Swine Flu Outbreak (H1N1)

I get so many email alerts to my screen name its overwhelming. Anyway, one of my emails was from YourTotalHealth <livelongernews@mail.ivillage.com> and it was all about swine flu. I was reading it and it included information which I would like to share with you.

I know a lot of people may have questions about the swine flu and how common it is and what their chances are of catching the swine flu. This is why I have researched information to help my family and yours healthy in this terrible flu season. Please take this Hub seriously and read the many ideas I added on this Hub about how to keep those you love safe from the H1N1.

Now, I know this Hub looks very long, but there are many things a person should know about swine flu. I'm sure I have not included all things a person should know about the swine flu, but I sure tried. Please feel free to comment on your opinions.

About Swine Flu (Influenza A- H1N1):

The flu is not new and has been around for over 2,000 years. In the summer of 1580, the first influenza outbreak occurred in Asia. It spread to Africa and Europe in only six months. Oceanic explorers and colonists then spread the disease to the Americas. Doesn't that sound like the recent outbreak?? Today, annual influenza occur in the seasons of Fall and Winter and the people most likely to contract the disease is the young, the old, and medically fragile. Worldwide, the disease has started a pattern of starting every ten to fifty years. And, yes, THE FLU IS DEADLY.

History of the flu:

One of the first major epidemics was the Spanish flu during World War One. Between 1918 and 1920, this disease KILLED 675,000 Americans and about 50 million worldwide! It is also a cousin to the H1N1 strain that is currently causing the current epidemic.

In 1957, the Asian Flu was in full outbreak, which started in China and traveled to the USA. This influenza subtype is known as H2N2 and a vaccine was available, although in low supply, and turned out to be insufficient. That season, the Asian flu killed 70,000 Americans and 2 million people worldwide.

In July 1968, "The Hong Kong Flu", also known as influenza H3N2, starts up in Hong Kong. It had traveled to the USA from American military troops who were returning from Vietnam. The pandemic proved less deadly than the Spanish or Asian flu, and killed 34,000 Americans and one million people worldwide.

Occurring in January 1976, 13 soldiers at a U.S. Army base in New Jersey became ill with the flu, and 1 was killed from the disease. Health officials identify the virus as the same subtype as the one that triggered the Spanish Flu in 1918 of H1N1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials convinced President Gerald Ford and Congress to fund a national vaccination campaign. The flu itself did not go away but the side affects to the vaccination eliminated. There were few deaths.

In 1997, 18 people with Avian Flu, also known as "Bird Flu", were hospitalized in Hong Kong. Six of them died but the virus did not pass easily. Most victims had caught the disease by close contact with the infected poultry. Since then, the “bird flu” outbreaks have been recorded in Asia, as well as few in Europe and North America.

The ongoing Swine Flu:

Starting in April of 2009, there was reported an unusually severe flu striking young adults in Mexico. This flu passes from person to person and the disease soon became known in the US and South America! A great number of swine flu victims experience vomiting and diarrhea, which normally does not occur with the common flu.

Just two months later, on June 11 of 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Phase 6 pandemic- the highest level- after more than 1,000 H1N1 cases in Australia. Swine flu is now known and caught on every continent in the world, except Antarctica.

How many people the swine flu has affected:

Between 1.8 million and 5.7 million Americans caught the H1N1 influenza this spring.

As many as 21,000 were hospitalized.

At least 4,735 people have been killed by swine flu.

These are just from April of 2009!

Questions you may have, now answered:

• If you have a child that attends school regularly, you should buy them antibacterial wipes or hand sanitizer for them to bring to school with them. At schools is where most young children are catching the flu.
  
• Swine flu is worse than the regular flu because we haven’t seen this swine flu before and it is acting differently than the regular flu does: It lasted through the summer, when most disappear and it also affects the young and healthy the hardest, and much harder than the typical flu.
• The regular flu shot has not been as available as it normally has been because of the new need for the swine flu vaccine, which is now also not being given as much as we all need it. Starting in December, doctors say they should have the shots in and giving them out as frequent as normally.
• Flu could endanger a woman's pregnancy and all pregnant women should get the swine flu shot and the regular flu shot before next flu season.
• Many people say that they have gotten sick after taking the flu shot and it is not uncommon. The flu shot does not contain live virus and so cannot give anyone the flu. A flu shot sometimes produces mild symptoms such as slight fever, mild achiness, and maybe a feeling of being “off” for a day or two, but these are not the symptoms of the flu. These feelings are from your body reacting to the vaccine and forming protective antibodies. The flu symptoms are way worse.
• Most people are nervous about getting the flu shot because they say they "hear" people having reactions from it. However, the flu shot is not made any differently than the regular flu shot. Most people are nervous because it is a new shot and we do not know much about it yet. Reactions to all vaccines occur to some people.
• The two vaccines, live and dead, offer the same protection and both are effective. However, it seems that the nasal spray is more available but contains a live weakened virus and is not recommended for use in pregnant women.
• The seasonal flu shot can be followed by either the H1N1 mist or the H1N1 nasal spray at any time. However, it is not recommended to receive the two different types of nasal spray vaccine at the same time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines call for the H1N1 and seasonal flu sprays to be administered at least four weeks apart.
• A vaccine, like any medicine, could possibly cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of a vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. Serious problems from influenza vaccine are very rare.
• Possible MILD problems from the swine flu vaccine: soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given, hoarseness, sore or red eyes, cough, itchiness, fever and aches. If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last 1 to 2 days.
• Possible SEVERE problems from the swine flu vaccine: Life-threatening allergic reactions from vaccines are very rare. If they do occur, it is usually within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot and would be no more than 1 or 2 cases per million people vaccinated. This is much lower than the risk of severe influenza, which can be prevented by vaccination.
• If you or a family member, usually in young children, notice someone starts washing their hands more constantly than normal and talking about germs constantly, this is normal. Many kids hear things about the swine flu that scare them and they are being overly careful. However, if their habits start to interfere with their everyday lives, you should talk to a doctor.

How to help yourself and your family stay healthy:

FREQUENT AND THOROUGH HAND WASHING FOR AT LEAST 2 MINUTES, AVOIDING TOUCHING YOUR FACE, USING DISINFECTANTS AND AS SANITIZING YOUR HOUSE REGULARLY.

If you think you are catching the flu, the best thing to do is get plenty of rest, eat healthy foods and drink plenty of fluids.

My Opinion:

I am not trying to change anyone's opinions about swine flu. I have heard many people having reactions from the swine flu vaccine and I have also heard of many, many people dying from catching the disease. If you think about it, there are many more deaths than reactions from the swine flu. Reactions go away but catching a disease that might possibly kill you is what troubles me. This is why I have signed up with my parent's permission to get the vaccine that will soon be available through my school.