FAQ's

H1N1

Introduction (26 Apr 2009)

Mexico April 2009 - 1.000 people have been infected with H1N1

What we know:

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza that regularly cause outbreaks of influenza among pigs. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans, however, human infections with swine flu do occur, and cases of human-to-human spread of swine flu viruses has been documented. Most commonly, human cases of swine flu happen in people who are around pigs but it’s possible for swine flu viruses to spread from person to person also.

Swine Flu

History:

A swine flu outbreak in Fort Dix, New Jersey, USA occurred in 1976 that caused more than 200 cases with serious illness in several people and one death. In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman in Wisconsin was hospitalized for pneumonia after being infected with swine flu and died 8 days later. From December 2005 through February 2009, a total of 12 human infections with swine influenza were reported from 10 states in the United States.

Pigs in an islamic country

Current Situation in the USA

Since March 2009, 8 of confirmed human cases of a new strain of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in California, Texas, and Mexico have been identified but have recovered. CDC has determined that this virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. Samples from a deadly respiratory illness outbreak in Mexico match swine influenza isolates from patients in the United States who had milder illnesses. The virus contains gene segments from 4 different influenza types:
- North American swine,
- North American avian,
- human,
- and Eurasian swine.

H1N1 virus

Current Situation in Mexico

A total of approximately 1000 cases have been confirmed in Mexico. In Mexico’s Federal District, the number of cases rose steadily through April, as of yesterday, more than 854 cases of pneumonia, 59 of them fatal (Case-Fatality Rate of 7%), have been reported in Mexico City. The illness outbreak in Mexico City prompted the country's health minister to cancel classes in Mexico City and advised students and adults to avoid crowded public places and large events. Mexican officials also reported 24 cases with 3 deaths from an influenza-like illness in San Luis Potosi, in the central part of the country, and 4 cases with no deaths in Mexicali, near the US border (Source: WHO).

The virus in Mexico has primarily struck otherwise healthy young adults, which is a departure from seasonal influenza, which typically affects the very young and very old. CDC's laboratory analyzed 14 samples from severely ill Mexican patients and found that 7 of them had the same swine flu mix as the virus that infected the US patients (preliminary report).

Canada's national laboratory has confirmed swine flu A/H1N1 in 18 isolates from Mexican patients, 12 of which were genetically identical to the swine flu viruses from California.

WHO and CDC are considering raising the pandemic alert level from 3 (human infection with new influenza subtype with only rare human-to-human spread) to 4 (small clusters with localized human-to-human transmission).

How does the swine flu spread?

• Through contact with infected pigs or environments contaminated with swine flu viruses.

• Through contact with a person with swine flu. Human-to-human spread of swine flu has been documented also and is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu. Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.

People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to 7 days following illness onset. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

What can I do?

There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. These everyday steps are recommended for protection against swine flu:

Don't panic!

Medicines to tread swine flu:

CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If sick, antiviral drugs can make illness milder and recovery faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

mediScon recommendation for travelers:

After being in contact with some physicians and friends by our network, we would like to say without doubt that mediScon strongly recommend to postpone any travel to Mexico in the following days based on the amazing increase of cases and deaths already reported in the country in very few days due to Influenza A H1N1.
Schools were closed due to the epidemic and other important measures are being taking action right now to control the situation.

(26.04.2009 - tho)