Swine Flu Vaccines, Swine Flu Symptoms, Swine flu Scare, Swine Flu India

H1N1 (Swine Flu) Virus: Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the H1N1 (Swine Flu) Virus?
A. H1N1 (also referred to as "Swine Flu") is a new, contagious, influenza virus.
Q. What are the symptoms of infection?
A. Fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people report diarrhoea and vomiting as well.
Q. How does the virus spread from person to person?
A. It is most likely spreading from person to person in the same way seasonal flu viruses spread: through infectious respiratory droplets. They are expelled when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. If these droplets get into a healthy person's nose or mouth, they can get infected. Sometimes people get infected when they touch something with flu virus on it, and then touch their mouth or nose. Flu viruses can live on objects (doorknobs, keyboards, counters, etc.) for hours.
Q. How does I avoid getting infected?
A. Follow some simple precautions:
1. Wash your hands frequently
--Use antibacterial soaps to cleanse your hands. Wash them often, at least 15 seconds and rinse with running water.
2. Get enough sleep
--Try to get 8 hours of good sleep every night to keep your immune system in top flu-fighting shape.
3. Drink sufficient fluids
--Drink 8 to10 glasses of water each day to flush toxins from your system and maintain good moisture and mucous production in your sinuses.
4. Boost your immune system
--Keeping your body strong, nourished, and ready to fight infection is important in flu prevention. So stick with whole grains, colourful vegetables, and vitamin-rich fruits.
5. Keep informed
--The government is taking necessary steps to prevent the pandemic and periodically release guidelines to keep the pandemic away. Please make sure to keep up to date on the information and act in a calm manner.
6. Avoid excessive alcohol
--Apart from being a mood depressant, excessive hard liquor is an immune suppressant that can actually decrease your resistance to viral infections like swine flu. So stay away from excessive hard alcoholic drinks so that your immune system may be strong. Red wines are recommended, though, upto 100ml a day.
7. Be physically active
--Moderate exercise can support the immune system by increasing circulation and oxygenating the body. For example brisk walking for 30-40 minutes 3-4 times a week will significantly perk up your immunity.
8. Keep away from people with flu-like symptoms
--Flu virus spreads when particles dispersed into the air through a cough or sneeze reach someone else nose. So if you have to be around someone who has flu-like symptoms, try to stay a few feet away from them and especially, avoid physical contact. Wear N95 approved nose/mouth masks.
9. Know when to get help
--Consult your doctor if you have a cough and fever and follow their instructions, including taking medicine as prescribed.
10. Avoid crowded areas
--Try to avoid unnecessary trips outside.
Q. Are there medicines to treat infection?
A. Oseltamvir and Zanamvir (also called "Tami-flu") are recommended for treatment and/or prevention of infection.
Q. If I get flu-like symptoms, what do I do?
A. First, consult a doctor immediately. Get tested for the H1N1 virus. Follow precautions to prevent infecting others:
1. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze..
-- Throw the tissue in the trash after use.
2. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
-- Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, as the germs spread this way.
3. Stay home for 7 days after your symptoms began, or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer.
4. Seek emergency medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms:
For Children:

* Fast breathing or trouble breathing
* Bluish or gray skin colour
* Not drinking enough fluids
* Not waking up or not interacting
* Irritability
* Improvement of symptoms, but later return with fever and worse cough
* Fever with a rash

For Adults:

* Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
* Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
* Sudden dizziness or confusion
* Severe or persistent comiting

Swine Flu Mask, Swine Flu Symptoms, Swine Flu India, Biomask for Swine Flu

Mexico DF. Filligent, biotechnology company based in Hong Kong, recently announced the creation of a mask-resistant infections of swine influenza and could help combat the spread of this virus.

This is BioMask, medical face mask to kill the influenza virus A, seconds after contact. It ensures that your users can use it while breathing normally.

According to a communique issued by the company, this mask could reduce the number of cases "of just one million in the first six months of a pandemic" and would make an important contribution to reducing risk in the event of a pandemic arise. "We expect the first order of masks will be available in about two weeks to proceed according to the customs procedures," says Joanne Oi, marketing manager Filligent, with regard to their possible distribution in Mexico.


As for the U.S. market, Filligent expects to receive FDA approval during the third quarter of this year and, therefore, be available in the U.S. market after that date. "Considering the crisis, we have asked FDA to expedite the approval process for the mask is in the hands of the Americans as soon as possible," said Oi.

While the Health Ministry of the Mexican government said so far no official information on the possible sale of the mask in the country. The price of the mask to the consumer is $ 1.20, according to the company.

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Swine Flu in India, Swine Flu Mumbai, Swine Flu Pandemic, Swine Flu Epidemic, Mumbai closes all Schools Fearing Spread of Swine Flu

The Indian authorities on Wednesday ordered the closure for one week in every school in Mumbai, the country's economic capital, fearing a spread of swine flu.

Some 15 people died from influenza A (H1N1), four of them in Pune (Maharashtra state), 120 km from Mumbai. So far in the country have more than 1,000 confirmed cases, said the agency Press Trust of India.

"The government has decided to close schools throughout the city for a week from Thursday," a government portvoz that state, whose capital is Mumbai, Suresh Wandile.

Mumbai is the financial and industrial capital of India, with an estimated population of 18 million.


"We have seen an increase in cases of swine flu in the state and we need to take precautions," added the spokesman, before indicating that all cinemas and theaters also will be closed for three days.

Mumbai is the capital of Bollywood, the epicenter of India's film industry.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that the vaccine used against seasonal influenza is not effective in preventing new viruses from the swine flu.

"The view (of scientists) and the consensus now is that the vaccine offers no protection (for the swine flu)," said the director of the Organization for Vaccine Research, Marie-Paule Kieny.

At a press conference, recalled that the manufacture of vaccines is a complex process that in some cases made it impossible to achieve a formula for certain diseases such as AIDS. However, he hoped the "tremendous experience" which has the pharmaceutical industry in the area of vaccines for seasonal influenza.

The expert stressed, however, can not wait to officially declare a pandemic to start manufacturing of vaccines capable of preventing transmission of the virus AH1N1.

It has advanced in about two weeks that will send the material to the viral vaccine production companies that produce each year about 400 million doses of seasonal influenza.

Building Time

Seasonal vaccines that are manufactured today have a process around four months. However, that time will be even greater in the case of the vaccine virus AH1N1, you have to add what it takes for the WHO in developing reagents between four and six weeks.

Swine Flu pandemic, Swine Flu Symptoms, Swine Influenza

According to the latest data, the new flu virus that is transmitted between humans has genetic components of human strains, two types of poultry and pigs: Eurasian and American.

After its discovery was called 'swine flu', although it has yet been demonstrated its presence in pigs.

It is not the first time that an animal virus is detected before in humans. Scientists first found the AIDS virus in the early 80s in a U.S. gay community, but it took years to prove that the origin of HIV in African chimpanzees.

According to published 'The New York Times, the Mexican authorities have inspected visually several farms near La Gloria, which could have produced the first cases in search of sick animals, but have found no apparent evidence of disease.

However, scientists warn that pigs may be carriers of the virus and suffer no consequences, like the H5N1 strain, the most aggressive bird flu can kill chickens, but does not usually cause serious problems to ducks.

Samples of animals in stables in La Gloria could shed light on the issue, although it is possible that even these herds are the source of the problem.

Another issue of concern to scientists is how there has been the genetic mix of two breeds of pigs.

Apparently, the legal importation of pigs between continents is unusual because, as these animals can transmit many diseases, it requires multiple steps, including testing and quarantine.

The U.S. press suggests that the key may lie in an illegal trade in these animals.
The first humans affected

The scientific community is not only trying to find where the virus was conceived, but also what was the first human in question.

Until a few days ago, was given by the fact that the initial focus was on Mexico. In fact, it has been suggested that the child might be Mexican Edgar Hernandez patient 0. However, since the United States has been called into question this hypothesis.

The first four cases are divided evenly between Mexico and California. In fact, it appears that two children of this American state became ill in late March, several days before the first two known cases Mexicans.

Despite this, many people point out that Mexico already detected in mid-March, a slight increase in patients attending the doctor for severe respiratory problems like pneumonia. It has shown that the virus detected, H1N1, can cause this complication.

This slight increase was not caused much concern and the principle that each year approximately 20,000 people die from pneumonia in Mexico.

The fact that the infection has caused deaths in Mexico alone has generated speculation about the possibility that the Mexican strain was different from the rest of the world. However, the research director of the WHO, Marie Paule Kieny, has remarked that the virus detected in Mexico, United States and Europe are equal to 99% of its genome. "We can say that the same virus. We have no satisfactory explanation for why the symptoms are more severe in Mexico than in other countries," said

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Influenza pandemics occur when a new strain of virus against which most people have no natural immunity. Experts believe that have been occurring at regular intervals since at least the sixteenth century.

Scientists classify influenza viruses according to their external proteins: hemagglutinin by H and N for neuraminidase. There are 16 different H types and nine different N rates, but the figures differ only strains and do not indicate greater severity.

In the twentieth century there were three influenza pandemics. Global health officials are watching carefully the current outbreaks of swine flu in the United States and Mexico to see if there is a risk that this virus detonate the next pandemic.

A look at the above three pandemics:

• 1918. The Spanish flu pandemic that began in 1918 was possibly the deadliest outbreak of all time. Was first identified in United States, but was known as the Spanish flu because they received more media attention in Spain than in other countries, who were criticizing the press during the First World War. The 1918 flu was an H1N1 strain _diferente the currently affecting Unidos_ States and Mexico and attacked mostly healthy young adults. Experts estimate that killed between 40 u and 50 million people around the world.

• 1957. The 1957 pandemic was known as Asian flu. Was caused by an H2N2 strain was first identified in China. There were two waves of disease during the pandemic, the first wave struck mainly to children, while the latter mostly affected elderly. This caused nearly two million deaths in the world.

• 1968. The most recent pandemic, known as Hong Kong flu, was the lightest of the three pandemics of the century. Was first detected in Hong Kong in 1968 and spread globally in the next two years. Those most susceptible to the virus were elderly. Approximately one million people died of the H3N2 pandemic strain.

What is the swine flu?

It is a highly contagious acute respiratory illness that usually affects pigs. It spreads through tiny airborne particles or by direct contact. According to WHO tends to infect much of the hog, killing between 1 and 4% of those affected. Not all affected animals show symptoms.

Where outbreaks of swine flu?

R. The swine flu is considered endemic in United States and has also been reported cases of outbreaks in pigs throughout the world, North America and South America, Europe, Africa and parts of Asia.

Is it safe to eat pork products?

WHO says you can eat pig products prepared with care. The swine influenza virus is eliminated when cooked over 70 degrees centigrade (more than 160? F).

What is the risk of a pandemic?

Since the identified outbreaks of influenza in swine in the United States and Mexico has increased the risk of a pandemic. A health officials worry that the swine flu could become a strain easily contagious among humans. For this to happen, would be combined with a human flu virus could mutate itself into a form transmissible. The experts worry that the more the virus circulates, it would have greater opportunities to present a pandemic. But there is no way to predict when a strain develops that triggers a pandemic.

Is there a vaccine?

Pigs are vaccinated regularly in North America against swine flu, but there is no vaccine for humans. Either way, the flu virus is evolving rapidly, which means that vaccines are obsolete. Health officials say it is not known whether the vaccine for influenza can protect against swine flu.

Although people who received the influenza vaccine is likely to have no protection against swine flu, but could protect them from acquiring the flu. If you already suffer from swine flu, it reduces the possibility of mixing both influenza in a single person to create a strain that can cause a pandemic.

What other treatment exists for swine flu?

The flu virus detected in swine in the United States and Mexico seems to treatment with oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).

As preventive measures are recommended: good hygiene, for example must be made to wash their hands regularly, and kept some distance from those with evil may be helpful

Swine Flu Pandemic, Swine Flu Symptoms, Swine Flu Vaccine, Swine Flu in India

The outbreak of swine flu that affects the Mexican capital has already killed over 80 people and affected another thousand. The World Health Organization has prepared a document with frequently asked questions about the disease.

- What is the swine flu?

This is a highly contagious respiratory disease that affects pigs, caused by a virus of the swine flu. Its morbidity is usually high and low mortality (1-4%). The virus is contagious among pigs by aerosol and through direct and indirect contact. Viruses are the most frequent type H1N1, but also circulating among pigs other viruses such as H1N2, H3N2 and H3N1. Outbreaks among pigs occur frequently, mainly in autumn and winter.

- How does it affect human health?

Occasionally been reported outbreaks and sporadic infections of swine flu in humans. Generally, clinical symptoms are similar to common flu, but their clinical presentation is wide, from asymptomatic infection to severe pneumonia that end in death.

As the classic clinical presentation of swine flu in humans is similar to the common flu (fever, cough, headache ...) and other acute respiratory tract infections, most cases have been detected by chance through the system Common influenza surveillance. Asymptomatic or mild cases may have escaped detection, so you know the real extent of the disease among humans.

- How is the infection?

Normally people are infected through diseased pigs, but some human cases have occurred without contact with these animals. Transmission between humans has occurred in some cases but has been limited to close contacts and groups of people.

- Is it safe to eat pork and pig products?

YES. The swine flu is not contagious to people through consumption of pork processed or prepared properly or through other products derived from pork. The swine influenza virus is eliminated when cooking at temperatures of 70 º C.

- Is there a risk of a pandemic?

It is likely that most people, especially those who have no regular contact with pigs have no immunity to swine influenza viruses that can prevent infection from this virus. If a swine influenza virus infection achieved effectively between humans, could cause a pandemic (worldwide epidemic).

The impact of a pandemic caused by this type of virus is difficult to predict: it depends on the virulence of the virus, immunity between people, that could confer cross-protective antibodies to the common flu. The swine influenza virus can lead to a hybrid virus mixing with a human influenza virus causing a pandemic.

- Is there a human vaccine to protect swine flu?

No. Influenza viruses change very quickly and the match between the vaccine and circulating viruses is very important to provide adequate immunity in vaccinated people. Hence the need to select virus WHO twice a year to the common flu vaccine.

The current influenza vaccine produced under WHO recommendations do not contain viruses of swine flu. It is not known whether the influenza vaccine can provide cross-protection against the current outbreak of swine flu in the U.S. and Mexico. WHO is working closely with other institutions to a new warning about the use of influenza vaccine in preventing common infection of the swine flu.

- Is there a treatment for swine flu?

Antiviral drugs for influenza are common in some countries prevent and treat the disease effectively. There are two classes of these drugs: the adamantanes (amantadine and remantadina) and the neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir).

Most previous cases of swine flu was completely recovered from the disease without needing medical attention or antiviral drugs.

Some influenza viruses develop resistance to antiviral drugs, limiting the effectiveness of prophylaxis and treatment. Viruses from recent human cases in the U.S. responded to oseltamivir and zanamivir, but were resistant to amantadine and remantadine.

The information is insufficient to make recommendations on the use of antivirals in the prevention and treatment of swine influenza infection. Doctors must make decisions based on clinical trials and epidemiological and balance damage / benefits of treatment to the patient. For the current outbreak in the U.S. and Mexico, national and local authorities recommend treatment and prevention of disease based on the susceptibility profile of the virus