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Novel Influenza AH1N1 Virus |
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 30 November 1999 |
H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)  A H1N1 is a new flu virus of swine origin that is contaminating people and is spreading from person-to-person, sparking an increasing outbreak of disease in the United States. A growing figure of cases are being stated worldwide. It’s considered that H1N1 flu extends in the same manner that a usual serial influenza viruses spread; mainly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are ill with the virus. The undefined severity of this H1N1 outbreak will be in terms of illness and death compared with other influenza viruses. Since this is a new virus, majority doesn’t have immunity to it, and illness may be more rigorous and prevalent as a result. Presently there is no vaccine to shelter against this H1N1 virus. Center for Disease Control (CDC) foresees that there will be more cases, more hospitalizations and more deaths related to this new virus in the coming days and weeks. What are the symptoms of this Virus The indications of this new H1N1 flu virus in people are the same to the symptoms of seasonal flu and comprise fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A considerable quantity of people who have been contaminated with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Similar to seasonal flu, severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus. How critical is diseases related to this H1N1 Flu Virus? It’s not known at this time how critical this new H1N1 flu virus will be in the universal inhabitants. In seasonal flu, there are certain people that are at higher risk of serious flu-related complications. This involves people of 65 years and older, children younger than five years old, pregnant women, and people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions. Early symptoms are that pregnancy and other previously recognized medical conditions that increase the risk of influenza-related complications, like asthma and diabetes, also appear to be associated with increased risk of complications from this novel H1N1 virus infection as well. One thing that seems to be unusual from seasonal influenza is that adults older than 64 years do not yet appear to be at increased danger of H1N1-related complications thus far in the outbreak. CDC is performing laboratory research to see if certain people might have normal protection to this virus, depending on their age. Early statements point out that no children and few adults younger than 60 years old have existing antibody to the novel H1N1 flu virus; however, about one-third of adults older than 60 may have antibodies against this virus. It is unknown how much, if any, protection may be afforded against the novel H1N1 flu by any existing antibody. What is Swine Flu? Like people, pigs can have influenza (flu), but swine flu viruses aren’t the same as human flu viruses. Swine flu never often infects people, and the uncommon human cases that have happened in the past have primarily affected people who had direct contact with pigs. But the present “swine flu” outbreak is distinctive. It’s caused by a new swine flu virus that has altered in manners that permit it to multiply from person to person — and it’s happening among people who haven’t had any contact with pigs. That makes it a human flu virus. In an effort to avoid confusion, the CDC is calling the virus “novel influenza A (H1N1) virus” to differentiate it both from flu viruses that infect mainly pigs and from the seasonal influenza A H1N1 viruses that have been in circulation for many years. Can A H1N1 spread in the food we eat?  With the number of cases of influenza A H1N1 (human swine flu) rising, it is natural for people to become worried about the safety of day-to-day activities. Anxieties about the safety of the food supply have come to the fore. Is pork safe to eat? Could foods be contaminated by infected farm workers or food handlers? According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), influenza viruses are not known to spread through eating food. For instance, while the H1N1 virus affects pigs, it cannot be spread by eating safely-handled, thoroughly-cooked pork. No changes to cooking time or temperature have been advised. Just like other forms of influenza, H1N1 spreads when someone inhales the germs that fly into the air after the cough or sneeze of an infected person or by touching surfaces contaminated with the germs and then touching one’s mouth, nose, or eyes. And just as with the seasonal flu, an infected food handler could possibly spread the virus to people or surfaces in their environment. But that virus could only then infect someone else if they directly inhale the germs or touch their nose, mouth, or eyes. Through common sense, the modest risk that any flu poses to our food supply can be easily avoided: - Anyone who handles food – from a person cooking at home to farm workers to chefs to wait staff at restaurants – must follow safe food-handling guidelines. These include frequent hand-washing, sticking to cooking times and temperatures, and proper scrubbing and washing of fresh produce. A flu virus can live on surfaces and infect others for 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on the surface, so there is little chance that fruits and vegetables would carry an infection risk all the way to the market.
- The CDC recommends that any food service worker be advised to stay home from work if they experience flu-like symptoms. Employers bear the responsibility to keep a hygienic workplace and to alert their workers to any potential risks.
- Everyone must wash their hands thoroughly and avoid touching their nose, mouth, or eyes.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 31 August 2010 )
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