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Swine Flu (H1N1/09)
The 2009 Pandemic Swine Flu, A-H1N1/09, the Type A influenza virus that was first identified in the early spring of 2009 in Mexico and then spread world wide to become a true Pandemic by June 2009. Different from other current seasonal strains of H1N1, and also not the same Swine Flu from prior epidemics or outbreaks (like in 1976), it is known by many different names in different places and settings, such as: H1N1, Novel H1N1, A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)v-like virus, la grippe porcine, The Mexican Flu, la epidemia, Schweinegrippe, and SOIV (Swine Origin Influenza Virus).
1,816 Questions
When was the worst case of Swine Flu?
The worst case may have been the first case with a death since little was known about the new virus at that time and a whole new plan of care and evaluation protocol was needed for each new case identified until more was known about the new infectious virus.
The first person to die from the 2009 swine flu was Maria Adela Gutierrez, who died in March 2009 in Mexico. She was a 39-year old woman in the southern tourist city of Oaxaca in Mexico. The first person outside of Mexico to die was a baby from Mexico city, who died in Texas, USA, not long after the first cases were identified.
Another candidate for the worst case would be the first case, since it was an entirely new disease for the medical community to unravel and determine how to treat and prevent.
The first known person to have contracted the 2009 H1N1 Influenza in March 2009 was a young boy named Edgar Hernandez from La Gloria, Mexico, a small town of approximately 3,000 people. He recovered from the virus.
Can you buy flu vaccine over the counter?
You can get seasonal flu shots from a Pharmacist at a drug store without a physician's prescription in the US. The vaccine is not available in quantity to individuals over the counter.
There is no vaccine yet for the 2009 Swine Flu (Influenza A, Novel H1N1) available. The drug manufacturers who usually make vaccines now have some of the virus sent to them by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and have begun the process of developing vaccines for this strain of the virus. They anticipate having this available for use in the US by the next seasonal flu season. It may also be available for use in the Southern Hemisphere during their flu season this summer. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) will be working with the manufacturers to approve the safety and efficacy of the vaccines once developed and put into human trials.
If I were born in 1950 do I have immunity to the current H1N1 Influenza?
No, sorry. The current strain of "Swine Flu" (A-H1N1/09 Virus) is very different from the prior strains of H1N1 Influenza that have surfaced from time to time over the years since first identified in the 1930's. This one has genetic material from two strains of hog flu (Asian and European), along with the human flu, and some genomes from Avian (bird) flu. Because it is so different from those in the past, it is moving quickly in the pandemic across the world. Luckily, it is milder than it had potential to be, so it has a lower mortality rate than caused initial concern. No one will have immunity to this unless they take the vaccination specifically being developed from "seed viruses" at the present time, or unless they contract the virus. Both of those will cause life long immunity.
Although the occurrence of this virus among those aged 65 and older is much lower than is typical in other influenza strains and much lower than predicted for this one. There is some speculation that it is because of their possible exposure to the strain in the 1930's but it is under study to try to determine what the factors are in this unexpected result. You are much too young for this advantage.
If I had Swine Flu last week and I'm still coughing am I contageous?
Yes, recent studies have indicated that the A-H1N1/09 influenza can still be spread from one person to another as long as you continue to cough.
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report from 9/19/09 indicates that the period of infectivity of A-H1N1/09 is longer than originally believed, and longer than that of the seasonal flu.
Studies on how long a person remains contagious back up the previously reported CDC guidelines that one should be suspected to be capable of spreading the Novel Swine Flu for one full week after the symptoms start or until 24 hours after the fever subsides [while taking no fever reducers] which ever is longer, rather than the most recent CDC guidelines that waiting for 24 hours after fever subsides without taking fever reducers is long enough.
In fact, the best determination can probably be made by how long the cough lasts.
The studies show that in some cases the virus remains in the nasal passages of patients for up to 16 days after symptoms begin. Below are some excerpts from the report:
When the coughing stops is probably a better sign of when a swine flu patient is no longer contagious, experts said after seeing new research that suggests the virus can still spread many days after a fever goes away.
Using a very sensitive test to detect virus in the nose or throat, [the study] found that 80 percent had it five days after symptoms began, and 40 percent seven days after. Some still harbored virus as long as 16 days later. How soon they started on antiviral medicines such as Tamiflu made a difference in how much virus was found, but not whether virus was present at all. . .
Doctors know that people can spread ordinary seasonal flu for a couple of days before and after symptoms start by studying virus that patients shed in mucus. The first such studies of swine flu are just coming out now, and they imply a longer contagious period for the novel bug."
Yes, that is one indirect method that can spread the A-H1N1/09 Virus from person to person. However, there is a time limit on how long the virus can remain infective lying out on the surface, and that varies depending on the type of surface, although it is longer than you may think.
But, it is true if someone who does not have the infection touches a surface onto which someone with the infection has deposited the virus by coughing or sneezing droplets onto the surface, then when they touch it, they can get the virus on their hands. For a certain length of time, they can then touch another surface and deposit the virus there. Then a third person can touch that second surface and get the virus on their hands and if they touch their nose, mouth, or eyes they can move the virus to be planted into their bodies and they can become sick. Or, they could even pass it on to still another person and make them sick. Some studies have shown that viruses can stay able to be spread for days (see the information in related questions below for that information).
That is why washing your hands after touching anyone or any surface is being advised as one of the best precautions when you are in public (use hand sanitizers if necessary).
See the related questions below about how the virus is spread, how long it can "live" outside a body on a surface, how it can be transferred on money, and how to prevent catching it with hand washing and other defensive techniques.
No. The H1N1 swine flu, which has killed thousands of people, is not a hoax. It did not originate in the United States, which seems to nullify your argument. And furthermore, what new taxes might you be talking about?
Each vaccination is specific for certain diseases. The seasonal flu vaccinations usually cover the three most likely types of seasonal flu that will be expected to be in your part of the world during the flu season, and would be to prevent you from getting those specific types of flu. The seasonal flu shot for 2009 - 2010 will not provide immunity for the A-H1N1/09 Pandemic "Swine Flu". A second series of two vaccination shots will be necessary for the A-H1N1/09 virus, once that vaccine is released to the first group to have priority to get the vaccinations. Local public health officials will publish when that is available, to whom, and where.
For the Northern Hemisphere's 2009 Flu season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
The flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. This year's influenza vaccine contains three new influenza virus strains.
They are:
- A/Brisbane/59/2007(H1N1)-like virus;
- A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus;
- B/Brisbane 60/2008-like antigens.
The 2009-10 influenza vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these three viruses, or it can make your illness milder if you get a related but different influenza virus strain.
It's not easy to cath H1N1 if you just prevent it. Cover you 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 afeter you cough or sneeze. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand fub. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. germs spread taht way. Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to kee[ from infecting them.
: By Kristhie I. Alcazar ! :] <33
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Im sure you have flu my sons school has 2 cases of Swine Flu how will you know if you do?
Well, it's quite easy.
The swine flu symptoms are these :
Having a high temperature (fever)
Having very bad coughs
Having a very bad headache
Having a blocked or runny nose
Having a very bad sore throat
Usually, when people catch swine flu, the fever indicates that they have caught the swine flu.
Why is Mexico starting to shut down schools?
Question: In Mexico lots of schools are being shut down. Why?
Answer: Well, because the Swine Flu has spread so much that the staff and councils
worry that one sick child might soon effect the entire school, sinch the Swine Flu is very
contagious. I hope this helps you, and if you want to find more about it you can always
check the newscast.
A novel is basically a long, written, fictional story of 55,000 words or more; virtually every culture and language has generated famous novels that enthrall readers with language, images, suspense and complex ideas or events. A novel is so much more than a long story, however. A great deal of craft and thought goes into creating a long, successful work of fiction . Some of the greatest works of literature are novels, such as Moby Dick (Herman Melville), Gone with the Wind (Margaret Mitchell), and The Tin Drum (Gunther Grass).
Arguably the two most important elements of a novel are character development and plot, or in short, a novel is something that happens to someone. Main characters, or protagonists, are carefully crafted to appeal to the readers' sympathies as they go about resolving the conflicts and problems that arise in the plot, or story line. Other elements of the novel include setting (place and time), dialogue, narrative and scene, point of view, theme, style and language. Unlike a short story, a novel must be structured to provide enough suspense or compelling language (or both) to keep the reader interested enough to keep turning the pages...for the several hours it takes to read the book.
Novels come in a variety of "flavors," or genres Horror, romance, historical, science fiction, fantasy and mystery novels generally depend more on their plots than on the development of their characters, whereas what we think of as "literary novels" are much more concerned with revealing the intricacies of human behavior and the subtleties of social interactions than in telling a story.
When is flu season in Australia?
The World Health Organization reported the first confirmed case on May 9, 2009. For an interactive map of the world showing how the Novel H1N1 virus has spread to date see the links section below.
How many people died of Swine Flu from 1970-2008?
All cases may not have been identified or tested to confirm the specific strain of influenza, but of the cases that are reported as due to "Swine Flu" in humans from 1970 through 2008, there have been only two deaths.
The most famous early swine flu outbreak in humans was in 1976 at Fort Dix, New Jersey where four soldiers who were previously healthy contracted the virus and developed pneumonia diagnosed by X-ray with other symptoms of the flu. One died as a result. The virus was thought to have circulated approximately a month in the close quarters of the group in basic training but not outside the group, then it disappeared.
In the fall of 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman was hospitalized for pneumonia and died 8 days later. A swine H1N1 flu virus was detected. Four days before getting sick, the patient visited a county fair swine exhibition where there was widespread influenza-like illness among the swine.
The next reported swine flu death began in 2009 with the first death in Mexico of the A-H1N1/09 strain of the virus. Maria Adela Gutierrez, a 39-year old woman in the southern tourist city of Oaxaca in Mexico died in March 2009.
Why can't you take Tamiflu after three days of finding out you have swine flu?
You can take it, and in some patients it will still be very effective to reduce the duration of the symptoms and their severity, but it is most effective when started within the first 40 to 48 hours of symptoms. A physician would be able to determine if you are a candidate for the anti-viral medication, so consult your doctor if you think you may have influenza.
What can you do to avoid getting swine flu?
Get Vaccinated for the Flu As Soon As Possible.
"Prevention is the best medicine" and vaccinations are the best method for prevention of influenza.
UPDATE For the 2011-2012 flu season:
For the 2011-2012 flu season in the US, as in the 2010-2011 season, there is only a need to have one vaccination for the seasonal flu and for swine flu H1N1 since they are combined into one vaccine now.
Avoid contact with others who may be sick
Stay away from people who have the symptoms or a diagnosis of the flu virus. Avoid large crowds and stay at least two meters (six feet) from anyone with symptoms or who is sneezing or coughing in public.
The flu is very contagious. Close skin-to-skin contact of any type can pass the virus from one person to the next. Such contacts as kissing, hugging, holding or shaking hands, etc. are the most common ways the virus is spread. You can also get it through more indirect contact like sharing drinks, touching doorknobs, light switches, ink pens, handling money, and touching other places and items that infected people have (or may have) touched recently (how recently is under some debate; see the Related Question below about how long flu viruses live on surfaces. Some reports say 2 hours, some say 2 days or more).
How it is spread person to person
The flu is spread in much the same way as common cold viruses. Similar precautions should be used.
Don't give it to others if you are sick
Avoid giving it to others; exercise responsible habits like staying out of crowds and public places when you are ill. You should really stay home if you are sick and for seven days afterward or for 24 hours after symptoms are gone, whichever is longer*. Only go out for necessary medical appointments prior to that.
*The CDC has revised this guideline to say that after 24 hours of no fever without fever reducers it is OK to be out in public again. A report from the Dept. of Homeland Security suggests the original guidelines were better. If you will be around people who are at higher risk such as pregnant women, children (especially babies under 6 months old), the immuno-compromised, etc., then it may be better to take the safest approach and wait for which ever is longer: seven days after first symptoms; or 24 hours after the fever stops.
Cover your coughs and sneezes
If you have a runny nose, always use a tissue to wipe your nose. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Do not reuse tissues. Throw the tissue away in a trash container after one use. If you can not get a tissue in time, then cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow held close to your face to fully cover your nose and mouth and prevent the spread of respiratory droplets. Wash your hands as soon as you dispose of used tissues. UK motto: "Catch It, Bin It, Kill It!"
Keep your hands clean with frequent hand washing
One of the easiest, most effective, and very simple ways to prevent the spread of the flu is to wash your hands regularly and keep them away from your face, especially your mouth, eyes, and nose. As a general rule of thumb, it is always safest to wash your hands immediately after you shake a person's hand, deal with money, before and after you prepare food, and when you come inside from being outside.
Don't touch public things
Avoid touching surfaces and items in public use during the flu season, and wash your hands often if you cannot totally avoid these places. Carry hand sanitizer with you and use it often after touching people or things. Use as directed on the label (rub hands until totally dry). A sanitizer that is 60% alcohol content is most effective. Viruses can "live" on inanimate surfaces for around 2 hours (or up to 48 hours in some environmental conditions, (see Related Questions below) after you or someone else touches the surface with the virus on your hands. The virus can also be left on the commonly touched areas if you allow respiratory droplets to get on the surfaces with uncovered coughs or sneezes. Make a habit of never touching your face, nose, mouth or eyes, or those of others, without properly washing hands or using a hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol, both before and after touching public things.
Proper hand-washing technique:
Use warm water and regular soap; briskly wash and rub hands, under nails, and between fingers with suds for a minimum of 20-30 seconds; rinse and dry on a clean towel. To know if you have washed your hands long enough for the virus to be removed from your hands, sing two verses of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" or sing "Happy Birthday" quickly twice before you stop washing them with the soap suds. Friction is required to physically rub the virus particles off your hands.
Face Masks
Unless you wear a respirator grade face mask (called N95 type masks) or other specially made masks that can filter the sub-microscopic viruses to prevent your breathing them in, wearing any kind of surgical face mask, or other mask not designed as such (to fit correctly and filter correctly), will not help you avoid getting the flu since the virus is small enough to pass right through the masks or can be carried around the sides of the mask. Also, these masks need to be medically fitted and tested to be properly sealed on your face, or they will not stop you from inhaling the virus. Respirator masks are not recommended for men with beards or for children, since they cannot be made to fit appropriately in these people.
Those who have allergies, asthma, lung disease or other trouble breathing often cannot use N95 type masks, since it can be difficult for them to breathe well with one on.
Plain surgical masks could keep you from giving the flu to someone else, if you have to go in public when you have the virus, but they will not prevent your getting it from an infected person (except if you are close enough to them when they sneeze directly or cough directly on you). It can be recommended for caregivers and parents caring for sick children, or others who are in very close contact with the ill, to use a mask to keep the respiratory droplets from hitting their faces directly. For most situations and for surgical use, surgical masks are designed to keep the respiratory droplets from the wearer contained (like covering your mouth with a tissue does). Respirators and masks should be thrown away after a single use, like a tissue, and you should always wash your hands after touching them.
Prophylactic use of anti-viral medications
In some cases, a health care professional may prescribe anti-viral medicines, like Tamiflu, for others in the same household with a person diagnosed with the flu virus, to be used as a prophylactic (preventive) medication to keep them from also getting ill from the virus. There are certain groups where this can be beneficial, especially if these people cannot be isolated from the ill person. Ask your health care professional if this is necessary for those who will be in regular contact or in close proximity to an ill person. Prophylactic use is not appropriate, however, in all situations; your health care professional will weigh the risks versus the benefits and make the best decision for your care.
Keep your immune system healthy
Make sure your immune system is in tip-top shape. Always get a full night's sleep. This will help you fight off any illnesses, and if you do happen to catch swine flu, will possibly help you recover faster. You can also take vitamins, especially vitamin C and others that boost your immune system, or drink citrus juice for the vitamin C that it contains. Vitamin C is thought to "boost" the immune system. Maintain good nutrition and vitamin intake, eat healthier foods such as fruits and vegetables, and laugh and exercise to help relieve stress.
Avoid stress
Avoid stress as much as possible; it can lower your resistance to any disease. Use breathing techniques to calm yourself in stressful situations. Worrying can weaken your immune system and actually make you more prone to illness.
Laugh
Studies have actually made a connection between laughter and a healthy immune system. Whenever you can, lighten up and let loose a belly laugh. Even if something doesn't seem funny at first, make yourself start laughing. And if others are around, your laughing will be very contagious and, before you know it, you can have tears streaming and be laughing uncontrollably. This has very beneficial results for your health, especially your immune system.
Mosquitoes?
Usually mosquitoes do not carry the influenza viruses. They do carry some other viruses, such as West Nile Virus and St. Louis Encephalitis. These viruses are very deadly, and caution should always be taken when mosquitoes are present.
Wear long sleeves and use DEET repellent. Wear light-colored clothing, since mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors. And keep standing water, in which they lay eggs, emptied. Try to attract hummingbirds (they eat thousands in one day), bats(equally as good in hunting them), frogs and toadsand dragonflies to your yard and garden. Purple Martin birds are also good for mosquito control, but they require more maintenance and very tall and specific houses to attract them.
See the Related Questions below for more information
on steps you can take to avoid the swine flu virus.
The flu can be avoided in the winter by getting a flu shot early before the cold or winter season. One can also make sure that hands are always clean before eating or rubbing the face.
How many confirmed US cases of H1N1 flu infection are there as of today?
That is unknown. There may be some ongoing cases in limited locations around the world, including in the US. However, the specifics and counts of cases are no longer being tracked by CDC, WHO, the US states, and most other countries, now that the pandemic has been declared over. Influenza cases are monitored, but specific H1N1/09 counts (and the lab tests needed to isolate the specific virus to be able to count them correctly) aren't being done. Influenza cases in general are monitored, but statistics are not being kept for H1N1/09 cases separately from other influenza types for reporting any longer in the post pandemic phase.
There may be some ongoing cases in limited locations around the world even now, including in the US. However, the specifics and counts of cases are no longer being tracked by CDC, WHO, the US states, and most other countries, now that the pandemic has been declared over. Influenza cases are monitored, but specific H1N1/09 counts (and the lab tests needed to isolate the specific virus to be able to count them correctly) aren't being done. Influenza cases in general are monitored, but statistics are not being kept for H1N1/09 cases separately from other influenza types for reporting any longer in the post pandemic phase.
On May 1st the number of confirmed cases that currently were spread across 19 states was about 141.
there are of may 2nd 226 cases in the us alone
now of may 5th there are 403 cases in the us
Can you get the flu shot if you are taking a narcotic?
As long as the reason you take the narcotic would, by itself, not cause a problem with getting a flu shot. If in doubt, always contact your doctor's office and ask a nurse or the doctor there who knows your medical history what you should do. Or before you get the shot, tell the nurse giving it about your condition and they can decide if it is a good thing to get it then.
Do you need to get a flu vaccination again in 90 days?
Otherwise healthy adults, teens and children over 10 only need a single vaccination for the flu to be fully protected. After about 2 weeks from the time of the vaccination you will be protected. Younger children need a series of two flu vaccinations, usually given a month apart. After around another 2 weeks from the time of the second vaccination, they are protected. Babies under 6 months old do not have immune systems mature enough to get vaccinated for the flu.
How does the 2009 swine flu compare to the 1918 Spanish flu?
It doesn't even come close, so far. As of 29 June 2009 the cumulative total number of officially confirmed cases of Novel H1N1 World Wide is reported to be 70, 893 confirmed cases and 311 deaths since beginning in late March. It is estimated that approximately one million people so far in the US alone have been infected by the virus although the officially tested and confirmed case count is significantly lower. Some estimates are that approximately 6% of a community with epidemic spreading of the disease have become infected. During the Spanish Flu epidemic between 30 and 100 million people died in the one year pandemic. There were 17 million deaths in India alone. The upper figure represents 5% of the world population of the time.
The Novel H1N1 Flu pandemic's mortality rate among those with confirmed cases of the flu world wide have been around 0.4%. This is more similar to the regular seasonal flu death rates (0.12% typically in the US) in the first wave than it is to the 5% mortality rate of the Spanish Flu.
Novel H1N1 is a brand new virus so people do not have hereditary immunity, without prior reference for comparison it is unknown exactly how it may evolve or mutate as it spreads around the world. The Spanish Flu started with a very mild first wave and it was the second wave that became much more deadly as that outbreak spread across the world again.
The Spanish Flu, however, was not a strain of swine flu. It is believed to have been a strain of bird (Avian) flu. It was named the Spanish Flu because it was believed to have started in Spain.
The Spanish Flu hit right after World War 1, and the world was in bad shape. There was no World Health Organization to coordinate efforts between countries, nor any serious vaccines to fight the pandemic. Similar to the Novel H1N1 demographics for victims in the young, healthy group of individuals (H1N1 victims' median age is 19), the Spanish Flu's victims did not fit any specific demographic which infectious diseases and flu usually affected, e.g., the sick, the elderly, and the very young. It, like the new H1N1, hit the seemingly healthy, adults in their 20s and 30s.
The most cases of Novel H1N1 are in a younger healthier age group as well, it is affecting mostly those in age range of 5 - 24, but also people with underlying chronic diseases such as asthma are what seem to be factors in the demographic of the Novel H1N1 victims. The age group with the current H1N1 with the most deaths is the 30-50 year old population, especially with underlying health problems or pregnant women. The 1918 influenza swept the world in multiple waves more virulent than the first wave, then disappeared just as surprisingly as when it started. It is early in the 2009 pandemic and increasing numbers are still being reported in most every part of the globe. It is unknown if it will follow the same repetitious pattern of waves as the Spanish Flu took.
