Swine Flu Pandemic, Swine Flu Symptoms, Swine Flu Vaccine, WHO declared global emergency

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