9/3/12 Swine Flu - A(H1N1) Influenza

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SwineFluA(H1N1)Influenza
1.Swine Flu:
SwinefluisarespiratorydiseaseofpigscausedbytypeAinfluenza.Itdoesnotnormallyinfecthumans.
However,anewstrainofswineflucausedbytheH1N1virus(HandNindicatethetypesoftwoproteinstheyposes)killed
peopleinMexicoandtheUSarousingfearsthatitmightsetoffaglobalpandemic.
ThenewH1N1virusisamixofswine,humanandbirdflugenesdrawnfromtwoflustrainsthatinfectedpigs.
2.Symptoms of Swine Flu:
Similartothoseofregularflufever,cough,fatigueandlackofappetite.
3.Treatment:
TamifluandRelenzaareknowntoworkagainststrainsofseasonalinfluenza.
4.Global Spread of Swine Flu or A(H1N1) Influenza:
In May end, 2009, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in its report that 40 countries had officially reported almost
10,000laboratoryconfirmedhumancasesofA(H1N1)infectionincluding100deaths.
Mexico,fromwheretheoutbreakofthediseasestarted,reported1,626confirmedcases,including45deaths.
TheUSreported2,254cases,includingtwodeaths.
SwineflualsospreadtoAsiaaftercaseswereconfirmedinHongKong,SouthKorea,Chinaandothercountries.
5.World Health Organisation (WHO) Declared Swine Flu a Pandemic:
OnJune11,2009theWorldHealthOrganisation(WHO)declaredswinefluorA(H1N1)influenzaapandemic.Thelastflu
pandemicwasdeclared41yearsagoin1968whenanestimated1millionpeoplewerekilledbytheH3N1virus.
The raising of the pandemic warning level from phase 5 to 6 meant that the disease was spreading fast but did not
necessarilymeanthatitwascausingmoresevereillnessormoredeaths.
Thedecisiontoraisethewarninglevelwouldtriggerdrugmanufacturerstospeedupproductionofaswinefluvaccineand
promptgovernmentsaroundtheworldtodevotemoremoneytowardeffortstocontaintheA(H1N1)virus.
TheswinefluinfectionsintheUS,SouthAmericaandotherplacesintheworldreached30,000.
Mexico and the US had Shown that the Swine Flu Virus was Capable of Sustained HumantoHuman Transmission: The
swine flu virus had shown in Mexico and the US that it was capable of sustained humantohuman transmission and of
spreadingwithincommunities,accordingtoDr.Chan.
Countriesshouldmakesurethattheirpandemicalertplansareupdatedandhadthenecessarycapacitytocarryoutthose
plans,accordingtoKeijiFukuda,AssistantDirectorGeneralofWHO.
Countries needed to increase their surveillance and watchfulness for swine flu. The most important thing was to provide
people with accurate information. The other essential aspect was to prevent infections from spreading within institutions
likehospitals.
Swine Flu could be More Severe in Developing Countries:
The swine flu or A(H1NI) influenza could cause mild disease in affluent societies but more severe disease with higher
levelsofsicknessanddeathindevelopingcountries.
Mild Cases Reported From Many Countries:
WHO officials informed that relatively mild cases of swine flu were reported from many countries showing symptoms like
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WHO officials informed that relatively mild cases of swine flu were reported from many countries showing symptoms like
headaches, fever, and cough that were very similar to seasonal influenza. However, in places like Mexico severe cases
werereportedwhichincludedcomplicationslikepneumonia.
Human Immune System could be Defenceless Against the H1N1 Virus:
Thegeneticmaterialofthefluvirusisineightsegments.Iftwoormorestrainsoffluinfectacell,theirprogenycouldgeta
mix of those genetic segments. The H1N1 strain of swine flu is a mix of genetic material from pig, human and bird flu
viruses.ThehumanimmunesystemcouldbedefencelessagainsttheH1N1virus.
H1N1 Virus spreading through Humans who have been infected:
According to WHO officials pointed out that the risk of getting infected by swine flu did not come from pigs or pork
consumption.Theviruswasspreadingthroughpeoplewhohadbeeninfected.
Countries where the A(H1N1) virus appeared to have peaked needed to remain vigilant and prepare for a second wave of
infectionsbecausethefluwasunpredictable,accordingtotheWHODirectorGeneralMargaretChan.
Attheearlystage,thepandemiccouldbecharacterisedgloballyasbeingmoderateinseverity,accordingtotheWHO.
6.India on Alert to Deal with Swine Flu:
ThousandsofpassengersarrivinginthecountryfromplaceslikeMexicoandCanadawerescreened.Seaportswerealso
underobservation.
OnJune6,2009AndhraPradeshwentonhealthalertinthewakeofaloomingthreatofinfluenzaA(H1N1)fluvirus,after
authoritiesdetectedIndiasfirstcaseofthevirusgettingtransmittedtolocalpeoplefromaninternationalpassenger.
The State Governments were advised to maintain a precautionary vigil on the swine flulike symptoms in the wake of
increasingcasesofA(H1N1)influenza.
The stockpile of medicines would be decentralised strategically and located in every State, along with protective
equipment,accordingtotheJointSecretary,HealthandFamilyWelfareMinistry,VineetChowdhry.
Supplies of capsules, personal equipment, N95 masks and threelayered surgical masks were decentralised and kept at
theHealthandFamilyWelfareMinistrysRegionalDirectorsofficeslocatedin19cities.
TheCentralGovernmentissuedanadvisorythattheretailsaleofOseltamivirphosphate,underthenameTamiflu,wasnot
permittedinIndia.Itadvisedthepeopleagainstbuyingthedrugintheretailmarket.Tamifluistheonlydrugknowntobe
effective in curing influenza. Indiscriminate use of the drug could result in the virus developing resistance to this only
knowntreatmentofA(H1N1)influenza,accordingtotheGovernmentadvisory.
Indiahadatremendouscapacitytodealwithswineflusituationintheeventofanoutbreak,accordingtotheWHO.Itwas
pointed out that India had a tremendous capacity to handle any situation and it was in the forefront of preparedness as it
wasindealingwithSARSandAvianinfluenza(birdflu).
7.Measures Taken by India to Contain Swine Flu:
By the end of June 2009 the total number of confirmed A (H1N1) influenza cases in India had gone up to 68. Of the 68
cases,41hadbeendischargedandtherestadmittedtohealthfacilities.
TherewasnodeathduetoA(H1N1)influenzainIndia,accordingtotheUnionHealthandFamilyWelfareMinisterGhulam
NabiAzad.
Given the size and population of the country, and the small number of confirmed cases reported, there was no need to
panic,accordingtoMr.Azad.
India was fully prepared to face the A (H1N1) influenza or swine flu challenge. Sixteen more laboratories had been
activatedand10milliondoesofTamifluprocured,accordingtotheUnionHealthandFamilyWelfareMinister.
The government would be decentralising its medicine stock and distributing it to seven centres across the country,
includingNewDelhi,Karnal,Mumbai,Chennai,KolkataandGuwahati,accordingtotheJointSecretary(HealthandFamily
Welfare)VineetChowdhury.
The pandemic action plan would involve various government departments and also the National Disaster Management
Authority(NDMA)tocontainthespreadofthevirus.
8.India to Produce an Indigenous Vaccine for A (H1N1) Influenza:
9/3/12 Swine Flu - A(H1N1) Influenza
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TheIndianCouncilofMedicalResearch(ICMR)initiatedstepstoproduceanindigenousvaccineforswinefluorA(H1N1)
influenzaandexpectsthevaccinetobeavailableinfourtosixmonthsataffordablerates.
TheVaccinewouldbeproducedindifferentregionsofthecountrysothatitwouldbeavailablewhereverrequired.
9.Changes in the Genetic Makeup Could Make the A (H1N1) Virus More Infective:
The swine flu virus or the A (H1N1) influenza virus has the ability to transfer from one human to another. This chain of
transmission,aidedbyglobaltravelhastakenthevirusfromMexicotocountriesaroundtheworld.
ChangesinthegeneticmakeupoftheA(H1N1)viruscouldmakeitevenmoreefficientatspreadingandinfectingpeople,
accordingtoscientists.
Virusesaregenerallygeneticmaterialpackedinaprotectivecoating.Theycannotreproducethemselvesandareobligate
parasitesthatenterandtakeoveralivingcell.Theyusethelivingcelltomakecopiesofthemselves.
Theswinefluviruscoulddevelopmutationsinitsgenomeandalsoswapgenesegmentswithotherfluvirusesandcould
becomeevenmoreadeptathumantohumantransmission.
10.Second Wave of Swine Flu Possible:
Medical experts pointed out that although the A(H1N1) influenza was waning globally, the world must brace for a second
waveofinfectionthatpreviouspandemicshaveshown,couldbefarmorevirulent.
11.Need for a Vaccine Against Flu Pandemic - Vaccines to be Available by the End of 2009:
In early May 2009, the WHO convened a meeting of all flu vaccine manufacturers to discuss production of a pandemic
vaccineagainsttheH1N1strain.Producingapandemicvaccinewouldtaketime.Fromthetimeapotentiallypandemicflu
strainisidentified,ittakesbetweenfourandsixmonthstohavethefirstdosesofthevaccineavailableforuse.
Swinefluvaccineshavealreadybeendevelopedinlaboratoriesaroundtheworld,butwouldnotbeavailableuntiltheend
of2009,accordingtothemanufacturers.

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