UP Ibalon Bicol: Mexico’s new swine-avian-human flu worries health experts of global pandemic

Mexico’s new swine-avian-human flu worries health experts of global pandemic

4/25/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

Mexico closed down schools, museums and movie houses on Friday, April 24, 2009 as nearly a thousand suspected cases of influenza were reported to sicken people and at least 61 died. The disease which may be transmitted from animals (zoonotic infection) has worried Mexican authorities for its killing power and its adverse effects on tourism, a major source of revenue for the country struck by economic downturn, drug wars, and narcotics trade.

“Mexico's Health Secretary, Jose Cordova, said only 16 of the deaths have been confirmed to have been caused by the new strain, through testing at government laboratories. Samples from 44 other people who died were still being tested. The health department put the total number of people sickened by the virus at around 943 nationwide.” ----AP/ Philstar (04/24/09)

To contain the spread of the disease, the Mexican government urged the public to shun large crowds and avoid close contacts with people. Those with fever, cough, a sore throat, muscle and joint pains are advised to see a doctor and stay at home. The people responded with certain fear and confusion.

“Most of Mexico’s dead were young, healthy adults, and none were over 60 or under 3 years old, the World Health Organization said. That alarms health officials because seasonal flus cause most of their deaths among infants and bedridden elderly people, but pandemic flus — like the 1918 Spanish flu, and the 1957 and 1968 pandemics — often strike young, healthy people the hardest.”--- New York Times (04/24/09, Lacey, M.; McNeil, D. Jr.)

Eight (8) non-fatal flu similar to those caused by this new Mexican strain were diagnosed in the southwest United States prompting health authorities to sound an alarm. It is unknown how many more will go down with the disease.

According to Center for Disease Control (CDC,) which monitors the disease, the new strain of flu contains a combination of gene sequences of pig, bird, and human influenza.

“Given how quickly flu can spread around the globe, if these are the first signs of a pandemic, then there are probably cases incubating around the world already, said Dr. Michael Osterholm at the University of Minnesota.” ----Newsnet5.com / AP (04/42/09, Stevenson, M)

It is said the flu seems responsive to the two drugs available: Tamiflu and Relenza. The medicines need to be taken early during the illness to get the best benefit.

Health authorities scramble to control the disease which has the potential to spread as a pandemic. It isn't known if the vaccination given last fall and winter confers protection from this new viral strain which is transmissible from person to person. Neither is it understood how the genetic mixture of the virus came to be. Frequent hand washing and covering one’s mouth during a sneeze or cough are among the common precautions to prevent the spread of the disease. (Photo Credit: Opiado)

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Labels: CDC, diseases, epidemic, Flu, Health, infection, Influenza, influenza virus, Medicine, Mexico, pandemic, virus, WHO

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Mexico’s new swine-avian-human flu worries health experts of global pandemic

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