"SWINE FLU -
swine influenza A H1N1 Virus"
is spreading like a rocket speed and everybody is in fear. For precaution and
benefit for our all Kansara cast brothers and sisters residing in Gujarat,
Maharashtra and all over India and abroad, I have prepared a webpage with all
information regarding
"SWINE FLU -
swine influenza A H1N1 Virus", Symptoms of Swine Flu, What precaution should
take to prevent,
High risk groups,
How it spreads, medication or treatment of Swine Flu etc. Also inserted "video"
for more explanation.
I hope this information will be helpful and useful to you and your family.
"Precaution and Prevention is better than cure".
What is Swine Influenza? Swine
Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A
influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu
viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine
influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most
outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in
humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first
isolated from a pig in 1930.
The Swine flu outbreak identified in April 2009 is the epidemic of a new strain
of influenza virus. This virus strain is a type of influenza A (H1N1) virus,
commonly called the swine flu. Swine flu outbreak was first detected in two
cases in Southern California in late March. Within days, hundreds more suspected
cases were discovered in Mexico, with more cases also showing up in the U.S. and
several other countries.
Swine flu is caused by those strains of influenza virus that usually infect pigs
and are called swine influenza virus (SIV). Swine flu is very common in pigs in
the midwestern United States, Mexico, Canada, South America, Europe, Kenya,
Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan and other parts of eastern Asia.
Swine flu virus from pigs to humans is not transmitted commonly and eating pork
does not have a risk of infection. If transmitted, it does not always cause
human influenza and often, the only sign of infection is the presence of
antibodies which are only detectable by laboratory tests. People who work with
pigs or have intense exposures to them, are at risk of catching swine flu.
VIDEO -
In this video, Dr. Joe Bresee, with CDC's Influenza Division, describes the
symptoms of swine flu and warning signs to look for that indicate the need for
urgent medical attention.
How many swine flu viruses are
there?
Like all influenza viruses, swine flu viruses change constantly. Pigs can be
infected by avian influenza and human influenza viruses as well as swine
influenza viruses. When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs,
the viruses can reassort (i.e. swap genes) and new viruses that are a mix of
swine, human and/or avian influenza viruses can emerge. Over the years,
different variations of swine flu viruses have emerged. At this time, there are
four main influenza type A virus subtypes that have been isolated in pigs: H1N1,
H1N2, H3N2, and H3N1. However, most of the recently isolated influenza viruses
from pigs have been H1N1 viruses. <TOP>
Can humans catch swine flu?
Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human
infections with swine flu have occurred. Most commonly, these cases occur in
persons with direct exposure to pigs (e.g. children near pigs at a fair or
workers in the swine industry). In addition, there have been documented cases of
one person spreading swine flu to others. For example, an outbreak of apparent
swine flu infection in pigs in Wisconsin in 1988 resulted in multiple human
infections, and, although no community outbreak resulted, there was antibody
evidence of virus transmission from the patient to health care workers who had
close contact with the patient.<TOP>
VIDEO - Harry Smith spoke with a Texas family who contracted Swine flu but are
recovering without difficulty. Dr. Jennifer Ashton outlined the symptoms of
swine flu.
How common is swine flu
infection in humans?
In the past, CDC received reports of approximately one human swine influenza
virus infection every one to two years in the U.S., but from December 2005
through February 2009, 12 cases of human infection with swine influenza have
been reported.<TOP>
What are the symptoms of swine
flu in humans?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms
of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of
appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose,
sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. <TOP>
Can people catch swine flu from
eating pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You can not get swine
influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked
pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F
kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and
viruses. <TOP>
How does swine flu spread?
Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from
people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to
occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns
and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs.
Human-to-human transmission of swine
flu can also occur. This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu
occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing
or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may become
infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their
mouth or nose. <TOP>
What do we know about
human-to-human spread of swine flu?
In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman was
hospitalized for pneumonia and died 8 days later. A swine H1N1 flu virus was
detected. Four days before getting sick, the patient visited a county fair swine
exhibition where there was widespread influenza-like illness among the swine.
In follow-up studies, 76% of swine exhibitors
tested had antibody evidence of swine flu infection but no serious illnesses
were detected among this group. Additional studies suggest that one to three
health care personnel who had contact with the patient developed mild
influenza-like illnesses with antibody evidence of swine flu infection. <TOP>
How can human infections with
swine influenza be diagnosed?
To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a respiratory specimen would generally
need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness (when an infected
person is most likely to be shedding virus). However, some
persons, especially children, may shed virus for 10 days or longer.
Identification as a swine flu influenza A virus requires sending the specimen to
CDC for laboratory testing. <TOP>
What medications are available
to treat swine flu infections in humans?
There are four different antiviral drugs that are licensed for use in the US for
the treatment of influenza: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and
zanamivir. While most swine influenza viruses have been
susceptible to all four drugs, the most recent seven swine influenza viruses
isolated from humans are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine. At this time,
CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or
prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses. More information on
treatment recommendations can be found at
www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/recommendations.htm.
<TOP>
What other examples of swine
flu outbreaks are there?
Probably the most well known is an outbreak of swine flu among soldiers in Fort
Dix, New Jersey in 1976. The virus caused disease with x-ray evidence of
pneumonia in at least 4 soldiers and 1 death; all of these patients had
previously been healthy. The virus was transmitted to close contacts in a basic
training environment, with limited transmission
outside the basic training group. The virus is thought to have circulated for a
month and disappeared. The source of the virus, the exact time of its
introduction into Fort Dix, and factors limiting its spread and duration are
unknown. The Fort Dix outbreak may have been caused by introduction of an animal
virus into a stressed human population in close contact in crowded facilities
during the winter. The swine influenza A virus collected from a Fort Dix soldier
was named A/New Jersey/76 (Hsw1N1). <TOP>
Is the H1N1 swine flu virus the
same as human H1N1 viruses?
No. The H1N1 swine flu viruses are antigenically very different from human H1N1
viruses and, therefore, vaccines for human seasonal flu would not provide
protection from H1N1 swine flu viruses.
<TOP>
Symptoms
>>Fever, which is usually high, but unlike seasonal flu, is sometimes absent
>>Cough
>>Runny or stuffy nose
>>Sore throat
>>Body aches
>>Headache
>>Chills
>>Fatigue or tiredness, which can be extreme
>>Diarrhea and vomiting, in some cases, but more commonly seen than in seasonal
flu
>>Pneumonia and respiratory failure are indicators of a more serious swine flu
infection <TOP>
High risk groups
>>Pregnant women
>>People with chronic medical problems, such as chronic lung disease,
cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and immunosuppression (reduced efficacy of the
immune system)
>>Children and adults with obesity <TOP>
According to the CDC, like
seasonal flu, symptoms of swine flu infections can include:
fever, which is usually high, but unlike seasonal flu, is sometimes absent
cough
runny nose or stuffy nose
sore throat
body aches
headache
chills
fatigue or tiredness, which can be extreme
diarrhea and vomiting, sometimes, but more commonly seen than with seasonal flu
Signs of a more serious swine flu infection might include pneumonia and
respiratory failure. <TOP>
If your child has symptoms of swine flu, you should avoid other people and call
your pediatrician who might do a rapid flu test to see if he has an influenza A
infection. Further testing can then be done to see if it is a swine flu
infection. (Samples can be sent to local and state health departments and the
CDC for confirmation of swine flu, especially if a child is in the hospital.) <TOP>
Swine Flu High Risk Groups
With regular seasonal flu, infants and the elderly are usually thought to be
most at risk for serious infections, in addition to people with chronic medical
problems. Swine flu high risk groups, people who are thought to be at risk for
serious, life-threatening infections, are a little different and can include: <TOP>
pregnant women
people with chronic medical problems, such as chronic lung disease, like asthma,
cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and immunosuppression
children and adults with obesity
Serious Swine Flu Symptoms <TOP>
More serious symptoms that
would indicate that a child with swine flu would need urgent medical attention
include: > Fast breathing or trouble
breathing
> Bluish or gray skin color
> Not drinking enough fluids
> Severe or persistent vomiting
> Not waking up or not interacting
> Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
> Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
> Swine Flu Symptoms vs. a Cold or Sinus Infection <TOP>
It is important to keep in mind most children with a runny nose or cough will
not have swine flu and will not have to see their pediatrician for swine flu
testing. <TOP>
This time of year, many other
childhood conditions are common, including:
spring allergies - runny nose, congestion, and cough
common cold - runny nose, cough, and low grade fever
sinus infections - lingering runny nose, cough, and fever
strep throat - sore throat, fever, and a positive strep test <TOP>
What You Need To Know
Swine flu likely spreads by direct contact with respiratory secretions of
someone that is sick with swine flu, like if they were coughing and sneezing
close to you.
People with swine flu are likely contagious for one day before and up to seven
days after they began to get sick with swine flu symptoms.
Droplets from a cough or sneeze can also
contaminate surfaces, such as a doorknob, drinking glass, or kitchen counter,
although these germs likely don't survive for more than a few hours.
Anti-flu medications, including Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir),
are available to prevent and treat swine flu.
The latest swine flu news from the CDC includes advice that children should not
attend summer camps if they have had swine flu symptoms in the previous seven
days and that camp staff should be quick to identify campers with swine flu
symptoms and separate them from well campers. <TOP>
How it spreads
Swine flu spreads by direct contact with respiratory secretions of someone who
is sick with swine flu. You can contract it if they cough or sneeze close to
you.
Droplets from a cough or sneeze can also contaminate everyday objects, like
water bottles, doorknobs or kitchen appliances. However, these might survive for
a few hours only.
People with swine flu are likely to be contagious for one
day before and up to seven days after they began to get sick with swine flu
symptoms.
If someone begins to show symptoms of swine flu, they should avoid other people
and call a doctor who might conduct a rapid flu test to see if they have an
influenza A infection. Further testing can then be done to see if it is a swine
flu infection. <TOP>
New Delhi, Aug 4: Union Health Ministry issued
fresh guidelines on H1N1 influenza on Tuesday, Aug 4 in New Delhi to check the
spread of Swine Flu.
Addressing the media persons, the health secretary said that person with H1N1
symptoms should go to designated government hospitals and the patients with
severe symptoms would be quarantined.
Health secretary also said, "The samples of the persons persons suffering from
the symptoms would be sent to the designated laboratories and also that the
suspected cases would also be sent to the designated government hospitals." <TOP>
"10m Tamiflu (the only known antiviral effective
against swine flu) will be available at government clinic," he added
The health secretary also appealed that persons with the symptoms should give
their samples voluntarily for testing. Speaking on the people who will be
travelling and who have the symptoms, the secretary said that such travellers
with symptoms would also be quarantined. <TOP>
New Delhi, Aug 5: With the tragic death of the
14-year-old school girl Rida Sheikh and the increased number of students getting
affected by the pandemic, the Health Ministry has issued guidelines particularly
for schools and other educational institutions.
The guidelines issued by the ministry for schools/colleges/institutions on
Influenza A or H1N1 includes:
(i) Any student or staff member showing flu like symptoms such as fever,
cough, running nose and difficulty in breathing should be allowed to stay at
home for a period of 7 to 10 days.
(ii) Educational institutions should
not insist on production of medical certificate by the student/staff. <TOP>
(iii) Educational institutions should monitor the health status of such
students/staff who might have come in contact with a suspected case of Influenza
AH1N1 to see whether they develop flu like symptoms. In case they do so, they
should be allowed to stay home, as outlined at (i) above
(iv) In case of students staying in Hostels, the educational institutions
would not only monitor the health status of the students, but also that of care
providers. It has to be ensured that the care providers wear face mask and wash
hands regularly. It might not be advisable to send the boarders back to home, as
it would spread infection further.
(v) Educational institutions are further encouraged to report such cases
to local health officers for further monitoring.
(vi) Given the current
magnitude of the spread of AH1N1 infection and the fact that the current virus
is fairly mild, closure of educational institutions on account of any
student/staff member falling ill with flu like symptoms is not recommended. <TOP>
(vii) In the first place, the schools should discourage the excursions of
the students to the affected countries.
(viii) In case if the students had proceeded to affected countries on
unavoidable tours, then on their return, if some students show flu like symptoms
of fever, sore- throat , cough , body ache, running nose, difficulty breathing
etc. they should be advised to abstain from attending school and be allowed to
stay at home for a period of 7 to 10 days. <TOP>
Aug 5: The pandemic of the 21st century that was
perceived as 'mild' in India till the first death was reported from Pune, has
now got the country in the grips of fear.
The initial symptoms of the Swine Flu or the H1N1 Influenza includes: cough,
fever, sore throat, body ache, headache, chills and fatigue. When the flu is
left untreated it can get complex as the virus begins to manifest itself into
other illness such as sever illness and pneumonia or respiratory failure
resulting to death.
With the number of cases raising faster and the virus spreading potently due to
the onset of rainy season and the commencement of schools, here are a list of
government hospitals that test and treat Swine Flu: <TOP>
Bangalore 1) Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases
Near NIMHANS, Hombegowda Nagar
Bangalore-560029
+91-80-26632634
+91-80-26631923
http://rgicd.com/
2) Victoria Hospital
Fort Road
Kalasipalyam
Bangalore-560002
080 26703294
Karnataka health and family welfare department on Friday, Aug 7 identified six
private hospitals, which would now quarantine Swine Flu cases and treat them.
They are listend below:
8) Mallige Nursing Home
Mariappa Road, Siddapur
Jayanagar
Bangalore - 560011 080 26565678
Chandigarh
Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGI),
Sector 12, Chandigarh-160012
+91-172-2747585
+91-172-2746018
+91-172-2756565 <TOP>
Chennai Communicable Diseases Hospital
No 187, Thiruvottiyur High Road
Near Apollo Hospital, Tondiarpet
Chennai-600081
+91-44-25912686
+91-44-25912687
+91-44-25912688
Hyderabad
Govt Chest Hospital
E S I Hospital Road, S R Nagar
Erragadda, Hyderabad-500018
+91-40-23814421
+91-40-23814422
Kolkata
Beliaghata Id Hospital
57 Beliaghata Main Road
Kolkata-700010
+91-33-23701251
+91-33-23701252
+91-33-23601251
+91-33-23601252
Mumbai
Kasturba Hospital
Sane Guruji Road
Jacob Circle
Opp Arthur Road Jail
Mahalaxmi, Mumbai-400011
+91-22-23083901
+91-22-23054831
+91-22-23004325
Delhi
Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
Ward No 5, Baba Kharak Singh Marg
Connaught Place-110001
+91-11-23921401
+91-11-24525211
Pune
Naidu Hospital
Near Le Meridian Hotel
Raja Bahadur Mill, Pune GPO
Pune-411001
+91-20-26058243
+91-20-26058842
New Delhi, Aug 5: The Swine Flu cases are quickly
on a raise and the need for information to prepare for the worse is becoming
evident. Here is a list of critical care and isolation units based on the
location of major airports across the Indian states.
Andhra Pradesh- Hyderabad:
Govt. General and Chest Diseases Hospital,
Erragadda, Hyderabad
040 23814939
Dr. Prasad – 09849 902995
Gujarat- Ahmedabad:
Civil Hospital attached to Medical College, Asarwa, Ahmedabad, Gujarat-380016
Dr. Ancheliah – 09426 347531
Goa Medical College & Hospital
Panjim, Goa
(Critical Care)
Dr Suhas- 09011 025066
Srinagar-Jammu and Kashmir
Govt Medical College, Sri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital
Karan Nagar, Srinagar-190010, J&K
SMHS - Dr. Wasim Qureshi – 09419 000231
(both isolation and critical care)
Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences,
Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
Prof Dr Bhukhari- 09419 000318 <TOP>
1.General Hospital
Thiruvanathanapuram, Kerala-695025
Dr. Suresh - 09447 030291
{ Isolation and Critical care}
2.District Hospital,
Manjeri; Malappuram district
Dr Ramani – 09447 157128,
Krishna – 09388 014526
{Isolation}
3.Taluk Head Quarter Hospital, Perumbavoor,
Ernakulum District, Kerala-683542
{Isolation}
Dr Rosy Sebastian - 09846 948926
Dr Sudha Karan – 09446 505990
Karnataka- Bangalore
Dr Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases and SDS TB Hospital Hosur Road, Near
NIMHANS, Bangalore-29, Karnataka
(Isolation and critical care)
Dr S Buggi - 09448 042579
Dr Nagraj- 09448 057093
Karnataka- Mangalore
District Wenlock Hospital,
Mangalore, Karnataka
(Isolation and critical care)
Dr. Prabhudev- 09480 015944
Dr. Jagannath - 09448 166113
Fax – 0824 2445664
Maharastra-Mumbai
Kasturba Hospital, Sane Guruji Marg
Mumbai-11, Maharastara
(Isolation and critical care)
Dr Umesh Aigal – 09820 935680
022 23083901/ 02/03/04
New Delhi, Aug 5: The fatal threat of
the H1N1 Influenza is making its presence felt among the public, and
the government has started tightening the measures taken to contain
the virus.
However, with the death of Rida Sheikh came another fear, the lack
of information and the lack of infrastructure. With the parents of
the victim alleging that they lost their daughter due to the lack of
sincerity on the part of the hospital authorities the public has
begun to panic.
The Health Ministry on Tuesday, Aug 5
introduced new guidelines in relation to curbing the deadly flu. The
ministry that has also taken the cue of panic from the public has
set up a
Website on Swine Flu
to keep the public and the media updated, informed and equipped even
for the worst.
The website contains everything from the locations of critical care
units, to travel advisory, new guidelines and general information on
the pandemic itself. <TOP>
Regards,
Sincerely, Gaurang M. Goradiya -
www.pushtiwebindia.com
Website Administrator & Website Developer of sgkmm.org
For and On behalf of SHRI GUJARATI KANSARA MAHAMANDAL
Swine
Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A
influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu
viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine
influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most
outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in
humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first
isolated from a pig in 1930.
Gaurang M. Goradiya - 
