Swine Flu: The New Pandemic
I think everyone's seen the images on CNN a thousand time. Surgical-masked Mexicans crowding the hospitals with worrisome shots of full hospital beds.The Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization raised their alert levels in hopes of catching and cutting off the infection at the bud, but it seems that cases have been reported all over the world. It seems that the current fatalities from disease are from Mexico but everyone is just expecting for the other shoe to drop.
To understand all of this panic, ypou need to have a little background. Influenza, or more popularly known as the flu, is probably one of the most infectious diseases out there. Airborne and highly contagious, it could spread like wildfire all across the world. Now you're asking what's the matter with a few people getting a bit of sniffles? That's because this isn't your ordinary flu.
A lot of the flu viruses we are exposed to have been in the human system for hundreds of years. We've managed to build an immunity to these strains. The big problem that's got everyone running scared is the idea that a flu strain has crossed species. This is what happened with the bird flu and now, with the swine flu. The pigs and birds have also built up resistances to these diseases, however, since humans are not used to them, these strains of flu have a very large potential of being fatal.
The last time a large-scale flu epidemic raged around the world, electricity was just coming into vogue and cars were all Model Ts. The Spanish Flu Epidemic of 1918 literally set the bar for every modern disease in terms of casualties. Fifty to a hundred million people worldwide died over a period of two years from 1918 to 1920 as the disease spread worldwide. Following on the heels of the Great War, it was a one-two punch that killed an entire generation of young men and women. What everyone's afraid of is this: the 1918 epidemic was a subtype of the H1N1 flu virus, the same virus that seems to have crossed over and become a real threat to humans.
This is why the CDC is keeping a close watch on Mexico and hoping all of the subsidiary cases worldwide aren't indications of the beginning of some worldwide epidemic. The good news about this is that the disease is treatable. Medicine and vaccine production alerts have been sent out by the CDC and most pharmaceutical companies have started churning out oseltamivir and zanamivir.
The problem with that is the demand may outstrip the supply depending on the swine flu's virulence. More common antiviral drugs are also available but they're not exactly definitive cures. They serve to weaken the symptoms and give you a fighting chance and prevent some of the worse flu symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting.
So as the world waits and watches the situation in Mexico, it would be a good idea to take a few precautions. Regular hand washes and vitamins can help make sure you avoid the initial infection of the swine flu. Avoiding pork's not needed though. Swine flu can't be transmitted through food. Remember to just a take a few preventive measures and you can come through clean and healthy.
Comments
Menu
My Articles
Swine Flu Phase 5How To Keep Yourself From Being Infected With Swine Flu
Don't Touch That Pork: A Few Swine Flu Truths And Myths
The Phases Of Swine Flu
In Dire Need Of Swine Flu Vaccine
Swine Flu Can Transfer To Human Race
Swine Flu: The New Pandemic
Swine Flu Thousand Cases
Recalling The 1976 Swine Flu Debacle
The Lowdown On The 2009 Swine Flu Outbreak
Vaccinations Of Swine Flu
The Latest Killer Flu: Swine Flu And You
Swine Flu: Overview, Treatment, And Prevention
How Serious Is Swine Flu?
Swine Flu Vaccine Productions
You Too Can Prevent Swine Flu
An Overview Of Swine Flu
Swine Flu: What You Need To Know
Pregnant Women Are More Risky In Swine Flu
Tamiflu And Relenza Against Swine Flu
H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)
Swine Flu Vaccine Close To Reality According To Experts
You And The Swine Flu: Knowledge That May Save You
Signs And Symptoms Of Swine Flu
Related Sites | My Articles Don't Touch That Pork: A Few Swine Flu Truths And Myths With all the wailing and gnashing of teeth involved with the latest flu.. In Dire Need Of Swine Flu Vaccine According to the World Health Organization, efforts for developing a.. Swine Flu Phase 5 Of this Swine Flu’s 5th phase spread out, if there are at least two.. Swine Flu: The New Pandemic Everyone's all abuzz with panic nowadays it seems. That's mostly because.. |
|
|
Related News:
|