Louisiana DHH Encourages "Aggressive Prevention" Against Swine Flu
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is encouraging all Louisiana individuals and families to engage in "aggressive prevention" steps against a Swine Influenza (swine flu) virus strain that has been confirmed in cases in California, Kansas and Texas, as well as Mexico. There are no confirmed or reported cases in Louisiana at this time, but given the spread of the virus in the U.S. thus far, the Department anticipates some cases will arise in the state
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have determined that the virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. Currently, there is no vaccine available to protect against swine flu, but there are steps Louisiana citizens can take to protect themselves and help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses such as influenza.
Tips for prevention:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza that regularly cause outbreaks of influenza among pigs. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans, however, human infections with swine flu do occur, and cases of human-to-human spread of swine flu viruses have been documented. Symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. As always, any Louisianian experiencing flu-like symptoms should consult his or her physician.
DHH officials yesterday activated a statewide surveillance system and are monitoring spread of the virus along with CDC officials in Washington, D.C. The Department is also working closely with other state agencies, as well as faith-based organizations, hospitals and sentinel physicians-private doctors who volunteer to serve as a 'front line' of detection to assist in any public health or infectious disease investigation.
The Department is encouraging clinicians to consider swine flu infection in patients exhibiting symptoms of respiratory illness with fever AND who 1) live in San Diego or Imperial counties, California, or Guadalupe County, Texas, or traveled to these counties OR 2) traveled recently to Mexico or were in contact with persons who had febrile respiratory illness and were in one of the three U.S. counties or Mexico during the 7 days preceding their illness onset.
CDC investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infection and whether additional people have been infected with similar swine influenza viruses. In addition to individual state public health officials, the CDC is working with health officials in Mexico, Canada and the World Health Organization. On April 24th, CDC deployed 7 epidemiologists to San Diego County, California and Imperial County, California and 1 senior medical officer to Texas to provide guidance and technical support for the ongoing epidemiologic field investigations. CDC has also deployed to Mexico 1 medical officer and 1 senior expert who are part of a global team that is responding to the outbreak of respiratory illnesses in Mexico.
Symptoms, diagnosis and prevention for swine flu
By AFP / Expatica
Wearing a mask and steering clear of kisses and handshakes can prevent spread of flu virus
MEXICO CITY – In response to the swine flu outbreak that has left dozens dead in Mexico and spread to other countries, officials here launched a campaign to inform the public on virus symptoms, prevention and treatment.
The following information was provided by the Mexican Ministry of Health.
SYMPTOMS: Sudden fever above 38 degrees, cough, headache, aching joints, nasal congestion and general fatigue.
DIAGNOSIS: Clinical examination of secretions from the nose and mouth in the first 24-72 hours after presenting symptoms, and a study of blood samples to detect existence of influenza virus.
TREATMENT: In confirmed cases, Mexican authorities have provided patients with flu drugs Seltamivir or Zanamivir under strict medical supervision, and warn against side effects due to misuse.
The Mexican government said that the antiviral drugs would only be administered if infection is confirmed.
Authorities have reportedly some million doses on hand, although local media warn that pharmacies have run out of treatments.
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES:
- Wear a mask
- Do not greet someone with a kiss or handshake
- Do not share food, cutlery or glasses
- Ventilate homes and offices, keep clean common items such as telephones
Swine Flu - Prevention
By John McCormick
New cases of the AH1N1 Swine Flu have been seen in 8 students in a New York school.
By now everyone has seen TV footage of Mexican citizens wearing simple over the ear tie masks in an attempt to protect against the swine flu.
But the only real way to prevent the spread of any form of flu is really to avoid crowds.
The good news is that even these minimal paper masks will provide some help in preventing those who ้have the flu from spreading it through the virus carrying droplets in coughs and sneezes.
Unfortunately, those masks are ineffective when it comes to protecting those uninfected individuals from inhaling the virus.
Although no simple mask can filter out the tiny virus particles of any disease, these are usually relatively delicate organisms and to remain viable and able to infect people they must be carried in water droplets.
The kinds of mask needed to help protect those trying to avoid infection are those designated as class N95 particulate masks. These are commonly recommended for use used in hospitals but are available for sale to the general public.
The CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control) "Interim Domestic Guidance on the Use of Respirators to Prevent Transmission of SARS" would also apply to other airborne virus infections (if the Swine Flu proves to be spread by air.
The CDC also has a current list of suppliers of disposable N95 respirators.
These masks are tested and certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are also used by NCSCAR teams for protection from dangerous dust.
In addition to decades as a science reporter, John A. McCormick has worked for years as a local emergency management coordinator (now retired) and has advised facilities and municipalities on preparations for a flu pandemic.
He also maintains a medical information Web site certified by HON, Healthcare on the Net (an NGO affiliate of the WHO in Geneva) as providing unbiased and accurate medical information.
HON was developed to provide assurance of the quality of online medical information given by independent sources.
"The Health On the Net Foundation (HON) promotes and guides the deployment of useful and reliable online health information, and its appropriate and efficient use. Created in 1995, HON is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, accredited to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. For twelve years, HON has focused on the essential question of the provision of health information to citizens, information that respects ethical standards. To cope with the unprecedented volume of healthcare information available on the Net, the HONcode of conduct offers a multi-stakeholder consensus on standards to protect citizens from misleading health information."
My reaction:
- The real treatment is stay away from crowds
- Touching directly, for example: kissing and shaking hand can cause a virus infected from human to human
- Wearing mask cannot 100% guarantee from infection but it can protect you from infected human when they are coughing or touching
- In Mexico, the cure are limited because the government has to make sure that the patients are really infected
- The CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control) works very hard, researching the beginning of the virus and provide guideline of virus prevention and mask at the clinic in America, Canada and Mexico
- The symptom begins with the same like fluenza: sudden fever above 38 degrees, cough, headache, aching joints, nasal congestion and general fatigue
Conclusion:
Swine Flu can be eliminated if we know how to prevent the virus correctly. Only in South of America and Mexico are considered to be danger area with more than 2o people dead with this Swine Flu.
There is no need to be panic because there is a cure for this symptom. People died in case of no money for medical payment.
Others countries are ready in infection security by setting camera for checking flu in human's heat
