A June 5th update by the U.N.'s World Health Organization (WHO) states that "69 countries have officially reported 21,940 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection, including 125 deaths."
There was no vaccine available to prevent infection as of June 2009, although companies were developing one for availability in late July or August. There is concern that the virus could mutate over the coming months to a more dangerous flu outbreak later in the year, and a vaccine produced now might be less effective in preventing its spread.
Health officials in the U.S. pointed out that the "terrible experience" of the 1918 flu pandemic, which killed approximately 600,000 in the United States alone, was preceded by a mild "herald" wave of cases in the spring.
Black: Confirmed cases followed by death, Red: Confirmed cases,
Yellow: Unconfirmed or suspected cases.
To enlarge the pictures click on them......
The virus is a novel strain of influenza from which human populations have been neither vaccinated nor naturally immunized. The CDC, after examining virus samples from suspected cases in Mexico, matched the strain with those from cases in Texas and California, and found no known linkages to either to animals or one another.
It was also determined that the strain contained genes from four different flu viruses: North American swine influenza; North American avian influenza; human influenza; and two swine influenza viruses typically found in Asia and Europe.
Further analysis showed that several of the proteins of the virus are most similar to strains that cause mild symptoms in humans, leading virologist Wendy Barclay to suggest on May 1 that the virus was unlikely to cause severe symptoms for most people.
The signs of infection with swine flu are similar to other forms of influenza, and include a fever, coughing, headaches, pain in the muscles or joints, sore throat, chills, fatigue and runny nose. Diarrhea and vomiting have also been reported in some cases.
People at higher risk of serious complications included people age 65 years and older, children younger than 5 years old, pregnant women, and people of any age with underlying medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, or a weakened immune system (e.g., taking immunosuppressive medications or infected with HIV)
Recommendations to prevent infection by the virus consisted of the standard personal precautions against influenza.
This included frequent washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after being out in public.
The CDC advised not touching the mouth, nose or eyes, as these are primary modes of transmission.
When coughing, they recommended coughing into a tissue and disposing of the tissue, then immediately washing the hands.
Transmission was also reduced by disinfecting household surfaces with a disinfectant or a diluted bleach solution.
CDC advised sick people to stay home from work, school, or social gatherings and to generally limit contact with others to avoid infecting them.
For more details concerning vaccines, etc... Please click HERE
No comments:
Post a Comment