UPDATED: WHO, World Health Organization, April 29th, upgraded this issue to a Phase 5 outbreak… next level is pandemic. WHO Warns Flu Threatening to Become Pandemic. See below for more info on Momma Muse.
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I’ve been sick lately. Don’t know if it’s “crohn’s” related or just a plain spring-time cold. It’s the worst and longest lasting cold I’ve had in a while. At least it’s not the flu. Just as I’m starting to feel a little better, I read about cases of swine flu. My sister in New York is going to work (nurse in the school system) wearing masks. We’ve even had one case in our state, Ohio (so far). I’m glad we enjoy our home and yard so much… I’ll stick close to home and keep antibacterial lotion handy whenever I go out.
The CDC has identified human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in people in the U.S. The CDC is working with local and state health agencies to investigate these cases. We have determined that this virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, we have not determined how easily the virus spreads between people.
CDC is working very closely with officials in states where human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) have been identified, as well as with health officials in Mexico, Canada and the World Health Organization. This includes deploying staff domestically and internationally to provide guidance and technical support.
CDC activated its Emergency Operations Center to coordinate the agency’s response to this emerging health threat and yesterday the Secretary of the Department Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, declared a public health emergency in the United States. This will allow funds to be released to support the public health response. CDC’s goals during this public health emergency are to reduce transmission and illness severity, and provide information to assist health care providers, public health officials and the public in addressing the challenges posed by this newly identified influenza virus. To this end, CDC has issued a number of interim guidance documents in the past 24 hours. In addition, CDC’s Division of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) is releasing one-quarter of its antiviral drugs, personal protective equipment, and respiratory protection devices to help states respond to the outbreak. Laboratory testing has found the swine influenza A (H1N1) virus susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs, oseltamivir and zanamivir. This is a rapidly evolving situation and CDC will provide updated guidance and new information as it becomes available.
You Can Take Precautionary Measures
* 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 hands cleaners are also effective.
* Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
* If you get sick, 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 that way.
There is no vaccine available at this time, so it is important for people to take steps to prevent spreading the virus to others. If people are ill, they should attempt to stay at home and limit contact with others. Healthy residents living in these areas should take everyday preventive precautions:
1 Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
2 Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
3 Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
4 Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
5 Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
6 Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
People who develop an illness with fever and respiratory symptoms, such as cough and runny nose, and possibly other symptoms, such as body aches, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, should contact their health care provider. Their health care provider will determine whether influenza testing is needed.
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This afternoon when I wrote this, I didn’t realize there were 11 states in the United States with cases of swine flu. A toddler in Texas was the first to die from this flu outside of Mexico. Mexico has had several deaths and hundreds of people have been affected by the swine flu.
I remember a few years ago being so stressed about all the Bird-Flu news. It was so scary.. and thinking it was coming our way. And this swine flu just smacks us all in the face.
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Our school was closed for a week due to swine flue infection, but after a week all flu cases was tested and considered not to be dangerous for public.