Get to know the 2009 new-strain influenza

The 2009 new-strain influenza is an airborne disease. Analysis by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) identified the four component strains as one endemic in humans, one endemic in birds, and two endemic in pigs (swine). However, some scientists have stated that analyses of the 2009 swine flu (A/H1N1) viral genome "suggests that all segments are of swine origin". The virus infects by human-to-human transmission. Investigations of infected patients indicated no direct contact with swine, such as at a farm or agricultural fair. The strain was later confirmed to have been transmitted between humans such as when coughing.

Symptoms

The 2009 new-strain influenza is an influenza-like illness in which patients have fever, cough, sore throat, and may present with rash, headache, cold, weakness, diarrhea, and vomiting. All types of influenza can be fatal, generally through pulmonary edema and respiratory system failure.

Prevention

• Covering nose an mount with a tissue upon coughing and sneezing followed by proper disposal of the tissue
• Encouraging pursuit of medical evaluation at earliest onset of symptoms.
• Assuring adequate and thorough hand washing and use of alcohol based hand cleansers
• Staying home from work and/or school upon onset and for the duration of symptoms.
• Avoid being in crowded areas.

Treatment

Initially symptomatic, but the use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) may be recommended, depending upon clinical indications.

Is an effective vaccine already available against the new influenza A(H1N1) virus? (update on 2 may 2009)

Ans: No, but work is already under way to develop such a vaccine. Influenza vaccines generally contain a dead or weakened form of a circulating virus. The vaccine prepares the body’s immune system to defend against a true infection. For the vaccine to protect as well as possible, the virus in it should match the circulating "wild-type" virus relatively closely. Since this H1N1 virus is new, there is no vaccine currently available made with this particular virus. Making a completely new influenza vaccine can take five to six months.
more

Influenza Vaccination

Most people are aware that influenza, commonly known as 'flu', is more severe than a 'cold'. It is caused by an influenza virus which can mutate into different strains. This is why it has the ability to cause an epidemic every year. It is found that 30 percent of Thai people who have respiratory tract diseases go down with influenza. The virus is present all year round but commonly occurs during the rainy and the winter season (May to October).

An enormous influenza pandemic occurred in 1918 and caused over 50 million deaths worldwide. Lesser pandemics happened again in 1957 and 1977. It is believed that a strain of influenza has recurred or the virus has been transmitted from animal to human (like Bird Flu) or an old strain has mutated. Health officials are concerned that a more severe epidemic influenza could spread all over the world in the near future, creating another pandemic.

Immunization against the usual strains of influenza (Flu vaccine) can be used for children over 6 months of age and for healthy people. For children under the age of 9 who have never received this vaccine, they are required to have two separate doses, one month apart, and then once a year thereafter. This vaccine is also recommended for people at risk.

Influenza vaccine has been produced and used for many years and it provides fair protection. It is recommended to have this vaccine once a year because flu results from different strains of influenza virus and the vaccine is tailored to cover these as they appear, however currently there is no vaccine against Swine flu.

Related Link: Influenza A(H1A1) update by WHO

Resource: Vaccine Book by Pediatricians Club of Thailand, Vaccination Handbook by Contagious Disease Association of Thailand

Price of Flu Vaccination

Make an Inquiry