Hi there as you are probably well aware Swine flu or its proper name H1N1 is spreading from Mexico to the rest of the world. Now as stuff like this happens I get really worried I can't even watch films that have Viruses in no matter it happening in real life, so I am writing this guide to reassure me and you that there is nothing to worry about, and for you to spot early signs of H1N1 and what to do and how to avoid it.
Index 1. what is H1N1? 2. The Recent Outbreak 3. What Are The Symptoms? 4. Treatment? 5. Should I Worry? 6. Recent News About Swine Flu 7. Something To Reassure You 8. Q&A 9. Sources
What Is H1N1?
H1N1 is a subtype of the species influenza A virus. The "H" refers to the hemagglutinin protein, and the "N" refers to the neuraminidase protein. H1N1 is a strain of influenza made up from mild human flu strains, endemic pig strains, and various strains found in birds.
The Recent Outbreak
The recent outbreak begun in Mexico and was believed to be Asian and European strains that traveled to Mexico in migratory birds or in people, then combined with North American strains in Mexican pig factory farms before jumping over to farm workers. So What Is Happening So Far?
This current Swine Flu which begun in Mexico is believed to have killed up to 150 people there, Cases have also been confirmed in the US, Spain and the UK. The US currently have 40 Confirmed cases of H1N1 and 25 possible cases have come to light in the UK 9 of those have been dismissed while the rest are still being investigated.
What Are The Symptoms?
The Symptoms of H1N1 Mimic that of normal flu,
Fever Cough Sore Throat Body Aches Headache Chills and Fatigue
A few patients also said that they Suffered from,
Vomiting Diarrhea
I would advise if you live in Mexico and the US that is you are suffering from these is to go to your Doctor or Hospital as it is always better safe than sorry, If you live like me in the UK or if you live in the areas with minor cases like Spain, New Zealand etc I would wait to see if it does spread more in your country before starting visiting Docters or Hospitals (unless you have just met someone who has visited Mexico or the US) Although if you do find you are suffering from these and are a bit worried I'm sure your Doctor or Hospital wouldn't mind checking you over.
Treatment?
Treatment is very simple you simply take a Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) tablet or or Relenza(zanamivir) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms). As yet there is no Vaccine against this Virus the WHO (World Health Organisation) will be currently working at a Vaccine as the Threat from this is quite serious, So I would expect a Vaccine not that far away.
Should I worry?
Personally I can't say everything is going to be alright no need to worry, but I am just a simple TWC member. All I can say is that I think there is no need to panic because the US, UK and Europe etc has really good health care systems and are ready to deal with the situation, the only reason that Mexico has suffered more deaths is that they don't have as much money as the rest of us so there Health Care system is not what it should be. All I can say is don't get too worried and Remember to wash your Hands and if the country you are currently living in is affected badly is to wear face masks and stock up on food and try not to have to much contact with other people except those in your house, and Remember if your are suffering from any of the symptoms don't just think "Hey I'll be alright" go to your local Doctor or Hospital or if your in Mexico you nearest Treatment center and get looked at.
Also you cannot contract H1N1 from eating Pork so don't let it put you off eating some scrumptious Pork Chops
Recent News About Swine Flu
These are the recent news stories about the Swine Flu outbreak with the new stories near the top of the list.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Scottish Swine Flu Couple Doing OK-
A Scottish couple who caught swine flu during their Mexican honeymoon are said to be responding well to treatment in hospital. Newlyweds Dawn and Ian Askham are being treated for the virus in hospital after returning from the coastal resort of Cancun. The couple, from Polmont, near Falkirk, fell ill at the weekend, days after flying home. They are being treated in isolation at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, Lanarkshire.
Wolverine Becomes Swine Flu Casualty-
The Mexican premiere of X-Men Origins: Wolverine has been postponed due to the outbreak of swine flu. A planned red carpet walk by Hugh Jackman was scrapped as a result of the health scare. Cinemas in Mexico remain close after the virus claimed at least 149 lives.
Swine Flu Fears Close Numerous Schools In Several States-
California has confirmed 11 cases of the swine flu that threatens to become a full pandemic, state health officials said Monday.
The World Health Organization on Monday raised its pandemic alert for a new strain of swine flu by one level, two levels short of declaring a full pandemic.
The phase 4 alert means there is sustained human-to-human transmission in at least one country, WHO said.
"The change to a higher phase of pandemic alert indicates that the likelihood of a pandemic has increased, but not that a pandemic is inevitable," the agency said in a statement.
Officials in California said they also had two probable cases of the flu, which has killed 149 people in Mexico. The most severe case reported so far in California was that of a 35-year-old woman hospitalized in intesive care before recovering.
Airline Shares hit by Swine Flu Outbreak-
Airline and leisure company shares have been hit over fears that the swine flu outbreak will impact on global travel. British Airways was among the biggest losers, down 8 per cent or 12.7p at 151.2p.
Swine Flu hits UK amid Pandemic fears-
The first British cases of the deadly swine flu have been confirmed as fears of a global pandemic grow. Two people tested positive for the virus and are being treated in isolation in a hospital in Airdrie, near Glasgow.
Swine Flu death toll rises-
more than 100 people have died in the swine flu outbreak in Mexico, with further cases of the virus reported in Spain, the United States and Canada.
Something To Reassure You
OK here is an email taken from the BBC news website, from a Doctor in Mexico. This is to reassure you that if you live in well prepared countries like the UK, US, Spain, France etc that you have nothing to worry about, people are dieing in Mexico because of lack of Drugs and a good health service.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
I'm a doctor responsible for managing vaccines in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon.
Over the last two weeks we started seeing patients with high fever, muscle aches, sore throats and coughs. Those symptoms seemed a bit odd for us, but we didn't diagnose them with swine flu as we didn't know about it.
On Sunday we had our first death in the area. It was someone who came from Mexico City. But we don't have the means to confirm whether it was as a result of swine flu.
More than anything, we lack equipment and laboratory kits. All we can do is look at the symptoms and make a clinical diagnosis.
In the pharmacies, there is no Tamiflu available. They only have another medication and they don't even have enough of that.
So the vaccines we have are not enough we don't have the medication required. People here are not aware that this flu outbreak can kill people.
On behalf of all the medical community in Nuevo Leon I'd like to ask for help to get the medication, so we can treat people.
We need to have the means to diagnose people and, most importantly, the means to offer them treatment.
Dr Vicente Torres, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Q&A
Hi just post Q&A: Then your question then I'll answer it and put it in this space-
Sources
Info here was gathered from Wikipedia, BBC News, ITV News, ITN and Fox News
Your Feedback and if you have any more news about his recent outbreak, or want to chat about it feel free to post and I'll get back to you ASAP
Thanx Raradir
Last edited by Raradir; April 28, 2009 at 09:18 AM.
Reason: Updated News
Kill every last one of the Infected!
I hate flu, I hate infection, I hate buses, I hate vans, I hate open spaces, I hate closed spaces, I hate subways, I hate toilets, I hate cold burgers, I hate smokers, I hate old Cola, I hate stairs, I hate hospitals, I hate warm beer, I hate graveyards, I hate water, I hate guns, I hate not having a gun, I hate soldiers, I hate Bill, I hate crop fields, I hate forests, I hate dumpsters, I hate doctors, I hate cops, I hate elevators, I hate Lawyers, I hate cars, I hate funerals, I hate airports, I hate Ayn Rand, I hate Louis, I hate rooftops, sometimes I hate Zoey, I hate tanks, I hate badly thrown Molotovs, I hate flashlights, I hate tunnels, I hate vomit, I hate walking, I hate witches, I hate games... You know what I don't hate? I don't hate vests!
Last edited by Holger Danske; April 27, 2009 at 02:49 PM.
since it's treatable, then when you feel you have the flu, simply get tested. it's not that damn hard. You should go to the doctor for the flu anyway. It can actually kill you. They've found it in my state, one whole case from a 9 year old who had traveled to mexico. He's fine. I'm not worried.
on a similar note....im somewhat worried at the frequency our doctors prescribe antibiotics. Its leading to the creation of some strains of infections that are immune to certain anti-biotics.
on a similar note....im somewhat worried at the frequency our doctors prescribe antibiotics. Its leading to the creation of some strains of infections that are immune to certain anti-biotics.
true, but also blame the patients for being too stupid to finish their prescription. "oh I'm feeling fine, time to throw my meds away" NO!
on a similar note....im somewhat worried at the frequency our doctors prescribe antibiotics. Its leading to the creation of some strains of infections that are immune to certain anti-biotics.
Yes I'm deeply worried about that. This does however not cause any trouble with influensa since it's caused by viruses. I do however now that some idiots demand antibiotics anyway and thereby run the risk of causing flesh eating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus that will eat your penis and other even worse diseases.
The same is however true for tamiflu. This is one of the cases that make me proud to be Swedish, we're very cautious both with antibiotics and tamiflu. The more we use them, the more risk you have of creating a succesful mutant strain that will kill thousands of people without a cure. I'm a well fed man in my 20s, the risk of me dying from swine flu are minimal. I might feel worse than I would with a normal flu but it's not going to kill me. Therefor I consider it to be an immoral action to use tamiflu rather than protect it's effect to make sure that people weaker than me can be given life saving treatment.
Treatment is very simple you simply take a Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) tablet or or Relenza(zanamivir) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms). As yet there is no Vaccine against this Virus the WHO (World Health Organisation) will be currently working at a Vaccine as the Threat from this is quite serious, So I would expect a Vaccine not that far away.
I will definatly rep you for the guide if you rather than suggesting tamiflu/relenza for everyone make a statement about the risk of creating tamiflu/relenza resistant strains. Antiviral drugs should not be wasted on young adults since we will survive without them.
Yes I'm deeply worried about that. This does however not cause any trouble with influensa since it's caused by viruses. I do however now that some idiots demand antibiotics anyway and thereby run the risk of causing flesh eating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus that will eat your penis and other even worse diseases.
The same is however true for tamiflu. This is one of the cases that make me proud to be Swedish, we're very cautious both with antibiotics and tamiflu. The more we use them, the more risk you have of creating a succesful mutant strain that will kill thousands of people without a cure. I'm a well fed man in my 20s, the risk of me dying from swine flu are minimal. I might feel worse than I would with a normal flu but it's not going to kill me. Therefor I consider it to be an immoral action to use tamiflu rather than protect it's effect to make sure that people weaker than me can be given life saving treatment.
I will definatly rep you for the guide if you rather than suggesting tamiflu/relenza for everyone make a statement about the risk of creating tamiflu/relenza resistant strains. Antiviral drugs should not be wasted on young adults since we will survive without them.
Well here in Britain we have 50mil worth of Tamiflu, but our govenment is not handing them out unless you have contracted H1N1
If you guys have any questions about this outbreak just ask as I would also like to add an Q&A, If I can help my fellow TWC members to look for the symptoms and how to avoid this outbreak that would be great, after all thts why I made this thread to protect my fellow TWC Members
If you guys have any questions about this outbreak just ask as I would also like to add an Q&A, If I can help my fellow TWC members to look for the symptoms and how to avoid this outbreak that would be great, after all thts why I made this thread to protect my fellow TWC Members
Thanx
Raradir
Nobody could actually be this paranoid, right?
You're more likely to be killed by a rabid polar bear than to die of this swine flu. You want me to start a thread on how to avoid polar bear attacks? We'll call it the "Paranoid/OCD Sub-Forum"!
Last edited by Vercingetorix_Defeated; April 28, 2009 at 02:13 AM.
Your Guide To Surviving Swine Flu
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Re: Your Guide To Surviving Swine Flu
Originally Posted by Arjun
