase of the programme will take until at least early December to complete.
Will everyone be vaccinated?
It is not clear. The government said it will make a decision on this during the winter.
It will eventually have enough vaccine for the whole population, but in most cases it has remained a relatively mild infection.
However, Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson has warned that it could still become more deadly and while the death toll remains low, a fifth of cases have involved previously healthy people
Deal 'close' over swine flu jabs
Doctors' leaders say they are hopeful that an agreement can soon be reached in negotiations with government over the swine flu vaccination programme.
Ministers unveiled plans on Thursday to vaccinate over 13 million people in the first wave of the UK programme.
But officials were forced to admit GPs had still not signed up to the deal.
The British Medical Association has asked for extra funds to administer the two-shot jab, which some campaigners have dubbed ludicrous.
The government had hoped to have the GPs on board by the time it announced its plan this week.
But negotiations have taken longer than expected. Doctors are paid £7.51 for each seasonal flu vaccine and other jabs, such as travel inoculations.
They are not expecting that amount for what may turn out to be a mass vaccination programme, but have argued in talks that they need extra money to cover staffing and administration costs and the overtime they may need to do.
They have also asked for their bonus payments to be protected if work such as blood pressure checks is affected.
Under the programme put forward, people with health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, pregnant women, those with weakened immune systems and frontline health and social care workers will be the first to receive the jab.
This amounts to more than 13 million - about a fifth of the UK population.
It has not been decided whether the rest of the population will then be immunised, although the government has ordered enough vaccine to do so.
There is still time to broker a deal as the vaccination programme will not be started until regulators have approved the vaccine. This is not likely to happen until the end of September at the earliest.
'Ludicrous'
Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the British Medical Association's GPs committee, said: "Talks with the government remain ongoing and we are hopeful that these discussions will conclude shortly.
"Currently, the health service is working well in response to this enormous challenge and all doctors will continue to work hard on behalf of all their patients."
But Susie Squire, political director at the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: "It is the job of GPs to provide frontline healthcare - and they are well paid by taxpayers for this service.
"To pay them extra to administer swine-flu injections is ludicrous. As doctors they should understand that public health is unpredictable and sometimes there are epidemics or accidents that have to be dealt with, and this can mean unpaid overtime."
A Department of Health spokesman said: "We are now working with BMA and NHS organisations to reach a comprehensive swine flu vaccine implementation plan for this first stage of the programme."
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Aishwarya denies swine flu rumour
During a press conference held in Hyderabad on Saturday after the launch of Swiss watchmaker Longines' new collection Conquest Ceramic sports watches at a store in Nagarjuna Hills, India's much-celebrated actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has denied all the rumours that she was down with flu for four days. The former Miss World said: My father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan had mentioned on his blog that I was down with flu but many misunderstood it to be swine flu. I am healthy and back to my work. Replying to a question about endorsing international brands, the actress said she was lucky to work with ace film directors, technicians and photographers and gave the credit to them and her family for all the name and fame she has acquired. On her plans to host television shows in the footsteps of superstar Amitabh Bachchan, she said, Many production companies did approach me but my schedule is too full and I had to decline their offers.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Real SWIN FLU Guide for India in Emergency get it handy
Hi all watchers from Swin Flu infected area in India if required please let us know . How we can help you more .
What are the symptoms?
Swine flu symptoms are similar to the symptoms of regular flu and include fever of over 100.4°F, fatigue, lack of appetite, and cold. Some people with swine flu have also reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Nearly everyone with flu has at least two of these symptoms.
So, how do you know if you have flu or just cold?
There is one clue: when you have the flu, you feel flu symptoms sooner than you would cold symptoms, and they come on with much greater intensity. With the flu, you may feel very weak and fatigued for up to 2 or 3 weeks. You'll have muscle aches and periods of chills and sweats as fever comes and goes. You may also have a stuffy or runny nose, headache, and sore throat.
Can I compare flu symptoms with cold symptoms?
Yes. The following chart can help you compare flu symptoms with cold symptoms. Use it to lean the differences and similarities between flu and cold symptoms. Then, if you get flu symptoms, call your doctor and ask about an antiviral drug.
Symptoms : a)Fever,b) Headache ,c)General Aches ,Pains, d)Fatigue,Weakness, e) Extreme Exhaustion, f) Stuffy Nose , g) Chest discomfort ,Cough
Cold : a) Rare, b) Rare, c) Slight , d) Quite mild, e) Never, f) Common ,g) Mild to moderate ,hacking cough
Flu : a) Characteristic, high 100-102 degrees F); lasts 3-4 days, b) Prominent, c) Usual; often severe,d) Can last up to 2-3 weeks, e) Early and prominent, f) Sometimes, g) Common; can become severe
You cannot confirm if you have swine flu just based on your symptoms. Like seasonal flu, pandemic swine flu can cause neurologic symptoms in children. These events are rare, but, as cases associated with seasonal flu have shown, they can be very severe and often fatal.
Doctors may offer a rapid flu test, but what you need to understand is a negative result doesn't necessarily mean you don't have the flu. Only lab tests can definitively show whether you've got swine flu. State health departments can do these tests.
What should you do immediately?
Those of you who have travelled from the affected countries in the past ten days and show symptoms swine flu like fever, cough, sore throat and difficulty in breathing should immediately contact the telephone number given below or visit the nearby Government Hospital.
Important contact numbers:
Outbreak Monitoring Cell (Control Room, NICD): 011-23921401
Websites: www.mohfw.nic.in and www.nicd.nic.in
You can also contact a toll free number 2392 1401 at the National Institute of Communicable Disease
Contact number for each cities:
Bangalore
BIAL Swine Flu Center - 91-80-22001490
SDS TUBERCULOSIS & RAJIV GANDHI INSTITUTE OF CHEST DISEASES(Govt. of Karnataka), Hosur Road, Bangalore - 560029
Helpline No: 91-80-26631923
Chennai
Communicable Disease Hospital, 87, T.H. Road, Tondiarpet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Hyderabad
Govt. General and Chest Diseases Hospital, Erragadda , Hyderabad
Hospital Helpline Number - 040-23814939
Kolkata
Beliaghata Infectious Diseases Hospital, 57, Beliaghata Main Road, Kolkata
Mumbai
Kasturba Hospital, Arthur Road, Sane Guruji Marg, Mumbai 400011
Ph: 022- 23083901 / 23092458 / 23000889
New Delhi
Yellow Fever Quarantine Centre, Near AAI Residential Colony, New Delhi
Ph: 91-11-25652129
Influenza Ward, Ward no 5, Second Floor, New Building, RML Hospital, Delhi-1
RML- 91-11-24525211,23404328,23365525- Ext 4328
What is the treatment?
Antiviral drugs can be used to treat swine flu or to prevent infection with swine flu viruses. The anti-viral medicines oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) are being used to treat people with swine flu. Antiviral drugs work by preventing the flu virus from reproducing. To be effective you need to take them within 48 hours of the symptoms beginning. These flu drugs can decrease the duration of the flu by 1 to 2 days if used within this early time period. These antivirals are usually given for a period of about 5-7 days. It's unclear whether these drugs can prevent complications of the flu. Tamiflu is approved for prevention and treatment in people 1 year old and older. Relenza is approved for treatment of people 7 years old and older and for prevention in people 5 years old and older. These medications must be prescribed by a health care professional.
Side effects: Side effects of antiviral drugs may include nervousness, poor concentration, nausea, and vomiting. Relenza is not recommended for people with a history of breathing problems, such as asthma, because it may cause a worsening of breathing problems. Discuss side effects with your doctor.
Self medication: Antibiotics are a no-no. Chances are that antibiotics will not help your flu symptoms. That's because flu, colds, and most sore throats and bronchitis are caused by viruses. In addition, taking antibiotics when you have a virus may do more harm than good. Taking antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment. Antibiotics only cure certain infections due to bacteria -- and if taken carelessly, you may get more serious health problems than you bargained for.
Is there a vaccine to treat swine flu virus? No, there isn’t a vaccine yet. But vaccines are being made in large quantities. Clinical tests will begin in August 2009. Depending on how long federal officials wait for the results of these tests, tens of millions of doses of swine flu vaccine could be ready as soon as September 2009, with more vaccine becoming available each month thereafter. The first doses of vaccine likely will go to pregnant women and young children ages 6 months to 4 years, with older school kids to follow.
Who is at risk?
Those who are more at risk from becoming seriously ill with swine flu are people with:
chronic (long-term) lung disease, including people who have had drug treatment for their asthma within the past three years,
chronic heart disease,
chronic kidney disease,
chronic liver disease,
chronic neurological disease (neurological disorders include motor neurone disease, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis),
suppressed immune systems (whether caused by disease or treatment),
diabetes,
pregnant women,
people aged 65 or older, and
young children under five.
How does it spread?
The new swine flu virus is highly contagious, that is it spreads from person to person. The virus is spread through the droplets that come out of the nose or mouth when someone coughs or sneezes. If someone coughs or sneezes and they do not cover it, those droplets can spread about one metre (3ft). If you are very nearby you might breathe them in.
Or, if someone coughs or sneezes into their hand, those droplets and the virus within them are easily transferred to surfaces that the person touches, such as door handles, hand rails, telephones and keyboards. If you touch these surfaces and touch your face, the virus can enter your system, and you can become infected.
Can it be prevented?
Influenza antiviral drugs also can be used to prevent influenza when they are given to a person who is not ill, but who has been or may be near a person with swine influenza. When used to prevent the flu, antiviral drugs are about 70% to 90% effective. When used for prevention, the number of days that they should be used will vary depending on a person’s particular situation.
Follow this general procedure to reduce the risk of catching or spreading the virus, you should:
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, using a tissue
Throw the tissue away quickly and carefully
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water
Clean hard surfaces (like door handles and remote controls) frequently with a normal cleaning product
Keep away from others as much as possible. This is to keep from making others sick. Do not go to work or school while ill
Stay home for at least 24 hours after fever is gone, except to seek medical care or for other necessities. (Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
Drink clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep from being dehydrated
Wear a facemask – if available and tolerable – when sharing common spaces with other household members to help prevent spreading the virus to others.
Will it help to wear a mask?
Information on the effectiveness of facemasks and respirators for decreasing the risk of influenza infection in community settings is extremely limited. So, it is difficult to assess their potential effectiveness in decreasing the risk of Swine Flu virus transmission in these settings. However, a well-fitted, FDA-approved mask together with other preventive measures MAY reduce the risk of contracting the flu. Those who are sick or caring for someone who is ill should consider using a mask or respirator if leaving the house becomes necessary.
What precautions should one take at home?
Two things - soap and water can reduce the chance of infection by 30 per cent. All you need to do is keep washing your hand with soap and water frequently. Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand cleaner when soap and water are not available. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
Eat healthy: Proteins are essential to help your body maintain and build strength. Lean meat, poultry, fish, legumes, dairy, eggs, and nuts and seeds are good sources of protein.
The Food and Drug Administration recommends that adults eat 50 grams of protein per day. Pregnant and nursing women need more. By eating foods high in protein, we also get the benefit of other healing nutrients such as vitamins B6 and B12, both of which contribute to a healthy immune system.
Vitamin B6 is widely available in foods, including protein foods such as turkey and beans as well as potatoes, spinach, and enriched cereal grains. Proteins such as meats, milk, and fish also contain vitamin B12, a powerful immune booster.
Minerals such as selenium and zinc work to keep the immune system strong. These minerals are found in protein rich foods such as beans, nuts, meat, and poultry.
Exercise: Regular exercise may help prevent the flu. According to recent findings, when moderate exercise is repeated on a near daily basis, there is a cumulative immune-enhancing effect. That is, your strong immune system can fight flu better. When you exercise, your white blood cells -- the blood cells that fight infections in the body -- travel through your body more quickly, fighting bacteria and viruses (such as flu) more efficiently. To maintain good health, experts recommend at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity such as walking, swimming, biking, or running each day.
What precautions should one take at schools?
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
People who are sick with an influenza-like illness should stay home and keep away from others as much as possible, including avoiding travel, for at least 24 hours after fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine). Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
Wash your hands often
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
Is it safe to travel?
Avoid travelling unnecessarily. However, if you must travel, check how the country you're going to handles swine flu. Although, the WHO doesn't recommend travel restrictions, many countries have set up their own H1N1 policies, and some travellers have been screened or quarantined in other countries because of swine flu concerns.
What are the symptoms?
Swine flu symptoms are similar to the symptoms of regular flu and include fever of over 100.4°F, fatigue, lack of appetite, and cold. Some people with swine flu have also reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Nearly everyone with flu has at least two of these symptoms.
So, how do you know if you have flu or just cold?
There is one clue: when you have the flu, you feel flu symptoms sooner than you would cold symptoms, and they come on with much greater intensity. With the flu, you may feel very weak and fatigued for up to 2 or 3 weeks. You'll have muscle aches and periods of chills and sweats as fever comes and goes. You may also have a stuffy or runny nose, headache, and sore throat.
Can I compare flu symptoms with cold symptoms?
Yes. The following chart can help you compare flu symptoms with cold symptoms. Use it to lean the differences and similarities between flu and cold symptoms. Then, if you get flu symptoms, call your doctor and ask about an antiviral drug.
Symptoms : a)Fever,b) Headache ,c)General Aches ,Pains, d)Fatigue,Weakness, e) Extreme Exhaustion, f) Stuffy Nose , g) Chest discomfort ,Cough
Cold : a) Rare, b) Rare, c) Slight , d) Quite mild, e) Never, f) Common ,g) Mild to moderate ,hacking cough
Flu : a) Characteristic, high 100-102 degrees F); lasts 3-4 days, b) Prominent, c) Usual; often severe,d) Can last up to 2-3 weeks, e) Early and prominent, f) Sometimes, g) Common; can become severe
You cannot confirm if you have swine flu just based on your symptoms. Like seasonal flu, pandemic swine flu can cause neurologic symptoms in children. These events are rare, but, as cases associated with seasonal flu have shown, they can be very severe and often fatal.
Doctors may offer a rapid flu test, but what you need to understand is a negative result doesn't necessarily mean you don't have the flu. Only lab tests can definitively show whether you've got swine flu. State health departments can do these tests.
What should you do immediately?
Those of you who have travelled from the affected countries in the past ten days and show symptoms swine flu like fever, cough, sore throat and difficulty in breathing should immediately contact the telephone number given below or visit the nearby Government Hospital.
Important contact numbers:
Outbreak Monitoring Cell (Control Room, NICD): 011-23921401
Websites: www.mohfw.nic.in and www.nicd.nic.in
You can also contact a toll free number 2392 1401 at the National Institute of Communicable Disease
Contact number for each cities:
Bangalore
BIAL Swine Flu Center - 91-80-22001490
SDS TUBERCULOSIS & RAJIV GANDHI INSTITUTE OF CHEST DISEASES(Govt. of Karnataka), Hosur Road, Bangalore - 560029
Helpline No: 91-80-26631923
Chennai
Communicable Disease Hospital, 87, T.H. Road, Tondiarpet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Hyderabad
Govt. General and Chest Diseases Hospital, Erragadda , Hyderabad
Hospital Helpline Number - 040-23814939
Kolkata
Beliaghata Infectious Diseases Hospital, 57, Beliaghata Main Road, Kolkata
Mumbai
Kasturba Hospital, Arthur Road, Sane Guruji Marg, Mumbai 400011
Ph: 022- 23083901 / 23092458 / 23000889
New Delhi
Yellow Fever Quarantine Centre, Near AAI Residential Colony, New Delhi
Ph: 91-11-25652129
Influenza Ward, Ward no 5, Second Floor, New Building, RML Hospital, Delhi-1
RML- 91-11-24525211,23404328,23365525- Ext 4328
What is the treatment?
Antiviral drugs can be used to treat swine flu or to prevent infection with swine flu viruses. The anti-viral medicines oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) are being used to treat people with swine flu. Antiviral drugs work by preventing the flu virus from reproducing. To be effective you need to take them within 48 hours of the symptoms beginning. These flu drugs can decrease the duration of the flu by 1 to 2 days if used within this early time period. These antivirals are usually given for a period of about 5-7 days. It's unclear whether these drugs can prevent complications of the flu. Tamiflu is approved for prevention and treatment in people 1 year old and older. Relenza is approved for treatment of people 7 years old and older and for prevention in people 5 years old and older. These medications must be prescribed by a health care professional.
Side effects: Side effects of antiviral drugs may include nervousness, poor concentration, nausea, and vomiting. Relenza is not recommended for people with a history of breathing problems, such as asthma, because it may cause a worsening of breathing problems. Discuss side effects with your doctor.
Self medication: Antibiotics are a no-no. Chances are that antibiotics will not help your flu symptoms. That's because flu, colds, and most sore throats and bronchitis are caused by viruses. In addition, taking antibiotics when you have a virus may do more harm than good. Taking antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment. Antibiotics only cure certain infections due to bacteria -- and if taken carelessly, you may get more serious health problems than you bargained for.
Is there a vaccine to treat swine flu virus? No, there isn’t a vaccine yet. But vaccines are being made in large quantities. Clinical tests will begin in August 2009. Depending on how long federal officials wait for the results of these tests, tens of millions of doses of swine flu vaccine could be ready as soon as September 2009, with more vaccine becoming available each month thereafter. The first doses of vaccine likely will go to pregnant women and young children ages 6 months to 4 years, with older school kids to follow.
Who is at risk?
Those who are more at risk from becoming seriously ill with swine flu are people with:
chronic (long-term) lung disease, including people who have had drug treatment for their asthma within the past three years,
chronic heart disease,
chronic kidney disease,
chronic liver disease,
chronic neurological disease (neurological disorders include motor neurone disease, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis),
suppressed immune systems (whether caused by disease or treatment),
diabetes,
pregnant women,
people aged 65 or older, and
young children under five.
How does it spread?
The new swine flu virus is highly contagious, that is it spreads from person to person. The virus is spread through the droplets that come out of the nose or mouth when someone coughs or sneezes. If someone coughs or sneezes and they do not cover it, those droplets can spread about one metre (3ft). If you are very nearby you might breathe them in.
Or, if someone coughs or sneezes into their hand, those droplets and the virus within them are easily transferred to surfaces that the person touches, such as door handles, hand rails, telephones and keyboards. If you touch these surfaces and touch your face, the virus can enter your system, and you can become infected.
Can it be prevented?
Influenza antiviral drugs also can be used to prevent influenza when they are given to a person who is not ill, but who has been or may be near a person with swine influenza. When used to prevent the flu, antiviral drugs are about 70% to 90% effective. When used for prevention, the number of days that they should be used will vary depending on a person’s particular situation.
Follow this general procedure to reduce the risk of catching or spreading the virus, you should:
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, using a tissue
Throw the tissue away quickly and carefully
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water
Clean hard surfaces (like door handles and remote controls) frequently with a normal cleaning product
Keep away from others as much as possible. This is to keep from making others sick. Do not go to work or school while ill
Stay home for at least 24 hours after fever is gone, except to seek medical care or for other necessities. (Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
Drink clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep from being dehydrated
Wear a facemask – if available and tolerable – when sharing common spaces with other household members to help prevent spreading the virus to others.
Will it help to wear a mask?
Information on the effectiveness of facemasks and respirators for decreasing the risk of influenza infection in community settings is extremely limited. So, it is difficult to assess their potential effectiveness in decreasing the risk of Swine Flu virus transmission in these settings. However, a well-fitted, FDA-approved mask together with other preventive measures MAY reduce the risk of contracting the flu. Those who are sick or caring for someone who is ill should consider using a mask or respirator if leaving the house becomes necessary.
What precautions should one take at home?
Two things - soap and water can reduce the chance of infection by 30 per cent. All you need to do is keep washing your hand with soap and water frequently. Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand cleaner when soap and water are not available. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
Eat healthy: Proteins are essential to help your body maintain and build strength. Lean meat, poultry, fish, legumes, dairy, eggs, and nuts and seeds are good sources of protein.
The Food and Drug Administration recommends that adults eat 50 grams of protein per day. Pregnant and nursing women need more. By eating foods high in protein, we also get the benefit of other healing nutrients such as vitamins B6 and B12, both of which contribute to a healthy immune system.
Vitamin B6 is widely available in foods, including protein foods such as turkey and beans as well as potatoes, spinach, and enriched cereal grains. Proteins such as meats, milk, and fish also contain vitamin B12, a powerful immune booster.
Minerals such as selenium and zinc work to keep the immune system strong. These minerals are found in protein rich foods such as beans, nuts, meat, and poultry.
Exercise: Regular exercise may help prevent the flu. According to recent findings, when moderate exercise is repeated on a near daily basis, there is a cumulative immune-enhancing effect. That is, your strong immune system can fight flu better. When you exercise, your white blood cells -- the blood cells that fight infections in the body -- travel through your body more quickly, fighting bacteria and viruses (such as flu) more efficiently. To maintain good health, experts recommend at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity such as walking, swimming, biking, or running each day.
What precautions should one take at schools?
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
People who are sick with an influenza-like illness should stay home and keep away from others as much as possible, including avoiding travel, for at least 24 hours after fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine). Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
Wash your hands often
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
Is it safe to travel?
Avoid travelling unnecessarily. However, if you must travel, check how the country you're going to handles swine flu. Although, the WHO doesn't recommend travel restrictions, many countries have set up their own H1N1 policies, and some travellers have been screened or quarantined in other countries because of swine flu concerns.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Q&A: Advice about swine flu fro BBC
Swine flu has spread across the world since emerging in Mexico and is now officially the first flu pandemic for 40 years. Experts fear millions of people will be infected.
What is swine flu and what are the symptoms?
Symptoms:
1. High temperature, tiredness and lowered immunity
2. Headache, runny nose and sneezing
3. Sore throat
4. Shortness of breath
5. Loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhoea
6. Aching muscles, limb and joint pain
Swine flu is a respiratory disease, caused by a strain of the influenza type A virus known as H1N1.
H1N1 is the same strain which causes seasonal outbreaks of flu in humans on a regular basis.
But this latest version of H1N1 is different: it contains genetic material that is typically found in strains of the virus that affect humans, birds and swine.
Although the strain may have originated in pigs, it is now a wholly human disease.
It can be spread from person to person by coughing and sneezing.
Symptoms of swine flu in humans appear to be similar to those produced by standard, seasonal flu.
A fever - which is a temperature of 38ºC (100.4ºF) - is the key symptom, combined with other complaints which may include a cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and aching limbs. Some people with the virus have also reported nausea and diarrhoea.
As with normal flu, the severity of symptoms will depend on treatment and the individual. Many people have only suffered mildly and have begun to recover within a week.
People are most infectious soon after they develop symptoms, but they cease to be a risk once those symptoms have disappeared. The incubation period may be as little as two days.
Apparently healthy people are dying from the virus. Does that means it is getting worse?
Experts say this does not change anything, and that if anything it is surprising that it has taken this long in the UK for someone without underlying health problems to die.
Apparently healthy people can die of any flu-related virus if it causes complications such as pneumonia so these latest deaths do not give any extra cause for concern.
Indeed, so far, many people who have developed symptoms of infection have not needed drugs to make a full recovery, according to the WHO.
Flu expert Professor Peter Openshaw, of Imperial College London, says about one in every three people who become infected will not realise they have had swine flu because they will have had no or only very few symptoms.
"About 98% of people who get infected will recover fully without any hospital treatment so I think the public needs to be reassured."
The real fear is that the strain will mutate and become more virulent which would pose a greater threat. This has been the feature of previous flu pandemics.
But this has not yet happened - and in any event it is worth remembering that seasonal flu often poses a serious threat to public health - each year it kills 250,000 - 500,000 around the world.
What should I do if I think I have it?
Anyone with flu-like symptoms who suspects they might have the swine flu virus are being advised to stay at home and use the "swine flu symptom checker" on the NHS Direct website, or phone NHS Direct - NHS 24 in Scotland.
If swine flu is suspected, your GP should be contacted - and he or she will issue a voucher for anti-flu drugs.
The infected person would then be expected to arrange for a friend or family member to pick up the anti-viral treatment for them from a collection point, most probably a pharmacy.
In the initial phase of the outbreak, lab testing was done to diagnose the flu but this is no longer happening routinely.
How is it treated?
Two drugs commonly used to treat flu, Tamiflu and Relenza, are effective at treating infection.
However, the drugs must be administered at an early stage to be effective.
Use of these drugs may also make it less likely that infected people will pass the virus on to others.
The UK government already has a stockpile of Tamiflu, ordered as a precaution against a pandemic.
However, there is concern that if too many people start taking anti-virals as a precaution, it could raise the risk of the virus developing resistance, reducing the drugs' effectiveness. There is however no evidence at present that this is happening.
In any event there is little point taking these drugs as a precaution as each tablet only provides a day's worth of cover. Given that the virus may be with us for many months - or indeed years - taking a regular pill is ill-advised as the long-term side effects are not known.
What measures then can I take to prevent infection?
As yet there is no vaccine, but manufacturers are trying to develop one. Good progress is being made and the first doses may be available in the UK by August. However the NHS says it may be next year before everyone can be immunised.
Older people and those under 16 - as well as health workers and those with existing clinical conditions - will be given priority.
It is hoped that even if the virus mutates in coming months, the vaccine would still confer a high degree of protection against related strains.
In the meantime, avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have fever and cough.
General infection control practices and good hygiene can help to reduce transmission of all viruses, including the human swine influenza.
This includes covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible and disposing of it promptly.
It is also important to wash your hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people, and cleaning hard surfaces like door handles frequently using a normal cleaning product.
In Mexico masks have been handed out to the general public, but experts are sceptical about how useful this is.
Some suggest it may even be counterproductive.
What is the advice for pregnant women?
The Department of Health has clarified its advice on how expectant mothers should protect themselves following a series of apparently mixed messages.
Concerns were heightened after a woman with swine flu died last week shortly after giving birth prematurely.
Pregnant women are among the groups at increased risk from swine flu. It is important that they follow the advice about hand hygiene.
They may also want to avoid very crowded places and unnecessary travel, but experts stressed people should use their own judgement and should carry on with their daily lives.
Where can I get further advice?
Further information and advice on swine flu can be found at websites of leading health and research organisations around the world. The World Health Organisation gives background information on the virus.
The UK's government services website is carrying regularly updated health and travel information. The Health Protection Agency advises the public about what to do if returning from an affected area. NHS Choices outlines how swine flu is different from other flu.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is another good source of information.
The US government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is counting the number of cases in the US.
You can also track spread of swine flu reports using unofficial sources. Google is mapping search term data as an indicator of flu activity both across the US down to state level and in Mexico. Healthmaps maps viruses using news reports. Social media guide Mashable lists a range of ways to track the virus .
Information and links to useful websites are being shared on Twitter, the micro-blogging service, while social networking website Facebook is tracking swine flu discussion amongst users.
For more information read this article
Pregnant women and young children most at risk as swine flu cases hit 100,000
Under-fives and pregnant women are emerging as key swine flu risk groups, according to hospital figures and the age profiles of those who have already died.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) altered its advice this week to include the youngest age range – the under-fives – in the category of those "predominantly affected" while the Royal College of Midwives gave fresh advice todayon giving expectant women anti-viral drugs.
The shift in emphasis by health officials is a reminder that even if the final death rates from the pandemic are the same as normal seasonal flu, the social impact will be significantly different, with the disease apparently targeting the young more than elderly people. In normal seasonal flu it is the elderly who usually succumb through developing pneumonia.
Altogether, 29 people have died from swine flu in the UK. A patient from Swindon and a female tourist who died in Scotland after being admitted to hospital three weeks ago are among recent deaths. Figures from the West Midlands show that at one stage this month 23 of the 79 patients receiving treatment in hospital for swine flu were less than five years old.
On Thursday the chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, produced statistics showing that under-fives were three times more likely to need inpatient care than those in other age groups.
At least five of those who died are known to have been young children or babies. The NHS in London today confirmed that a baby less than six months old was among the fatalities. Some, like nine-year-old Asmaa Hussain, from Dewsbury, who suffered from epilepsy, had other prior conditions.
The Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists issued joint advice on prescribing anti-virals, suggesting that pregnant women with flu symptoms be given a course of Relenza, using an inhaler.
"It is recommended for pregnant women because it easily reaches the throat and lungs, where it is needed, and does not reach significant levels in the blood or placenta," the advice said. "This has the theoretical advantage of not affecting the pregnancy or the growing baby." It added: "A few cases of severe illnesses among pregnant women and infants have been reported in the UK and from other countries. These have mostly affected women with pre-existing health problems. In previous pandemics, and in reports from some countries in this pandemic, there is evidence that pregnancy can increase the risk for influenza complications for the mother and the foetus."
As many as 100,000 people may now have contracted swine flu in the UK, according to estimates by the Health Protection Agency.
Fears that meningitis could be confused with swine flu were raised today after news that Gemma Drury, 17, of Brimington, Chesterfield, was first diagnosed with swine flu but then rushed to hospital with meningitis days later.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families said today that some schools and nurseries might not open as usual at the start of the autumn term.
The Department of Health dismissed fears that the threat of high death rates could endanger the international supply of vaccines. The UK has ordered 132m doses of vaccine, sufficient for all the UK population. The first doses could be ready as early as August.
Italy yesterday advised its citizens to take extra precautions when travelling to Britain. Italy's health ministry said travellers should first visit their doctor to see if they have any conditions that put them at risk, and should avoid crowded places.
Swine flu may keep some schools shut in September
Some schools in England could remain closed in September if the swine flu pandemic escalates over the summer, the government has admitted.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) said that, while it was expected schools and nurseries would open as usual at the start of the academic year, it could not be "certain what the situation will be" in the autumn.
Decisions on closures would be taken shortly before the start of the autumn term, a message to schools across the country from the department said.
The DCSF guidance, issued as many schools broke up for the summer today, said it was monitoring the spread of the H1N1 virus on a day-by-day basis. A message will be sent to schools in the last week of August telling them what to do at the start of term, it added.
The DCSF said: "As the summer term is drawing to an end, it is important to ensure that everyone will be in a position to know what will happen at the start of the autumn term.
"We expect that schools and early-years and childcare settings will reopen as usual but at this time we cannot be certain what the situation will be then; we will need to monitor developments over the summer, and take decisions based on the best advice available shortly before the start of term."
About 1,000 schools have already recorded cases of swine flu, although most have remained open, according to the DCSF.
The message to schools follows a warning from the government's chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, that up to 65,000 people could die from swine flu in the UK in a worst-case scenario.
A planning document published by the Department of Health yesterday suggested that if the current growth in cases was sustained, the number of cases could peak in early September, with up to 30% of the population suffering illness.
There are also suggestions the spread of the virus could begin to slow over July and August before a resurgence in the autumn when schools reopen.
Margaret Morrissey, of the lobby group Parents Outloud, said ministers should have closed schools across the country early for the summer.
"I do think the government has had a major event of mismanagement here. They should have shut down schools and public places, not for ever, but to stop the virus spreading," she said.
In swine flu hotspots, schools should remain closed until children had been vaccinated, Morrissey suggested. "We might have to, in some schools, keep them closed until the vaccine is in place," she said.
The campaigner also called for the government to hand money to employers so that their staff can stay at home with their children if they are affected by swine flu.
"We helped the banks out, how about helping parents?" she said.
"There could be a decision that schools have got to say to parents, 'If your finances can be supported, do you agree with having the school closed until the children are vaccinated?'"
But she added that if it was possible to open schools in September then that should happen.
At the start of the outbreak, affected schools were closed, but the Health Protection Agency is no longer recommending that approach because swine flu is now widespread within communities.
HPA guidance says: "People are likely to be repeatedly exposed to the virus in their everyday lives. Closing a school will no longer be effective in slowing the spread of the virus as people could still be exposed outside the school.
"In some special circumstances – for example, a school with children who are particularly vulnerable to infection – then school closures might still be recommended."
Parents expressed concern yesterday about the now rapid spread of the virus, and some admitted they were scared and unsure how to respond to the situation.
Gloria Newell, 49, a housing officer, who was picking up her nine-year-old daughter, Natasha, from St Mary's Church of England school in Islington, north London, said: "I am just astonished. The figures are quite shocking. There seems to be nothing really in place to cope with this. We have heard about a national vaccination scheme but we do not know when it might be in place."
In north London, another mother, Amal Khaireddine, 30, was concerned about her sons Joseph, five, Shamus, six, and Ryan, eight, all pupils at Hugh Myddelton school in Islington, where there had been several cases of swine flu. "They had sore throats and temperatures and I did what you should do and called the GP. They said … not to worry. But I think they should have been tested, some swabs should have been taken … all you are told is check the NHS website, but that is not 100% safe."
In nearby Culpepper Gardens, Richard O'Connell, 63, said he had taken his two-year-old grandson, Alfie, to the doctor because of a high temperature and had been told not to worry. "But you do worry because you don't know what to do … it's all very well telling people to look at the NHS website but what of those of us who do not have a computer?"
Anne Alexander, 62, a retired playschool worker from Highbury, north London, believed the publicity was causing "mass panic". Collecting her nine-year-old granddaughter, Niamh Stepto, from school, she said: "The reality is that it may only be as serious as normal seasonal flu."
Paola Domizio, a pathologist and mother of year-old twins Aron and Susha, said : "I'm undecided whether to panic or not. Certainly it is alarming that so many young children may be susceptible. But what can you do? Even if you keep them in all day there are no guarantees. If a vaccine is developed I suppose children will be vaccinated, but until then all you can do is follow the guidelines. So I can't say that I'm particularly panicking, although the figures do sound alarming."
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) said that, while it was expected schools and nurseries would open as usual at the start of the academic year, it could not be "certain what the situation will be" in the autumn.
Decisions on closures would be taken shortly before the start of the autumn term, a message to schools across the country from the department said.
The DCSF guidance, issued as many schools broke up for the summer today, said it was monitoring the spread of the H1N1 virus on a day-by-day basis. A message will be sent to schools in the last week of August telling them what to do at the start of term, it added.
The DCSF said: "As the summer term is drawing to an end, it is important to ensure that everyone will be in a position to know what will happen at the start of the autumn term.
"We expect that schools and early-years and childcare settings will reopen as usual but at this time we cannot be certain what the situation will be then; we will need to monitor developments over the summer, and take decisions based on the best advice available shortly before the start of term."
About 1,000 schools have already recorded cases of swine flu, although most have remained open, according to the DCSF.
The message to schools follows a warning from the government's chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, that up to 65,000 people could die from swine flu in the UK in a worst-case scenario.
A planning document published by the Department of Health yesterday suggested that if the current growth in cases was sustained, the number of cases could peak in early September, with up to 30% of the population suffering illness.
There are also suggestions the spread of the virus could begin to slow over July and August before a resurgence in the autumn when schools reopen.
Margaret Morrissey, of the lobby group Parents Outloud, said ministers should have closed schools across the country early for the summer.
"I do think the government has had a major event of mismanagement here. They should have shut down schools and public places, not for ever, but to stop the virus spreading," she said.
In swine flu hotspots, schools should remain closed until children had been vaccinated, Morrissey suggested. "We might have to, in some schools, keep them closed until the vaccine is in place," she said.
The campaigner also called for the government to hand money to employers so that their staff can stay at home with their children if they are affected by swine flu.
"We helped the banks out, how about helping parents?" she said.
"There could be a decision that schools have got to say to parents, 'If your finances can be supported, do you agree with having the school closed until the children are vaccinated?'"
But she added that if it was possible to open schools in September then that should happen.
At the start of the outbreak, affected schools were closed, but the Health Protection Agency is no longer recommending that approach because swine flu is now widespread within communities.
HPA guidance says: "People are likely to be repeatedly exposed to the virus in their everyday lives. Closing a school will no longer be effective in slowing the spread of the virus as people could still be exposed outside the school.
"In some special circumstances – for example, a school with children who are particularly vulnerable to infection – then school closures might still be recommended."
Parents expressed concern yesterday about the now rapid spread of the virus, and some admitted they were scared and unsure how to respond to the situation.
Gloria Newell, 49, a housing officer, who was picking up her nine-year-old daughter, Natasha, from St Mary's Church of England school in Islington, north London, said: "I am just astonished. The figures are quite shocking. There seems to be nothing really in place to cope with this. We have heard about a national vaccination scheme but we do not know when it might be in place."
In north London, another mother, Amal Khaireddine, 30, was concerned about her sons Joseph, five, Shamus, six, and Ryan, eight, all pupils at Hugh Myddelton school in Islington, where there had been several cases of swine flu. "They had sore throats and temperatures and I did what you should do and called the GP. They said … not to worry. But I think they should have been tested, some swabs should have been taken … all you are told is check the NHS website, but that is not 100% safe."
In nearby Culpepper Gardens, Richard O'Connell, 63, said he had taken his two-year-old grandson, Alfie, to the doctor because of a high temperature and had been told not to worry. "But you do worry because you don't know what to do … it's all very well telling people to look at the NHS website but what of those of us who do not have a computer?"
Anne Alexander, 62, a retired playschool worker from Highbury, north London, believed the publicity was causing "mass panic". Collecting her nine-year-old granddaughter, Niamh Stepto, from school, she said: "The reality is that it may only be as serious as normal seasonal flu."
Paola Domizio, a pathologist and mother of year-old twins Aron and Susha, said : "I'm undecided whether to panic or not. Certainly it is alarming that so many young children may be susceptible. But what can you do? Even if you keep them in all day there are no guarantees. If a vaccine is developed I suppose children will be vaccinated, but until then all you can do is follow the guidelines. So I can't say that I'm particularly panicking, although the figures do sound alarming."
Don't panic – even if you do catch swine flu
In the past few days, swine flu has turned from a topic of relatively light-hearted conversation into a serious anxiety. The figure of 65,000 deaths quoted by Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer, has worked its way into the popular imagination. The fact that this is an upper limit tends to be overlooked, as does the even more important detail that it assumes an overall fatality rate of just 0.35 per cent of those infected. Fewer than one in 200 people who catch swine flu will die, according to these projections.
Even so, it is hard not to be worried, following a week in which 55,000 new cases emerged. Swine flu has not become more dangerous, but it is spreading faster than the medical authorities anticipated: since the beginning of July, the number of people consulting GPs with flu-like symptoms has increased from 15 to 40 per 100,000 per day. Hence the urgency of the Government's advice to pregnant women (whose immune systems are naturally suppressed) to avoid unnecessary travel on public transport and to parents to keep their babies away from crowds.
It is becoming clear that swine flu, while not yet more dangerous than ordinary flu, can inflict some nasty symptoms on Britain's society and economy. Holiday plans are being ruined as major airlines and tour operators refuse to transport passengers with suspected flu. This is fair enough – but, annoyingly, it is difficult to claim travel insurance for cancelled holidays because it involves doing just what the Government does not want people to do: visiting the GP. Meanwhile, dozens of British schoolchildren and teachers visiting Beijing were placed in quarantine at the weekend because three children were running high temperatures. And Italy's health ministry has advised its citizens to take extra precautions while visiting this country.
Britain is acquiring a reputation as the swine flu capital of Europe – and the figures explain why. After Mexico and the United States, we have the highest incidence of the disease in the world. Why? Perhaps this was only to be expected, given the unsettling degree to which Britain has become an international crossroads. But we also need to ask whether there should have been tighter screening at airports at the start of the Mexican epidemic.
There were claims yesterday that a clash between Whitehall departments delayed the launch of a swine flu hot line. So far, however, the Government's advice has been sensible and struck the right balance. A challenge lies ahead: to prevent infection and – almost equally important – to prevent unnecessary anxiety. Don't panic, even (or especially) if you are unlucky enough to catch swine flu.
Even so, it is hard not to be worried, following a week in which 55,000 new cases emerged. Swine flu has not become more dangerous, but it is spreading faster than the medical authorities anticipated: since the beginning of July, the number of people consulting GPs with flu-like symptoms has increased from 15 to 40 per 100,000 per day. Hence the urgency of the Government's advice to pregnant women (whose immune systems are naturally suppressed) to avoid unnecessary travel on public transport and to parents to keep their babies away from crowds.
It is becoming clear that swine flu, while not yet more dangerous than ordinary flu, can inflict some nasty symptoms on Britain's society and economy. Holiday plans are being ruined as major airlines and tour operators refuse to transport passengers with suspected flu. This is fair enough – but, annoyingly, it is difficult to claim travel insurance for cancelled holidays because it involves doing just what the Government does not want people to do: visiting the GP. Meanwhile, dozens of British schoolchildren and teachers visiting Beijing were placed in quarantine at the weekend because three children were running high temperatures. And Italy's health ministry has advised its citizens to take extra precautions while visiting this country.
Britain is acquiring a reputation as the swine flu capital of Europe – and the figures explain why. After Mexico and the United States, we have the highest incidence of the disease in the world. Why? Perhaps this was only to be expected, given the unsettling degree to which Britain has become an international crossroads. But we also need to ask whether there should have been tighter screening at airports at the start of the Mexican epidemic.
There were claims yesterday that a clash between Whitehall departments delayed the launch of a swine flu hot line. So far, however, the Government's advice has been sensible and struck the right balance. A challenge lies ahead: to prevent infection and – almost equally important – to prevent unnecessary anxiety. Don't panic, even (or especially) if you are unlucky enough to catch swine flu.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Exit, first flu victim
The number of inmates in the isolation ward of the Infectious Diseases Hospital, where swine flu suspects and patients are quarantined, has dropped from seven to two since Sunday.
Seven-year-old Shruti Ghosh, the city’s first swine flu victim, was released from the Beleghata hospital on Monday.
Sourav Lahiri, who got himself admitted on Saturday with fever, tested negative for swine flu and was also released during the day.
“Shruti’s course of Tamiflu is over and she is not having fever anymore. Her parents have been asked to keep her quarantined at home for a few more days,” said Tapas Sen, the nodal officer for tackling swine flu in the state.
Shruti’s mother Sonali, who was staying with the girl in the 20-bed ward that has been divided by a curtain to separate male and female patients, had tested negative for swine flu.
The Oman residents had arrived in Calcutta last Tuesday after holidaying in Australia. Shruti was suffering from cough and fever when she landed at the city airport and was taken straight to the hospital.
The Delhi-based National Institute of Communicable Diseases, where nasal and throat swabs were sent for test, informed the hospital on June 25 that the girl was suffering from swine flu.
The only ones left in the Beleghata isolation ward are four-year-old Suchismita Das, who had tested positive for swine flu on Saturday, and her mother.
“Suchismita’s condition is stable. Her fever has subsided but she is still on medication,” said a source in the hospital.
Suchismita and her parents arrived in Calcutta from Bangkok, where they had gone on a holiday, early on Friday.
Prem Chand Yadav and Suchismita’s father Partha were released on Sunday after their swab tests proved negative.
Lahiri, 26, was the only patient who had voluntarily walked into the hospital and wanted to be tested for swine flu. He had been suffering from fever since returning from Bangkok a week ago.
Seven-year-old Shruti Ghosh, the city’s first swine flu victim, was released from the Beleghata hospital on Monday.
Sourav Lahiri, who got himself admitted on Saturday with fever, tested negative for swine flu and was also released during the day.
“Shruti’s course of Tamiflu is over and she is not having fever anymore. Her parents have been asked to keep her quarantined at home for a few more days,” said Tapas Sen, the nodal officer for tackling swine flu in the state.
Shruti’s mother Sonali, who was staying with the girl in the 20-bed ward that has been divided by a curtain to separate male and female patients, had tested negative for swine flu.
The Oman residents had arrived in Calcutta last Tuesday after holidaying in Australia. Shruti was suffering from cough and fever when she landed at the city airport and was taken straight to the hospital.
The Delhi-based National Institute of Communicable Diseases, where nasal and throat swabs were sent for test, informed the hospital on June 25 that the girl was suffering from swine flu.
The only ones left in the Beleghata isolation ward are four-year-old Suchismita Das, who had tested positive for swine flu on Saturday, and her mother.
“Suchismita’s condition is stable. Her fever has subsided but she is still on medication,” said a source in the hospital.
Suchismita and her parents arrived in Calcutta from Bangkok, where they had gone on a holiday, early on Friday.
Prem Chand Yadav and Suchismita’s father Partha were released on Sunday after their swab tests proved negative.
Lahiri, 26, was the only patient who had voluntarily walked into the hospital and wanted to be tested for swine flu. He had been suffering from fever since returning from Bangkok a week ago.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Home Remedies to Avoid Swine Flu
Always cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; ideally use something disposable like a tissue. Avoid touching your face, nose or mouth too frequently with your hands since swine flu appears to be transmitted through respiratory droplets in the same fashion as the common cold.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water since swine flu like other viruses can be contracted by touching objects contaminated by the virus. It's unsure how long the swine flu virus can survive on surrounding surfaces.
Though alcohol based hand sanitizers don't routinely kill viruses they probably do offer some limited protection in preventing swine flu infections.
If swine flu infections have been medically confirmed in your area consider avoiding large public gatherings. Individuals can be contagious with the swine flu virus for several day before demonstrating any signs or symptoms of infection. Be particularly careful about indoor gatherings where air circulates poorly.
If you're really paranoid and don't mind looking odd then consider wearing a respiratory mask.. This barrier method does offer some basic protection against infection though not all masks are created equally. Higher quality masks capable of filtering out some respiratory infections are more expensive.
If you start feeling ill with cold or flu-like symptoms do not go to work. Stay home and begin the usual home remedies for colds and flu. Contact your health care provider, local health department or hospital emergency room if your symptoms worsen or fail to improve for information about where to go to be screened for possible swine flu infection.
What is Swine Flu? its signs and symptoms
In this video, Dr. Joe Bresee with the CDC Influenza Division describes swine flu - its signs and symptoms, how it's transmitted, medicines to treat it, steps people can take to protect themselves from it, and what people should do if they become ill.
What is H1N1 (swine flu)?
H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu” early on) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. Other countries, including Mexico and Canada, have reported people sick with this new virus. This virus is spreading from person-to-person, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.
To be more specific, Swine flu is a respiratory disease, caused by influenza type A which infects pigs. There are of many types, and the infection are constantly changing. Until now it had not normally infected humans, but the latest form clearly does, and is spread from person to person - probably through coughing and sneezing.
The World Health Organization has confirmed that at least some of the human cases are a never-before- seen version of the H1N1 strain of influenza type A. H1N1 is the same strain which causes seasonal outbreaks of flu in humans on a regular basis. But this latest version of H1N1 is different: it contains genetic material that is typically found in strains of the virus that affect humans, birds and swine.
Flu viruses have the ability to swap genetic components with each other, and it seems likely that the new version of H1N1 resulted from a mixing of different versions of the virus, which may usually affect different species, in the same animal host.
Pigs provide an excellent 'melting pot' for these viruses to mix and match with each other.
Symptoms of swine flu in humans appear to be similar to those produced by standard, seasonal flu. These include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue. Most cases so far reported around the world appear to be mild, but in Mexico lives have been lost.
Why is this new H1N1 virus sometimes called “swine flu”?
This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and avian genes and human genes. Scientists call this a “quadruple reassortant” virus.
Novel H1N1 Flu in Humans
Are there human infections with this H1N1 virus in the U.S.?
Yes. Cases of human infection with this H1N1 influenza virus were first confirmed in the U.S. in Southern California and near Guadalupe County, Texas. The outbreak intensified rapidly from that time and more and more states have been reporting cases of illness from this virus.
Is this new H1N1 virus contagious?
CDC has determined that this new 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.
What are the signs and symptoms of this virus in people?
The symptoms of this new H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Also, like seasonal flu, severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.
How severe is illness associated with this new H1N1 virus?
It’s not known at this time how severe this virus will be in the general population. CDC is studying the medical histories of people who have been infected with this virus to determine whether some people may be at greater risk from infection, serious illness or hospitalization from the virus. In seasonal flu, there are certain people that are at higher risk of serious flu-related complications. This includes people 65 years and older, children younger than five years old, pregnant women, and people of any age with chronic medical conditions. It’s unknown at this time whether certain groups of people are at greater risk of serious flu-related complications from infection with this new virus. CDC also is conducting laboratory studies to see if certain people might have natural immunity to this virus, depending on their age.
How does this new H1N1 virus spread?
Spread of this 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 by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
How long can an infected person spread this virus to others?
At the current time, CDC believes that this virus has the same properties in terms of spread as seasonal flu viruses. With seasonal flu, studies have shown that people may be contagious from one day before they develop symptoms to up to 7 days after they get sick. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods. CDC is studying the virus and its capabilities to try to learn more and will provide more information as it becomes available.
Exposures Not Thought to Spread New H1N1 Flu
Can I get infected with this new H1N1 virus from eating or preparing pork?
No. H1N1 viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get this new HIN1 virus from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.
Is there a risk from drinking water?
Tap water that has been treated by conventional disinfection processes does not likely pose a risk for transmission of influenza viruses. Current drinking water treatment regulations provide a high degree of protection from viruses. No research has been completed on the susceptibility of the novel H1N1 flu virus to conventional drinking water treatment processes. However, recent studies have demonstrated that free chlorine levels typically used in drinking water treatment are adequate to inactivate highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza. It is likely that other influenza viruses such as novel H1N1 would also be similarly inactivated by chlorination. To date, there have been no documented human cases of influenza caused by exposure to influenza-contaminated drinking water.
Can the new H1N1 flu virus be spread through water in swimming pools, spas, water parks, interactive fountains, and other treated recreational water venues?
Influenza viruses infect the human upper respiratory tract. There has never been a documented case of influenza virus infection associated with water exposure. Recreational water that has been treated at CDC recommended disinfectant levels does not likely pose a risk for transmission of influenza viruses. No research has been completed on the susceptibility of the H1N1 influenza virus to chlorine and other disinfectants used in swimming pools, spas, water parks, interactive fountains, and other treated recreational venues. However, recent studies have demonstrated that free chlorine levels recommended by CDC (1–3 parts per million [ppm or mg/L] for pools and 2–5 ppm for spas) are adequate to disinfect avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. It is likely that other influenza viruses such as novel H1N1 virus would also be similarly disinfected by chlorine.
Can H1N1 influenza virus be spread at recreational water venues outside of the water?
Yes, recreational water venues are no different than any other group setting. The spread of this novel H1N1 flu 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.
Prevention & Treatment
What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against this new H1N1 virus. 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.
* Stay home if you are sick for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.
Other important actions that you can take are:
* Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
* Be prepared in case you get sick and need to stay home for a week or so; a supply of over-the-counter medicines, alcohol-based hand rubs, tissues and other related items might could be useful and help avoid the need to make trips out in public while you are sick and contagious.
What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?
If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. If you are sick, stay home for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.
What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. CDC recommends that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you 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 should I do if I get sick?
If you live in areas where people have been identified with new H1N1 flu and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people, except to seek medical care.
If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact your health care provider or seek medical care. Your health care provider will determine whether flu testing or treatment is needed
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 or gray skin color
* Not drinking enough fluids
* Severe or persistent vomiting
* 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
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
* Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
* Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
* Sudden dizziness
* Confusion
* Severe or persistent vomiting
* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Are there medicines to treat infection with this new virus?
Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with the new H1N1 flu virus. 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. During the current outbreak, the priority use for influenza antiviral drugs during is to treat severe influenza illness.
The US authorities say that two drugs commonly used to treat flu, Tamiflu and Relenza, seem to be effective at treating cases that have occurred there so far. However, the drugs must be administered at an early stage to be effective. Use of these drugs may also make it less likely that infected people will pass the virus on to others
What is CDC’s recommendation regarding "swine flu parties"?
"Swine flu parties" are gatherings during which people have close contact with a person who has novel H1N1 flu in order to become infected with the virus. The intent of these parties is to become infected with what for many people has been a mild disease, in the hope of having natural immunity to the novel H1N1 flu virus that might circulate later and cause more severe disease.
CDC does not recommend "swine flu parties" as a way to protect against novel H1N1 flu in the future. While the disease seen in the current novel H1N1 flu outbreak has been mild for many people, it has been severe and even fatal for others. There is no way to predict with certainty what the outcome will be for an individual or, equally important, for others to whom the intentionally infected person may spread the virus.
CDC recommends that people with novel H1N1 flu avoid contact with others as much as possible. They should stay home from work or school for 7 days after the onset of illness or until at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved, whichever is longer.
Contamination & Cleaning
How long can influenza virus remain viable on objects (such as books and doorknobs)?
Studies have shown that influenza virus can survive on environmental surfaces and can infect a person for up to 2-8 hours after being deposited on the surface.
What kills influenza virus?
Influenza virus is destroyed by heat (167-212°F [75-100°C]). In addition, several chemical germicides, including chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, detergents (soap), iodophors (iodine-based antiseptics), and alcohols are effective against human influenza viruses if used in proper concentration for a sufficient length of time. For example, wipes or gels with alcohol in them can be used to clean hands. The gels should be rubbed into hands until they are dry.
What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?
Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. Germs can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk, for example, and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.
How should waste disposal be handled to prevent the spread of influenza virus?
To prevent the spread of influenza virus, it is recommended that tissues and other disposable items used by an infected person be thrown in the trash. Additionally, persons should wash their hands with soap and water after touching used tissues and similar waste.
What household cleaning should be done to prevent the spread of influenza virus?
To prevent the spread of influenza virus it is important to keep surfaces (especially bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, kitchen counters and toys for children) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.
How should linens, eating utensils and dishes of persons infected with influenza virus be handled?
Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick do not need to be cleaned separately, but importantly these items should not be shared without washing thoroughly first.
Linens (such as bed sheets and towels) should be washed by using household laundry soap and tumbled dry on a hot setting. Individuals should avoid “hugging” laundry prior to washing it to prevent contaminating themselves. Individuals should wash their hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub immediately after handling dirty laundry.
Eating utensils should be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with water and soap.
The first case has already been reported from India from neighboring state of Andhra Pradesh.
What about bird flu?
The strain of bird flu which has caused scores of human deaths in South East Asia in recent years is a different strain to that responsible for the current outbreak of swine flu.
The latest form of swine flu is a new type of the H1N1 strain, while bird, or avian flu, is H5N1.
Experts fear H5N1 hold the potential to trigger a pandemic because of its ability to mutate rapidly.
However, up until now it has remained very much a disease of birds.
Those humans who have been infected have, without exception, worked closely with birds, and cases of human-to-human transmission are extremely rare - there is no suggestion that H5N1 has gained the ability to pass easily from person to person.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Flu scare reveals strapped local health agencies
The swine flu outbreak fell short of a full-blown international crisis, but revealed the precarious state of local health departments, the community bulwarks against disease and health emergencies in the United States.
A sustained, widespread pandemic would overwhelm many departments that are struggling with cutbacks as well as increased demand from people who have lost jobs and medical insurance.
Stung by the lean economy, 13 states and U.S. territories had smaller health budgets in 2008 than in 2007, and eight more made midyear cuts, according to a survey by an advocacy group, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. With local budgets also in trouble, many health officials fear a serious outbreak.
"We would be in a lot of trouble," said Alameda County's director of public health, Anthony Iton in Oakland. "We weren't tested to push the system to see how it responds when you have to make hard decisions. I worry about that because the resources have been cut."
A review by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department in January noted great strides in preparedness but said many shortfalls remain. They include the ability to maintain public health functions such as food safety and daily needs during a pandemic, and the capacity to meet surges in health care demand and to strategically close schools.
State capabilities vary. But some local departments, strapped by layoffs and working overtime on swine flu, say they could not maintain the pace in a major outbreak. An Associated Press review found troubling signs:
_Twenty-nine public health workers in Sacramento County, Calif., learned just before being called to work on swine flu that they probably will lose their jobs this summer. Senior nurse Carol Tucker, contacting potential flu victims, thought about future epidemics.
"Who will be around to do these things?" she said.
_Nationwide, officials have reported more than more than 6,700 swine flu cases, and 12 deaths.
"We have good plans and we're exercising them," said Matthew A. Stefanak, health commissioner of Mahoning County, Ohio, whose work force dropped 20 percent in two years. "But for the nuts and bolts of an outbreak - contact investigations, probable cases of H1N1 flu - we don't have the manpower, the trained disease investigators the public health nurses who would do it. That's where we're weakest right now."
_Federal investment in local emergency planning since attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, has paid off in a smooth response to the limited swine flu outbreak. But the money has dwindled.
Last year at least 10,000 local and state health department jobs were lost to attrition and layoffs, including at laboratories that identify disease strains, according to surveys by the state and territorial group and the National Association of County and City Health Officials.
An annual flu-shot clinic no longer comes to town hall in Berlin Center, Ohio. "The real danger is how many just won't get shots," said Ivan Hoyle, 78.
Public health nurses such as Erica Horner won't deliver in-home newborn help in Mahoning County. With the program closed, Horner's duties will change.
_People calling for routine immunizations now reach a recording saying the Worcester, Mass., clinic is closed. With just two of its six public health nurses surviving layoffs, the city is re-evaluating its responsibilities and says it can meet emergencies by working with the University of Massachusetts and local hospitals.
Ann Cappabianca, one of the remaining nurses, scrambles to track communicable disease and tuberculosis cases. "We just can't get it all done. You try to focus on the most important thing at the moment," she said.
Worst is having to make cuts without "enough ability to assess the needs of my community," said Bob England, the health director of Arizona's sprawling Maricopa County, which closed its family planning clinic.
Public health departments will get some help from this year's stimulus spending of $1 billion for prevention and wellness efforts.
But it will take years to bring local health agencies to the point where they can fight a sustained, widespread pandemic, said Richard Hamburg, a lobbyist at the nonprofit Trust for America's Health, an advocacy group supported by private and government grants.
A report from the group in December found emergency planning gaps in areas such as rapid disease detection, food safety and "surge capacity" to quickly scale up equipment, staff and supplies to meet a major outbreak.
Dan Sosin, head of emergency response at the Centers for Disease Control and Preparedness, praised the federal swine flu response, but acknowledged that public health officials face "capacity issues in terms of ongoing resources and funding."
"We could spend more money," he said. "We could use more than we have."
The CDC's acting director, Richard Besser, told Congress last month the government is concerned about states being too short-staffed to conduct required emergency exercises.
The main fund for local health emergency planning after the Sept. 11 attacks, the federal Public Health Emergency Preparedness program, has dropped nearly one-third since a 2006 peak of almost $1 billion, according to CDC figures. The money had included a special three-year congressional allocation for pandemic flu preparation that ran out last year.
President Barack Obama now is asking Congress for $1.5 billion to fight swine flu.
A second fund to help local agencies plan for public health emergencies, the Hospital Preparedness Program, has fallen nearly a quarter from $457 million in the 2006 budget year.
Decreases in the Public Health Emergency Preparedness program were most significant in Iowa, Mississippi, Colorado, Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Louisiana. After a pair of killer hurricanes hit Louisiana in 2005, Washington sent nearly $15 million in 2006 health emergency help. This year, it's down to $9.8 million.
Louisiana's dollars from the hospital program slid from $7.1 million in 2006 to $5.2 million this year.
Even New York City, site of one of the Sept. 11 attacks, saw its Public Health Emergency Preparedness program funds fall to $20.6 million this year from $28.7 million during the 2006 budget year.
In Orange County, Fla., people were diverted from other duties for swine flu needs in a health department increasingly burdened with a range of demands as people lose jobs, said health director Kevin Sherin.
Sherin, president of the advocacy group American Association of Public Health Physicians, questioned longer-term capabilities for lab and field work in his state and elsewhere.
"In the event of a real emergency, these systems have capacity problems," he said.
Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, a nonprofit lobbying group, said that after the federal emergency buildup, "We didn't complete the job and we didn't make the system sustainable. Our ability to manage more than one thing, or scale up fast is really worrisome."
---
On the Net:
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials: http://www.astho.org/
Health and Human Services Department: http://www.hhs.gov/
National Association of County and City Health Officials: http://www.naccho.org/
Trust for America's Health: http://healthyamericans.org/
Centers for Disease Control and Preparedness: http://cdc.gov/
Public Health Preparedness Program: http://emergency.cdc.gov/cotper/cphp/
Hospital Preparedness Program: http://www.hhs.gov/aspr/opeo/hpp/
American Association of Public Health Physicians: http://www.aaphp.org/
American Public Health Association: http://www.apha.org/
A sustained, widespread pandemic would overwhelm many departments that are struggling with cutbacks as well as increased demand from people who have lost jobs and medical insurance.
Stung by the lean economy, 13 states and U.S. territories had smaller health budgets in 2008 than in 2007, and eight more made midyear cuts, according to a survey by an advocacy group, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. With local budgets also in trouble, many health officials fear a serious outbreak.
"We would be in a lot of trouble," said Alameda County's director of public health, Anthony Iton in Oakland. "We weren't tested to push the system to see how it responds when you have to make hard decisions. I worry about that because the resources have been cut."
A review by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department in January noted great strides in preparedness but said many shortfalls remain. They include the ability to maintain public health functions such as food safety and daily needs during a pandemic, and the capacity to meet surges in health care demand and to strategically close schools.
State capabilities vary. But some local departments, strapped by layoffs and working overtime on swine flu, say they could not maintain the pace in a major outbreak. An Associated Press review found troubling signs:
_Twenty-nine public health workers in Sacramento County, Calif., learned just before being called to work on swine flu that they probably will lose their jobs this summer. Senior nurse Carol Tucker, contacting potential flu victims, thought about future epidemics.
"Who will be around to do these things?" she said.
_Nationwide, officials have reported more than more than 6,700 swine flu cases, and 12 deaths.
"We have good plans and we're exercising them," said Matthew A. Stefanak, health commissioner of Mahoning County, Ohio, whose work force dropped 20 percent in two years. "But for the nuts and bolts of an outbreak - contact investigations, probable cases of H1N1 flu - we don't have the manpower, the trained disease investigators the public health nurses who would do it. That's where we're weakest right now."
_Federal investment in local emergency planning since attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, has paid off in a smooth response to the limited swine flu outbreak. But the money has dwindled.
Last year at least 10,000 local and state health department jobs were lost to attrition and layoffs, including at laboratories that identify disease strains, according to surveys by the state and territorial group and the National Association of County and City Health Officials.
An annual flu-shot clinic no longer comes to town hall in Berlin Center, Ohio. "The real danger is how many just won't get shots," said Ivan Hoyle, 78.
Public health nurses such as Erica Horner won't deliver in-home newborn help in Mahoning County. With the program closed, Horner's duties will change.
_People calling for routine immunizations now reach a recording saying the Worcester, Mass., clinic is closed. With just two of its six public health nurses surviving layoffs, the city is re-evaluating its responsibilities and says it can meet emergencies by working with the University of Massachusetts and local hospitals.
Ann Cappabianca, one of the remaining nurses, scrambles to track communicable disease and tuberculosis cases. "We just can't get it all done. You try to focus on the most important thing at the moment," she said.
Worst is having to make cuts without "enough ability to assess the needs of my community," said Bob England, the health director of Arizona's sprawling Maricopa County, which closed its family planning clinic.
Public health departments will get some help from this year's stimulus spending of $1 billion for prevention and wellness efforts.
But it will take years to bring local health agencies to the point where they can fight a sustained, widespread pandemic, said Richard Hamburg, a lobbyist at the nonprofit Trust for America's Health, an advocacy group supported by private and government grants.
A report from the group in December found emergency planning gaps in areas such as rapid disease detection, food safety and "surge capacity" to quickly scale up equipment, staff and supplies to meet a major outbreak.
Dan Sosin, head of emergency response at the Centers for Disease Control and Preparedness, praised the federal swine flu response, but acknowledged that public health officials face "capacity issues in terms of ongoing resources and funding."
"We could spend more money," he said. "We could use more than we have."
The CDC's acting director, Richard Besser, told Congress last month the government is concerned about states being too short-staffed to conduct required emergency exercises.
The main fund for local health emergency planning after the Sept. 11 attacks, the federal Public Health Emergency Preparedness program, has dropped nearly one-third since a 2006 peak of almost $1 billion, according to CDC figures. The money had included a special three-year congressional allocation for pandemic flu preparation that ran out last year.
President Barack Obama now is asking Congress for $1.5 billion to fight swine flu.
A second fund to help local agencies plan for public health emergencies, the Hospital Preparedness Program, has fallen nearly a quarter from $457 million in the 2006 budget year.
Decreases in the Public Health Emergency Preparedness program were most significant in Iowa, Mississippi, Colorado, Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Louisiana. After a pair of killer hurricanes hit Louisiana in 2005, Washington sent nearly $15 million in 2006 health emergency help. This year, it's down to $9.8 million.
Louisiana's dollars from the hospital program slid from $7.1 million in 2006 to $5.2 million this year.
Even New York City, site of one of the Sept. 11 attacks, saw its Public Health Emergency Preparedness program funds fall to $20.6 million this year from $28.7 million during the 2006 budget year.
In Orange County, Fla., people were diverted from other duties for swine flu needs in a health department increasingly burdened with a range of demands as people lose jobs, said health director Kevin Sherin.
Sherin, president of the advocacy group American Association of Public Health Physicians, questioned longer-term capabilities for lab and field work in his state and elsewhere.
"In the event of a real emergency, these systems have capacity problems," he said.
Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, a nonprofit lobbying group, said that after the federal emergency buildup, "We didn't complete the job and we didn't make the system sustainable. Our ability to manage more than one thing, or scale up fast is really worrisome."
---
On the Net:
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials: http://www.astho.org/
Health and Human Services Department: http://www.hhs.gov/
National Association of County and City Health Officials: http://www.naccho.org/
Trust for America's Health: http://healthyamericans.org/
Centers for Disease Control and Preparedness: http://cdc.gov/
Public Health Preparedness Program: http://emergency.cdc.gov/cotper/cphp/
Hospital Preparedness Program: http://www.hhs.gov/aspr/opeo/hpp/
American Association of Public Health Physicians: http://www.aaphp.org/
American Public Health Association: http://www.apha.org/
Friday, May 22, 2009
H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)
A New Influenza Virus
Novel influenza A (H1N1) is a new flu virus of swine origin that was first detected in April, 2009. The virus is infecting people and is spreading from person-to-person, sparking a growing outbreak of illness in the United States. An increasing number of cases are being reported internationally as well.
It’s thought that novel influenza A (H1N1) flu spreads in the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread; mainly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick with the virus.
It’s uncertain at this time how severe this novel H1N1 outbreak will be in terms of illness and death compared with other influenza viruses. Because this is a new virus, most people will not have immunity to it, and illness may be more severe and widespread as a result. In addition, currently there is no vaccine to protect against this novel H1N1 virus. CDC anticipates that there will be more cases, more hospitalizations and more deaths associated with this new virus in the coming days and weeks.
Novel influenza A (H1N1) activity is now being detected through CDC’s routine influenza surveillance systems and reported weekly in FluView. CDC tracks U.S. influenza activity through multiple systems across five categories. The fact that novel H1N1 activity is now detected through seasonal surveillance systems is an indication that there are higher levels of influenza-like illness in the United States than is normal for this time of year. About half of all influenza viruses being detected are novel H1N1 viruses.
Learn more about it : http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
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