Swine flu, the word evokes fear and panic in the stoutest of hearts and minds as people run fearful of the virus that is stalking the planet and has already infected over 2000 people worldwide. Having originated in Mexico, there are so many countries that are now afflicted with this pandemic which has the potential of afflicting more that 2 billion people worldwide, that is one-third of the total global population that exits on the planet right now. This is what the World Health Organization (WHO) is predicting and this needs to be countered fast. This flu is also called the hog, swine of pig flu and is causing havoc due to the unbridled spread of the H1N1 virus that is at the root of this global pandemic.
Flu is derived from the word influenza which is caused due to the RNA viruses of the influenza virus that mostly affects animals and birds. Sometimes it inflicts the birds and animals and then spreads to humans, as was in the case of the H1N1 virus that has everyone including world governments and health organizations on their very toes for its prevention and cure. There are quite a few remarkable and distinct symptoms that distinguish flu. Some of the prominent ones are increased in temperature, runny nose, muscle aches and body pains, sore throat, severe coughing and general body weakness. In many severe cases and if not treated properly, flu can also cause pneumonia which in the young and very old patients can even cause death. While the symptoms of flu are somewhat similar to that of common cold, the flu is indeed very virulent and severe in its form, nature and effect.
Flu can easily spread from fomites or those particles that are emanated from the nasal running matter. It spreads also from the droppings of birds and feces of animals that are carriers of the virus. Bodily contact and ingestion of infected material like fluids can also be a potent source of infection. Transmission of the H1N1 virus in Mexico recently occurred from pigs to humans. Sometimes, eating of improperly cooked pork can also be a cause of spread of the virus that has caught the world quite unawares.
Over the years, flu has been the bane of civilizations. In it seasonal epidemic forms it can kill hundreds of people in its wake, but when it assumes pandemic proportions it is so virulent and vicious that it can impact millions of people so adversely. These occur when new strains or RNA configurations of the virus appear which the gene of which has not been isolated or vaccines created. Canadian scientists are claiming to have isolated the virus and created conditions for a vaccine to be created in the case of H1N1 but then this has to be proved scientifically and that too in breakneck speed. The last time we hear of a major flu was the H5N1, strain in the avian or bird flu that had spread in many countries of Eastern Asia, but did not thankfully spread from humans to other humans thus limiting the damage to human life.
Please aware with the swine flu, so all parents know how to avoid swine flu in babies.
Tag:Swine Flu in Babies|
