Showing posts with label Flu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Flu. Show all posts

PostHeaderIcon Politics of Health: Give the flu vaccines to those who need them most

6/15/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


The number of H1N1 flu infection ominously jumped from 111 to 147 cases and health authorities reported brisk community transmission in Nueva Ecija----suggesting that more cases are cropping up and the flu is getting harder to control.

As a response, the government said 8,000 Makati City employees will be given free flu shots on Monday to prevent the seasonal flu, not the H1N1 viral infection. The government thinks mass vaccination against the common flu at a cost of P2.8 million will help track down by “elimination” those with swine flu. But health authorities know that giving the vaccine doesn't completely assure seasonal flu will be avoided.

“We have prioritized the immunization against seasonal or common flu of our city workers, especially our frontline and field workers, not only to strengthen their defenses against respiratory diseases, but also to help us in promptly identifying possible cases of A(H1N1),” Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay said.---Philippine Daily Inquirer (06/14/09, Lopez, A.)

Really?

The seasonal flu vaccine is not expected to be effective in preventing the H1N1 flu. At best, the justification that swine flu can be detected by “elimination” is faulty because there are many illnesses which present with flu-like symptoms. If one means to control the viral disease, it’s not by “elimination.” Doctors need the right diagnosis, even if influenzas in general have essentially the same treatment.

To identify H1N1 flu or seasonal flu, a lab test like the one done at the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) must be done. This makes one to consider if Mayor Binay’s decision to administer the vaccine is in line with good medical judgment. Why don't politicians like Binay leave the medical decisions to Dr. Francisco Duque III and the Department of Health (DOH?)

Government employees, unless they are in the high risk group, hardly qualify as the priority group to get the vaccines. Though workers may receive them, the government in triaging patients, must give the vaccines to those who need them most as shown below. On the process of production, it will take sometime before the new H1N1 vaccine will be readily available in the market:

2008-09 INFLUENZA PREVENTION & CONTROL RECOMMENDATIONS
Center for Disease Control

Vaccination of all children aged 6 months–18 years should begin before or during the 2008–09 influenza season if feasible, but no later than during the 2009–10 influenza season. Vaccination of all children aged 5–18 years is a new ACIP recommendation.

Children and adolescents at high risk for influenza complications should continue to be a focus of vaccination efforts as providers and programs transition to routinely vaccinating all children and adolescents. Recommendations for these children have not changed. Children and adolescents at higher risk for influenza complication are those:

•aged 6 months–4 years;
•who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);
•who are immunosuppressed (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus);
•who have any condition (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other neuromuscular disorders) that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions or that can increase the risk for aspiration;
•who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy who therefore might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection;
•who are residents of chronic-care facilities; and,
•who will be pregnant during the influenza season.

Note: Children aged <6 months should not receive influenza vaccination. Household and other close contacts (e.g., daycare providers) of children aged <6 months, including older children and adolescents, should be vaccinated.

Annual recommendations for adults have not changed. Annual vaccination against influenza is recommended for any adult who wants to reduce the risk for becoming ill with influenza or of transmitting it to others. Vaccination also is recommended for all adults in the following groups, because these persons are either at high risk for influenza complications, or are close contacts of persons at higher risk:

•persons aged >50 years;
•women who will be pregnant during the influenza season;
•persons who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);
•persons who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus);
•persons who have any condition (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other neuromuscular disorders) that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions or that can increase the risk for aspiration;
•residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities;
•health-care personnel;
•household contacts and caregivers of children aged <5 years and adults aged >50 years, with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children aged <6 months; and,
•household contacts and caregivers of persons with medical conditions that put them at high risk for severe complications from influenza.
Source: Center for Disease Control (Photo Credit: Healthcarewithoutharm/ Southeastasia) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon WHO declares H1N1 flu a pandemic; RP’s cases rise to 92

6/12/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


After weeks of weighing in the right time to declare a pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) finally ruled on Thursday, June 11, 2009 that the swine flu which caused illness and death to 27,737 and 141 people respectively, had reached pandemic level. It’s the first pandemic to be categorized in more than 40 years.

The new viral infection which has spread to 74 countries usually manifests as a mild illness and uncommonly cause death. Health authorities however emphasize the need for prevention and more caution. The virus is highly transmissible and quite unpredictable. It has a potential to transform and grow in virulence as it affects different populations of the world.

The decision to raise the disease to level 6 underscores the need for vigilance, prevention and control by various governments. The pandemic will spur the production of vaccines and drugs to fight the disease. It will require more money to keep the illness under control.

The raising the alert to the highest level coincides with the increase of cases in the Philippines to about 100, the highest number of those sickened so far by the swine infection in Southeast Asia. With the unpredictability the infection, one can just hope that the effort by the health authorities will lessen the incidence, mortality and morbidity of the pandemic in the country.

What is a pandemic?

A pandemic is a new infectious disease that spreads around the world.

The best recent example of a pandemic is AIDS, caused by a virus new to humans: HIV.

Seasonal flu viruses spread around the globe and cause 250,000 to 500,000 deaths each year -- including some 36,000 annual deaths in the U.S. But seasonal flu isn't considered a pandemic, even though the viruses that cause them change a little from season to season.

One of the seasonal flu viruses is a type A H1N1 virus. But the type H1N1 swine flu virus that appeared in 2009 is an entirely different virus. It carries genes from swine flu viruses from North America and Eurasia as well as genes from human and bird flu viruses.

Humans have never before been infected with this virus. That means that nobody is immune, although some people born before 1957 may have been exposed to an ancestor virus that could possibly give them a small degree of protection.

Because the vast majority of people are vulnerable to the 2009 H1N1 swine flu virus, because it spreads easily from person to person, and because the virus is spreading in communities in different parts of the world, the current swine flu has reached pandemic proportions.

Flu pandemics occur regularly. That's because there are many kinds of flu viruses in animals (mostly birds), but so far only a few have evolved the ability to infect humans. There were three flu pandemics in the 20th century: in 1918, in 1957, and in 1968. Source: WebMD (06/11/09, Daniel J. DeNoon; Louise Chang, MD)

What is WHO doing to respond?

"WHO continues to help all countries respond to the situation. The world cannot let down its guard and WHO must help the world remain and become better prepared.
WHO's support to countries takes three main forms: technical guidance, materials support, and training of health care system personnel.

WHO's primary concern is to strengthen and support health systems in countries with less resources. Health systems need to be able to prevent, detect, treat and mitigate cases of illness associated with this virus.

WHO is also working to make stocks of medicines (such as antivirals and antibiotics) and an eventual pandemic vaccine more accessible and affordable to developing countries.

Both antivirals and vaccines have important roles in treatment and prevention respectively. However, existing stocks of antivirals are unlikely to meet the demand. And vaccines may be developed, but it will some months.

Therefore, rational use of the limited resources will be essential. And medicines are only part of the response. WHO is also deploying diagnostic kits, medicines and masks and gloves for health care settings, teams of scientific experts, and medical technicians so countries in need can respond to local epidemics.

A pandemic sets national authorities in motion to implement preparedness plans, identify cases as efficiently as possible, and minimize serious illness and deaths with proper treatment.

The goal is to reduce the impact of the pandemic on society."---Source: www.who.int (Photo Credit: Amanda Ruth) =0=

RELATED BLOG: "Mitigation versus containment in the fight against the H1N1 flu" Posted by mesiamd at 6/09/2009

UDATE: June 14, 2009. Surveillance of H1n1 cases in the Philippines added more cases to the previous count---now totalling to 111 cases after a few grade school students in Nueva Ecija tested positive to the swine flu infection. =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Communion by hand makes sense against the spread of H1N1 virus

6/07/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


The advice of Manila Archibishop Gaudencio Cardinal Santos to temporarily stop the custom of hand-to-mouth contact at the time of communion during mass will certainly help avoid the easy transmission of the flu virus in the community. Coupled with avoidance of hand contact during a religious service, this is certainly helpful as swine virus infection in the country jumped to 33 on Saturday, June 6, 2009.

Obviously, as more people get infected, the chance of a widespread influenza is greater. The public must appreciate the effort taken by health and religious authorities to contain the disease, hence the recommendation of frequent hand-washing, avoidance of crowds, the postponement of school opening from June 8 to June 15, the quarantine of those stricken with the disease, and the active educational campaign on prevention. It’s the civic duty of every Filipino to help stop the transmission of the illness. (Photo Credit: gems) =0=

SWINE FLU UPDATE:

June 8, 2009. The Department of Health headed by Dr. Francisco Duque III reported additional cases of H1N1 flu which totalled to 46 during the weekend.

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PostHeaderIcon WHO about to declare H1N1 flu as a worldwide pandemic

6/04/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


In spite of close monitoring and containment, the H1N1 virus has spread to sicken render about 20,000 individuals in 66 countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) is weighing in if it’s the right time that the viral infection be called a pandemic, the highest level of threat for a highly transmissible disease.

At present, the spread of the disease is mostly among travelers, in schools, and close contacts, but not much within the community. However, with the start of winter in the Southern Hemisphere, health authorities worry if the swine flu will infect more people than last year’s similar strain (H1N1 flu) which is resistant to the anti-viral medication Tamiflu.

The WHO is now "getting closer" to declaring the outbreak had reached phase six, the highest level on their alert scale.---said WHO’s flu chief Keiji Fukuda. Guardian.co.uk (06/03/09 Carrell, S.)

The same consideration has been reported in New York Times (06/03/09, A9, McNeil)

To declare the flu as a pandemic requires many considerations. People who don’t fully understand the disease may panic so the logistics to inform and prepare them must be put in place. In a pandemic, there may be trade and travel restrictions that my impact the economy of a country. A bigger budget and personnel to fight the illness must be readied.

The WHO is preparing an additional $500 million to aid poor countries. Pres. Barack Obama has asked the US legislature for $2 billion in anticipation of a full blown pandemic.

The virus which behaves like a mild seasonal flu at this time may mutate, grow in virulence and cause more deaths than generally expected as it moves along. With all these considerations, WHO calls on its experts---public health officials and academics to think what is best in the fight against the infection. They’re trying to figure if raising the level of disease threat to 6 is warranted and will be for the benefit of the people. (Photo Credit: Healthcare without Harm) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon H1N1 flu watch: 16 cases reported in RP

5/31/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


As of Saturday, May 30, 2009, the number of new cases of H1N1 flu in the Philippines rose to 16. According to the Department of Health (DOH) Sec. Francisco Duque III, aside from these cases, there are still 29 individuals under observation.

The increase in number of the swine flu infection in the country stresses the need for vigilance and preventive measures to stop the spread of the disease. Although there are suggestions to indefinitely close schools because of the flu, health authorities in Manila believe that the situation doesn’t merit the postponement of the opening of classes.

The World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that so far, there had been 15,510 documented cases of the disease reported in 53 countries. Of those who got sick, at least 99 people died. (Photo Credit: Benedicte Desrus) =0=

UPDATE: June 2, 2009. The number of H1N1 cases in the Philippihes rose from 16 to 21 over the weekend. Filipinos who are preparing for the opening of classes nationwide are advised to take preventive measures to help stop the disease. =0=

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PostHeaderIcon 2nd H1N1 flu case reported in the Philippines

5/25/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post
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Because of the time lag between the exposure to influenza and the moment manifestations of the infection arise, it’s only now that the 50-year old Filipina who arrived as a balikbayan from USA is confirmed as the second case of swine flu infection in the country. The first case is a 10 year-old child who also came home from a trip abroad. She is reported to have fully recovered from the illness.

The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) announces the woman tested positive for the H1N1 virus though it appears that she has been recovering since she experienced having cough and fever, one day after her arrival from USA.

“Since monitoring started on May 1, the DOH has placed 105 individuals under observation, with 88 already being found negative and 15 have pending laboratory test results.”---Malaya (05/23/09, Naval, G)

Though there is no reason to panic, the viral infection that has affected close to 12,000 individuals in 43 countries is a source of concern. The new strain of viral infection has the capacity to kill and is still under study. Nobody knows how the virus with a propensity to mutate and assume more virulence will behave when it spreads in different countries as the seasons change.

Preventive measures such as frequent handwashing, covering one’s nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing, avoiding hand contact with people as advised by the Department of Health are in place.

The World Health Organization urges nations to push for pandemic preparedness and advices pro-active fight against the disease while only a few individuals have been stricken ill of the disease.(Photo Credit: CDC)=0=

RELATED BLOG: "RP reports its first H1N1 virus infection " Posted by mesiamd at 5/22/2009

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PostHeaderIcon RP reports its first H1N1 virus infection

5/22/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


Based on the tally of the World Health Organization (WHO,) the swine flu spreading throughout the world has reached 11,168 and 86 deaths as of May 22, 2009. This coincides with the first case confirmed in the Philippines which joins at least 38 countries having the disease.

The Department of Health (DOH,) reported that the swine flu-positive 11 year-old girl identified by the laboratory of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine(RITM) arrived on May 18, 2009 from USA and Canada where many swine infections have been reported. She is presently quarantined in an effort to contain the virus from infecting the general population.

“The government will conduct contact tracing to identify and diagnose individuals who might have come into contact with the infected girl. Health authorities will also check the plane boarded by the girl for traces of the disease.”--- GMA TV News.com (05/21/09 Balagtas-See, A)

Advising the public to be calm and be mindful of the preventive measures advised by health authorities, the DOH reminds the public of the need for vigilance. Filipinos must not be complacent as the virus easily mutates; it has the potential to cause significant morbidity and mortality which can affect the nation's economy. Pharmaceuticals are still on the process of making a the H1N1 flu vaccine, but it will take a few months before it will be available. =0=

World Health Organization (WHO) Tally of H1N1 Flu Infection

As of 06:00 GMT, 22 May 2009

Laboratory-confirmed cases of new influenza A(H1N1) as officially reported to WHO by States Parties to the International Health Regulations (2005)

Country----Cumulative total-----Newly confirmed since the last reporting period-
--------------Cases---Deaths----Cases-----Deaths
Argentina------1------0-----------0---------0
Australia-------7------0-----------4---------0
Austria---------1------0-----------0---------0
Belgium--------5------0-----------0---------0
Brazil-----------8------0-----------0---------0
Canada--------719----1-----------0---------0
Chile-----------24-----0-----------19--------0
China-----------11-----0-----------3---------0
Colombia-------12-----0-----------0---------0
Costa Rica-----20-----0-----------0---------0
Cuba-------------4------0-----------0---------0
Denmark---------1------0-----------0---------0
Ecuador---------8------0-----------7---------0
El Salvador-----6------0-----------0---------0
Finland----------2------0-----------0---------0
France----------16-----0-----------0---------0
Germany--------14-----0-----------0---------0
Greece----------1------0-----------0---------0
Guatemala------4------0-----------0---------0
India-------------1------0-----------0---------0
Ireland----------1------0-----------0---------0
Israel------------7------0-----------0---------0
Italy-------------10-----0-----------0---------0
Japan-----------294---0-----------35--------0
Korea-----------3------0-----------0---------0
Malaysia--------2------0-----------0---------0
Mexico----------3892---75---------0---------0
Netherlands-----3------0-----------0---------0
New Zealand-----9------0-----------0---------0
Norway-----------3------0-----------0---------0
Panama----------73-----0-----------4---------0
Peru--------------5------0-----------2---------0
Philippines------1------0-----------1---------0
Poland-----------2------0-----------0---------0
Portugal---------1------0-----------0---------0
Spain------------113----0-----------2---------0
Sweden----------3------0-----------0---------0
Switzerland------1------0-----------0---------0
Thailand---------2------0-----------0---------0
Turkey-----------2------0-----------0---------0
United Kingdom--112----0---------3---------0
USA--------------5764---9-----------54--------1
Grand Total----11168---86--------134-------1

Cumulative and new figures are subject to revision

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PostHeaderIcon Typhoon Emong’s death toll of 43, a drop in OFW employment and a rise in H1N1 flu

5/12/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


30%

Is the percentage drop in employment of land-based overseas foreign workers (OFW) last year observed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) compared to the previous 2007. This translates to only 216,803 newly hired workers in 2008 compared to 306,383 in 2007. Affected by the global economic crunch, the decrease in hiring of workers are noted in the leading countries that employ Filipinos.

"Saudi Arabia, the top destination, only had 76,148 new hires compared to 96,890 in 2007. Other markets in the Top 10 were Qatar, with 25,186 new hires (-13.3 percent); Taiwan, with 17,204 (-39.5 percent); Kuwait, with 10,107 (-38.7 percent); Hong Kong, with 8,333 (-62.6 percent), Canada, with 4,849 (-41.6 percent), Bahrain, with 2,882 (-30.9 percent), Italy with 2,288 (-56.4 percent) and Singapore with 2,276 (-38.2 percent)."---Inquirer (05/10/09, Aning, J)

P20 million

Is the estimated loss in a paper factory fire which occurred in the early morning of May 12, 2009 in Valenzuela, Metromanila. The origin of the fire was believed to come from highly combustible chemicals according to firefighters. Two people were injured as a result of the blaze.

4,694

As of May 11, 2009, this is the number of people infected by the H1N1 flu officially recorded by the World Health Organization (WHO.) It is believed that this number is lower than the actual people infected. There are now 30 countries reporting the swine flu.

84

The number of ferry passengers on board ML Ric-Ric were stranded for 12 hours at sea near Tubbataha reef in Palawan after the boat experienced engine breakdown. From t Puerto Princesa City on its way to Cagayancillo, the ferry sent distress signals which was caught by an Indonesian-bound vessel before rescue came along.



92

Under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), 92 nurses together with 188 caregivers left last Sunday, May 10, 2009 from the Philippines to Japan to work. The standard salary of nurses in Japan is between 350,000 to 420,000 yen per month, but the Filipinos will only be paid about half--- between 150,000 and 180,000 yen per month according to Labor Assistant Secretary Reydeluz Conferido.

Unless the nurses pass the licensure exam of the host country, the nurses are allowed only 3 years to work. They will start with retraining for 6 months and they have to learn Jaapanese before they can assume responsibilities on the job. Such adjustments remind the Philippines of the need to make jobs for its people so that they’ll not be forced to travel in faraway places in search for employment.

P781.7 million

The estimated damage caused by Typhoon Emong on agriculture crups, homes and infrastructures in the Philippines. The storm left a total of 43 dead and 13 missing from heavy rains, floods and landslides. The National Disaster Coordinating Committee (NDCC) said 34,626 families or 161,020 persons were affected by last week’s tropical cyclone which immediately followed “Dante”. There were 822 families or 4,142 persons stranded in evacuation centers as a result of the calamity. (Photo Credit:Jensm; Reinar) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Manny Pacquiao: a disappointing role model?

5/11/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post
The praises Manny Pacquiao got in beating Ricky Hatton during a boxing match in Las Vegas, Nevada had been extraordinary. He was truly deserving of such admiration from his adoring fans. Yet, in a rare read, I came across the editorial of Malaya----which was bold in criticizing the sports hero for not heeding the advice of health authorities in Manila and the World Health Organization (WHO.)

The humble entertaining boxer from General Santos City was stubborn. He couldn't be dissuaded from postponing his return so that the health protocol to keep the disease out of the country could be enforced. Billions of dollars had been spent the world over in order to prevent the disease from spreading any further.

“Manny Pacquiao was a disappointment as a role model when he turned a deaf ear to the appeal of health officials to undergo self-quarantine for at least five days before returning to Manila. There were two options presented to him. First, to postpone his return home for at least five days. Second, to closet himself for the same length of time if it was impossible for him to postpone his homecoming.”---- Malaya (05/10/09)

Manny’s slobbering VIP treatment is common in the Philippines. Almost no one in the country can speak against the boxing legend “who can’t go wrong”--- not even Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo and the politicians. The way some people trivialize health risks and disregard medical advice is rather worrisome. I hope nothing horrible comes along because Manny prevailed over the wisdom of Department of Health (DOH). (Photo Credit: Newkleus00)=0=

RELATED BLOGS: "May 8, 2009: H1N1 flu update" Posted by mesiamd at 5/09/2009; " Filipinos take risk in allowing Pacquiao to go home early" Posted by mesiamd at 5/08/2009

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PostHeaderIcon The march of the pig virus

4/28/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


Across the borders of Mexico the fast-moving virus has proven its efficiency of causing alarm across the globe. The World Health Organization (WHO) raised its level of vigilance to level 4 indicating that the disease is highly transmissible among human beings.

The United States declared a public health emergency to coordinate the Department of Homeland Security’s response to the changing health threat. Russia, Hong Kong and Taiwan said they would isolate travelers showing symptoms of the virus. Europe urged people to forgo non-essential travel especially in the disease epicenter.

CDC recommendations on Prevention

1. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
2. Avoid close contact with sick people.
3. Avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.



With the uncertainty of where the march of the disease will go, countries like the Philippines banned the import of pork from Mexico and the United States. Asian countries such as Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines started active screening of with flu-like symptoms travelers in their respective airports.

To date, there are at least 6 countries with the pig flu infection----Mexico, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Spain, and Israel. It is likely more places will confirm swine infections. There are about 2,000 downed by the illness with about 150 deaths. From extrapolations from past pandemics, in a worst case scenario, a large-scale illness can overwhelm care-givers and hospitals and cause the death of 2% of those affected, perhaps 2 million in USA alone.

The spread of the flu had negatively affected business and the economy. The world market fell yesterday amid threats of a pandemic and instability of the financial markets. Mexico had so far the most number of flu victims and it suffered the aftermaths of a faltering economy, drug wars, and a recent earthquake. Its major dollar earner, the tourism industry, slowed for lack of visitors.



There are those who ask why the US-Mexican border has not been closed---the disease adding to the problem of illegal aliens in the United States taxing the healthcare system. The active surveillance of suspected carriers seen in Asia is absent in America. The Obama government has no plan to halt school, ban large gatherings in public places considered mixbowls of infection.

Top level positions in the CDC and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) still need people to decide on encompassing health decisions especially if the situation deteriorates. With the illness out of the box people criticized Mexico for not doing enough in controlling the disease at the onset. (Photo Credit: National Terror Alert; AFP/ Luis Acosta; AFP/ Null; Reuters/ Chaiwat Subprasom/ Thailand Animals Health) =0=



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PostHeaderIcon 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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