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There is a deep concern, worldwide, over the number of people infected by the global outbreak of H1n1 virus, commonly known as swine flu – a blend of bird, human and pig flu genes. There have been 3,065 hospitalizations recorded and 127 deaths.
An estimated 15 million to 60 million Americans, however, are infected by the seasonal epidemics of flu annually, with around 36,000 deaths reported. Common flu is classed as endemic – with seasonal epidemic recurrences. In the United States alone it is estimated that common flu results in
• 3 million days hospitalization,
• 30 million outpatient visits
• medical costs of $10 billion annually
• $15 billion lost earnings annually
• Total economic burden over $80 billion annually
When compared to the annual influenza, the effect of H1n1 swine flu is minor. Starting off in Mexico, there has now been an estimated 1 million people infected in a America alone by the swine flu. However, for the most part the illness is mild and the patients quickly recover, say the U.S. health officials.
“The estimate of 1 million victims is based on mathematical modeling,” says a flu surveillance official from the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Lyn Finelli.
Symptoms of the H1n1 are very similar to the common variety of flu. Severe symptoms of swine flu are
• trouble breathing,
• pain in chest or abdomen,
• recurring fever with rash,
• confusion,
• severe or consistent vomiting.
Swine flu has been officially named as a pandemic – an epidemic of a new infectious disease that spreads through humans across large areas and to which there is little or no immunity. A widespread endemic disease that is stable in terms of how many people get sick, as in the common flu, is not classed as a pandemic.
June the 11th, the World Health Organization raised the level from phase 5 to phase 6 (more than three WHO regions affected by the disease). The last time phase 6 was used was the Hong Kong flu of 1968, which caused the deaths of nearly 1 million people.
WHO however says the seriousness of the swine influenza pandemic is only moderate. The full clinical range of swine flu is still to be discovered. The principle cause for concern has been the amount of young healthy people, with no pre-existing medical conditions, who have been killed by the virus.
The biggest fear is that the virus will mutate and that underlying medical conditions will double the effect of the virus. Health systems may not be able to deal with the number of victims.
WHO has no evidence that there is any danger connected with eating pork products and is not issuing any travel restrictions.
"Things such as 'social distancing', (including wearing masks in crowded places),” says Dr Ira Longini, from Vaccine and Infectious Disease institute, Hutchinson Research Centre in Seattle, Washington, “And seeking medical treatment can reduce the sickness by nearly two-thirds".
Perhaps we should however, pay more attention to the effects of the ordinary everyday variety of flu, which is the true killer lurking in our neighbourhood.
Dr Wendy Stenberg-Tendys and her husband are CEO's of YouMe Support Foundation (http://youmesupport.org) providing high school education grants for children who are without hope. A chance to fulfill their dreams at whatever level they chose to. Take a few minutes to check it all out at Win A Resort (http://winaresort.com)
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