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Swine flu in humans

People who work with poultry and swine, especially people with intense exposures, are at increased risk of zoonotic infection with influenza virus endemic in these animals, and constitute a population of human hosts in which zoonosis and reassortment can co-occur.[17] Transmission of influenza from swine to humans who work with swine was documented in a small surveillance study performed in 2004 at the University of Iowa.[18] This study among others forms the basis of a recommendation that people whose jobs involve handling poultry and swine be the focus of increased public health surveillance.[17] The 2009 swine flu outbreak appears to be a result of co-occurring zoonosis and reassortment.[citation needed]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the symptoms and transmission of the swine flu from human to human is much like seasonal flu, commonly fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.[19] It is believed to be spread between humans through coughing or sneezing of infected people and touching something with the virus on it and then touching their own nose or mouth.[20] The swine flu in humans is most contagious during the first five days of the illness although some people, most commonly children, can remain contagious for up to ten days. Diagnosis can be made by sending a specimen, collected during the first five days, to the CDC for analysis.[21]

The swine flu is susceptible to four drugs licensed in the United States, amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir, however, for the 2009 outbreak it is recommended it be treated with oseltamivir and zanamivir.[22] The vaccine for the human seasonal H1N1 flu does not protect against the swine H1N1 flu, even if the virus strains are the same specific variety, as they are antigenically very different.[23]
Prevention

Recommendations to prevent infection by the virus consist of the standard personal precautions against influenza. This includes frequent washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after being out in-public. People should avoid touching their mouth, nose or eyes with their hands unless they've washed their hands. If people do cough, they should either cough into a tissue and throw it in the garbage immediately, cough into their elbow, or, if they cough in their hand, they should wash their hands immediately

1918 Influenza: the Mother of All Pandemics

The "Spanish" influenza pandemic of 1918–1919 infected one [larger]third of the world's population (or ≈500 million persons at that time) and caused ≈50 million deaths.[28] The impact of this pandemic was not limited to 1918–1919. All influenza A pandemics since that time, and indeed almost all cases of influenza A worldwide (excepting human infections from avian viruses such as H5N1 and H7N7), have been caused by descendants of the 1918 virus, including "drifted" H1N1 viruses and reassorted H2N2 and H3N2 viruses. The latter are composed of key genes from the 1918 virus, updated by subsequently incorporated avian influenza genes that code for novel surface proteins, making the 1918 virus indeed the "mother" of all pandemics.

Before and after 1918, most influenza pandemics developed in Asia and spread from there to the rest of the world. Confounding definite assignment of a geographic point of origin, the 1918 pandemic spread more or less simultaneously in 3 distinct waves during an ≈12-month period in 1918–1919, in Europe, Asia, and North America (the first wave was best described in the United States in March 1918).[29]

2009 swine flu outbreak
    Confirmed cases followed by death    Confirmed cases    Unconfirmed or suspected cases See also: H1N1 Swine Flu cases tagged on Google Maps
Main article: 2009 swine flu outbreak

The new strain of influenza involved in the 2009 swine flu outbreak strain is a reassortment of several strains of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 that are, separately, endemic in humans and in swine. Preliminary genetic characterization found that the hemagglutinin (HA) gene was similar to that of swine flu viruses present in U.S. pigs since 1999, but the neuraminidase (NA) and matrix protein (M) genes resembled versions present in European swine flu isolates. Viruses with this genetic makeup had not previously been found to be circulating in humans or pigs, but there is no formal national surveillance system to determine what viruses are circulating in pigs in the U.S.[12]

The origins of this new strain remain unknown. One theory is that Asian and European strains traveled to Mexico in migratory birds or in people, then combined with North American strains in Mexican pig factory farms before jumping over to farm workers.[32] The Mexican health agency acknowledged that the original disease vector of the virus may have been flies multiplying in manure lagoons of pig farms near Perote, Veracruz, owned by Granjas Carroll,[33] a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods.[34]

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dieselkush said:

true, but all viruses have the ability to evolve and adapt. with better antibiotics comes harsher types of flue and viruses. what happens if  one comes along that gets used to our medicine and antibiotics? this is the scare. our medicine isnt fail safe, it only works to a certain extent. if a virus adapts we have to develop better medicine, this has happend through the years. eventually will get one that adapts quick and fast, faster then we can produce and adapt our medicine.

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Swine flu hits 40 in U.S.
Seventy-three cases of swine flu have been confirmed worldwide, the World Health Organization said today. Forty of those cases are in the United States, 26 in Mexico, six in Canada and one in Spain, a WHO representative said. Later, health officials in Scotland said two cases of swine flu had been confirmed there. full story

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The outbreak is a particular concern because of who it is hitting hard, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Monday.

"We are concerned that in Mexico, most of those who died were young and healthy adults," he said.

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President Obama said Monday that the swine flu outbreak is a "cause for concern and requires a heightened state of alert," but is not a "cause for alarm."

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Public Health Emergency
According to the World Health Organization, a public health emergency is an occurrence or imminent threat of illness or health conditions caused by bioterrorism, epidemic or pandemic disease, or highly fatal infectious agents or toxins that pose serious risk to a significant number of people.

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The WHO has called the outbreak a "public health emergency of international concern."

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The cases confirmed in the U.S. and Mexico were enough of a concern for Andorra Vassiliou, the European Union's health commissioner, to recommend against travel to North America.

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"The number of cases, unfortunately, will continue to increase," he said.

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dieselkush said:

true, but all viruses have the ability to evolve and adapt. with better antibiotics comes harsher types of flue and viruses. what happens if  one comes along that gets used to our medicine and antibiotics? this is the scare.

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Don't care bruv, I've got an immune system - unlike many people walkin the world today

eat plants not plastic
vitality is the way

Sid E. Real

Nityanarta said:

Don't care bruv, I've got an immune system - unlike many people walkin the world today

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Cubie said:

Quote:

Swine flu hits 40 in U.S.
Seventy-three cases of swine flu have been confirmed worldwide, the World Health Organization said today. Forty of those cases are in the United States, 26 in Mexico, six in Canada and one in Spain, a WHO representative said. Later, health officials in Scotland said two cases of swine flu had been confirmed there. full story

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73 cases of swine flu confirmed; hundreds more feared
# Story Highlights
# NEW: Two swine flu cases confirmed in Scotland, health officials say
# Mexico closes all schools until at least May 6
# Forty swine flu cases confirmed in United States
# As many as 103 deaths in Mexico are thought to have been caused by swine flu (here)

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The outbreak is a particular concern because of who it is hitting hard, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Monday.

"We are concerned that in Mexico, most of those who died were young and healthy adults," he said.

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President Obama said Monday that the swine flu outbreak is a "cause for concern and requires a heightened state of alert," but is not a "cause for alarm."

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Public Health Emergency
According to the World Health Organization, a public health emergency is an occurrence or imminent threat of illness or health conditions caused by bioterrorism, epidemic or pandemic disease, or highly fatal infectious agents or toxins that pose serious risk to a significant number of people.

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The WHO has called the outbreak a "public health emergency of international concern."

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The cases confirmed in the U.S. and Mexico were enough of a concern for Andorra Vassiliou, the European Union's health commissioner, to recommend against travel to North America.

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"The number of cases, unfortunately, will continue to increase," he said.

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sounds serious to me.

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Delta9Hippie said:

haha, omg, ya FEAR FOR FLU!  dude, that is such bull.  germ theory didn't even catch on in 1918, and antibiotics had not been made.  (yes i know it's a virus, but antibiotics CHANGED medicine).  People don't fucking die from the flu in the "developed" world en masse anymore.  Why are people freaking out?  Avian bird flu?  SARS?  Killer Bees?  West Nile?  Did you know you can die from getting to close to a male cow's feces?  It's called TMMFBS, Too Much Mother Flippin Bull Shit.

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Cubie said:

i was laughing in my head about this when i was making the post. How can people argue against evolution when it stares them inb the face everyday.

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Doc_T said:

Ordinary influenza kills thousands and thousands of people every year in the US.

This could potentially kill the same number. Why not more?
Medicine.
There's no cure for the flu- but we can treat the symptoms and provide supportive care. People die from dehydration, malnutrition, secondary infection. By preventing those, you reduce the danger of mortality.

The media's right, this is serious. The government and WHO are also right, it's nothing to worry about.

Go on about your business, nothing to see here.

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it is serious, but dont panic.