Influenza

Influenza is a common illness that can affect healthy people as well as older people, depending on the strain of the flu virus. It can also infect children. However, older people are more vulnerable to it and may sometimes require immediate treatment. In some cases, older men even land up in hospital due to this infection, which they could have easily tolerated in their younger days. Influenza is a viral infection that spreads among other people when an infected person sneezes or coughs. The tiny droplets are spread in the air and easily infect other people who are around. It can also lead to serious illnesses such as pneumonia. Influenza is commonly known as flu and affects mainly the nose, throat, bronchi, and lungs. Normally, some cases of flu infection recover in about a week but there have been cases where a person is infected for longer and complications may occur.

What is Swine Flu?

Swine Flu is essentially a respiratory disease, affecting pigs. Caused by the Influenza type A, there have been frequent outbreaks amongst pigs, where the disease has resulted in a high degree of infection, although death was rare. There are in fact, many different types of Swine Flu, and like seasonal flu, it is constantly evolving. Globally speaking, there have been three recorded pandemics of Influenza, throughout the 20th century, all of which were the result of a new strain of virus, a real concern in light of the reports from the World Health organisation that at least some of these cases had resulted from a fresh strain of the H1N1.

How has Swine flu spread from pigs to humans?

Flu viruses are able to swap genetic components with each other, and it would appear that the new strain of H1N1 has resulted from the mix of different versions. Pigs have unfortunately posed an excellent mixing pot for these viruses.

What are the health threats of Swine Flu?

Amongst humans, symptoms have appeared to be similar to that of conventional flu. These of course include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue. Although the majority of cases have not been life threatening thus far, there have in fact been a large number of fatalities throughout Mexico.

Are we vulnerable to infection and should we be worried?

According to the BBC, Swine Flu will not ordinarily infect humans, although particular cases have been reported. However, the majority of these involved close contact with Pigs. It can potentially be spread from person to person in the same way as conventional flu (through coughing and sneezing), and although it is rare, there is in fact clear evidence that the disease has spread amongst people, to some degree. A question on the tip of everybody’s tongue is, ‘can we still eat pork’. The answer is yes, as there has been no evidence of contamination through meat. However, you are advised to cook it properly at a temperature of 70C (158F).

Are we on the verge of a pandemic?

When any fresh strain of flu is recorded, with the ability to pass itself between humans, the situation must be monitored closely, as the potential for a pandemic is high. Reports have stated that we are closer to a global outbreak than at any point since 1968, rating the threat at 3 on a six point scale.

How can we treat Swine Flu?

The truth is, there is no complete cure for Swine Flu to date, although reports have stated that two forms of medication (Tamiflu and Relenza); have seemed to be effective in treating cases, although it is imperative that the drug is administered as soon as side effects are observed. The use of the drug may also be proven in the reduction of cross contamination in humans, and current cases of the latest strain have in fact shown that cross contamination between humans is occurring. The government has in fact begun to stock pile around 33 million doses, highlighting a faith in the drug’s potential. In terms of known vaccines, their effectiveness is unknown, and although experts are looking to develop a new vaccine, although this will take a substantial period of time to develop, and may not meet the huge demand for treatment.

What is Tamiflu & how does it work to combat Swine flu?

Tamiflu is a progressive, course of oral treatment, designed to combat influenza. The product belongs to a group of medication known as neuraminidase inhibitors. These drugs serve to attack the virus, as opposed to covering the symptoms, like a number of over the counter treatments to date. It also works as prevention against the spread of the disease, inside the body, and the cross contamination in humans. Tamiflu is comprised of the active ingredient; oseltamivir phosphate, belonging to the neuraminidase inhibitors group. The product can potentially help to alleviate the symptoms of swine flu, through working to bind itself to the neuraminidase, preventing it from functioning. This in turn stops the newly formed, viral particles from being released. In essence, the virus is stopped in its tracks. Tamiflu can thus potentially boost your immune system, allowing it to destroy the virus before it spreads. The success of this product will of course vary from case to case.

Influenza symptoms

The symptoms of flu infection are a sudden onset of high fever, headache, aching muscles, cough, and sore throat. The flu infection can pose complications for people who have medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, lung problems, heart problems, and kidney problems.

Influenza virus

There are mainly two types of influenza viruses, which infect humans. These include influenza type A and type B. The influenza type A has further two sub-types, which include H3N2 and H1N1. Out of these two, the former is mainly responsible for most human deaths. However, a new influenza subtype H5N1, which is directly transmitted from birds to humans, is posing a major threat. Its limited outbreaks in the past have become more frequent now. Many countries worldwide have reported cases of human deaths due to bird flu infection. So, it may soon become necessary for nations to pile up drug stocks for bird flu treatment or avian treatment.

How the bird flu virus spreads in humans?

H5NI virus is mainly an avian virus. Although many human deaths have been reported due to spread of this virus, this figure is quite small in comparison to the number of infected poultry birds. The cases of human infection have mostly been reported in populations who are exposed to areas where backyard flocks are more common. Health experts fear that this virus poses a pandemic risk and bird flu treatment should be given top priority by health agencies as well as people.

Influenza treatment

Although, vaccination is the first line of defence for any type of flu infection, some new anti-viral drugs are also are quite effective. One of the influenza treatment drugs is Tamiflu, which is available only on prescription from a doctor. It contains oseltamivir as the main ingredient.

Tamiflu

It is a new class of anti-viral drug, which acts as a neuraminidase inhibitor. This drug has very few adverse side effects and can also prove as an ideal bird flu treatment or avian treatment. Its use for bird flu treatment or avian treatment has even been approved by the World Health Organization. Roche Pharmaceuticals is the manufacturer of Tamiflu.