The high level committee, presided over by Health Minister, Smt. P. K. Sreemathi has decided to improve preventive measures against swine flu attack in the State. The meeting informed that as swine flu is curable, there is no need to be panic about it. Enough drugs are available to tackle the virus. The number of screening centres and treatment centres will be increased. Screening facilities will be extended to the private hospitals also. As the drugs for swine flu has been regulated by the Central Government, private hospitals will be given drugs free of cost. At present, the swabs are sent to National Institute of Communicable Diseases for testing. This facility is available at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology at Thiruvananthapuram. But the Central Government has not given sanction to conduct this test. The State Government is trying to avail this sanction. Round-the-clock help line will be provided through out the State. People coming from abroad with symptoms are advised to take proper screening.[Source]
What is swine flu?
Swine flu is a respiratory disease which infects pigs. Caused by influenza type A virus, there are regular outbreaks among herds of pigs, where the disease causes high levels of illness but is rarely fatal.There are many different types of swine flu and like human flu, the infection is constantly changing.
Human to human transmission of swine flu thought to spread in the same way as seasonal flu – through coughing and sneezing.
An outbreak in Mexico seems to involve a new type of swine flu that contains DNA that is typically found in avian and human viruses. The World Health Organization has confirmed at least some of the cases are caused by this new strain of H1N1.
There is no vaccine that specifically protects against swine flu, and it was unclear how much protection current human flu vaccines might offer.
However, the CDC says two flu drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza, seem effective against the new strain. Roche, the maker of Tamiflu, said the company is prepared to immediately deploy a stockpile of the drug if requested. Both drugs must be taken early, within a few days of the onset of symptoms, to be most effective. There have also been concerns that some forms of flu have been developing resistance to the drugs.
Scientists have long been concerned that a new flu virus could launch a worldwide pandemic of a killer disease.
A new pandemic flu virus could evolve when different flu viruses infect a pig, a person or a bird, mingling their genetic material. The resulting hybrid could spread quickly because people would have no natural defences against it.
The most notorious flu pandemic is thought to have killed at least 40 million people worldwide in 1918-19. Two other, less deadly flu pandemics struck in 1957 and 1968.
It tends to spread in autumn and winter but can circulate all year round.
How the influenza A H1N1 virus spreads?
Flu viruses are always changing, and new strains emerge every year. The current swine influenza A H1N1 virus is one of these. If a flu virus appears that is very different from the others, most people will not have immunity to it, and it may spread quickly and become a pandemic.
Concerns have recently increased due to the spread of swine flu in Mexico, which has now reached other countries including the UK. A strain of flu that usually only affects animals has infected people and caused serious illness and deaths. This new virus could potentially cause a pandemic.
How the flu virus spreads?
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) says the new swine flu virus is highly contagious and is spreading from person to person. The swine flu virus is spread in exactly the same way as ordinary colds and flu.
A flu virus is made up of tiny particles that can be spread through the droplets that come out of the nose and mouth when someone coughs or sneezes.
If someone coughs or sneezes and they do not cover it, those droplets can spread about one metre (3ft). If you are very close to the person you might breathe them in.
Or, if someone coughs or sneezes into their hand, those droplets and the virus within them are easily transferred to surfaces that the person touches.
Everyday items at home and in public places may have traces of the virus, such as door handles, the TV remote control, hand rails and computer keyboards. Viruses can survive for several hours on these surfaces.
If you touch these surfaces and touch your face, the virus can enter your system, and you can become infected.
Why it can spread quickly?
Evidence from previous pandemics suggests that one person will infect about two others, and that influenza spreads particularly rapidly in closed communities such as schools or residential homes.
People are most infectious soon after they develop symptoms, although they can spread the virus for up to five days after the start of symptoms (for children this is seven days).
What are the symptoms of swine flu?
The symptoms of swine flu are broadly the same as those of ordinary flu, but may be more severe and cause more serious complications.
The typical symptoms are:
Sudden fever (a high body temperature of over 38C or 100.4F) or a sudden cough.
Other symptoms may include:
- headache
- tiredness
- chills
- aching muscles
- limb or joint pain
- diarrhoea or stomach upset
- sore throat
- runny nose
- sneezing
- loss of appetite
Most people who have contracted swine flu recover within a week and do not suffer complications, even without being given antiviral medication.
However, experts point out that as this is a new virus, its behaviour cannot be predicted with certainty.
Swine flu is different from seasonal flu in that most serious illnesses have been in younger age groups, as happened in all three 20th-century influenza pandemics.
A doctor faced with a symptomatic patient cannot yet predict with certainty the course of their illness and whether or not they will be in the small proportion who may become more seriously ill.
Antiviral medication is still being given to all those with swine flu in the UK, subject to their doctor’s discretion.
If you feel unwell:
If you have flu-like symptoms and are concerned that you may have swine flu:
* Read up on swine flu symptoms then use the NHS Direct swine flu symptom checker.
* If you are then still concerned, stay at home and call your GP who will be able to provide a diagnosis over the phone.
* If the GP confirms swine flu by telephone, they will give you a voucher reference number entitling you to antiviral medication.
* Give this number to a healthy friend or relative and ask them to pick up the antivirals for you from a designated local collection centre.
* In the meantime, take paracetamol-based cold remedies to reduce fever and other symptoms, drink plenty of fluids and get lots of rest.
High-risk groups
Some groups of people are more at risk of serious illness if they catch swine flu, and will need to start taking antiviral medication as soon as they are confirmed with the illness.
Scientists are still learning more about the risk profile of the virus, but it is already known that the following people are particularly susceptible:
* people with:
- chronic lung disease,
- chronic heart disease,
- chronic kidney disease,
- chronic liver disease,
- chronic neurological disease (such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease)
- immunosuppression (whether caused by disease or treatment) and
- diabetes mellitus,
* patients who have had drug treatment for asthma within the past three years,
* pregnant women,
* people aged 65 years and older, and
* young children under five years old.
It is vital that people in these higher-risk groups who catch swine flu get antivirals and start taking them as soon as possible.
How to prevent swine flu?
Preventing the spread of germs is the single most effective way to slow the spread of diseases like swine flu until a vaccine is developed.
According to the NHS website , you can protect yourself and your family from swine flu by
* ensuring everyone washes their hands regularly with soap and water
* cleaning surfaces regularly
You can prevent a virus spreading to others by:
* always carrying tissues
* using tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze
* binning the tissues as soon as possible
* washing your hands regularly
CATCH IT. BIN IT. KILL IT. is a simple way to remember this.
You can also prepare now and in the build-up to a pandemic by:
* Confirming a network of ‘flu friends’ – friends and relatives – who could help you if you fall ill. They could collect medicines and other supplies for you so you do not have to leave home and possibly spread the virus.
* Knowing your NHS number and those of other family members and keeping them in a safe place. You will be able to find your NHS Number on your medical card or other items such as prescribed medication, GP letter or hospital appointment card/letter.
* Having a stock of food and other supplies available at home that will last for two weeks, in case you and your family are ill.
Masks
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) recommends that healthcare workers should wear a facemask if they come into close contact with a person with symptoms (within one metre) to reduce their risk of catching the virus from patients.
However, the HPA does not recommend that healthy people wear facemasks to go about their everyday business.
Why shouldn't the general public wear facemasks?
Because there’s no conclusive evidence that facemasks will protect healthy people in their day-to-day lives.
The virus is spread by picking up the virus from touching infected surfaces, or by someone coughing or sneezing at very close range – so unless you are standing close to someone with the virus, wearing a facemask will not make a difference.
There are concerns about the risks posed by not using facemasks correctly.
Facemasks must be changed regularly as they are less effective when dampened by a person’s breath. People may infect themselves if they touch the outer surface of their mask, or may infect others by not disposing of old masks safely.
Finally, wearing a facemask may encourage complacency. People need to focus on good hand hygiene, staying at home if they are feeling unwell, and covering their mouth when they cough or sneeze.
Vaccine
A vaccine to protect against swine flu is being developed, but it is not available yet.
The first batches of vaccine are expected to arrive in the autumn, and 30 million double doses – enough for half the population – are expected to be available by the end of the year.
The government has ordered enough vaccine for the whole population and, when it becomes available, will focus on those at the greatest risk first.
[From ExpressBuzz]
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