Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Swine Flu get the Facts
Fear can feed us the wrong food. Look what is happening in Egypt! The government slaughtered over 300,000 pigs just to be sure the swine flu was not being spread. The pig farmers are now at a loss as to how to support their families and resume their livelihoods. (full story: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_EGYPT_SWINE_FLU?SITE=NCWIN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT )
Swine Flu or sometimes called North American Flu is a combination of four viruses. One endemic to humans, two endemic to swine and one endemic to avian.
- The question is, how did these four viruses mutate to become the “Swine Flu” and what are we doing to prevent its spread?
Other species such as pigs also get influenza which can be passed on to a human by direct contact. But it is rarely passed from human to human without direct contact with the pig. In the case of Swine Flu the viruses have mutated and combined with human flu virus. This is now being passed just like every other flu virus. Coughing, sneezing etc. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=99575
If they have an anti-viral shot why can’t we all just get one to prevent the illness?
Antiviral medicine Tamiflu and Relenza are not a vaccine. They will not prevent you from getting Swine Flu. Those with strong immune systems may not even require medication if they contract Swine Flu. The CDC is working towards a vaccine but the process is very time consuming. http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/04/27/glaxo-roche-start-to-map-swine-flu-game-plans/
If I got a flu shot this year am I protected?
No. Unfortunately the flu shot does not protect against Swine flu as the strain is different.
Here are some statistics about deaths in the world to put things in perspective!
- According to the CDC 36,000 Americans die on average per YEAR from complications of Flu. Most are the elderly or very young
- According to bread.org 16,000 children die every DAY from starvation. About 15 million a year.
http://www.bread.org/learn/hunger-basics/hunger-facts-international.html - In 2006, according to the CDC, 13,470 people in the United States died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes.
http://www.cdc.gov/MotorVehicleSafety/Impaired_Driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html - To date 403 Americans have become ill from Swine Flu (North American Flu) and ONE has died.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/04/27/us/20090427-flu-update-graphic.html
Knowing that one person has died sounds so small but if that one person was my child one is too many. It is important to protect ourselves from getting sick. At the same time not becoming overwhelmed by all the media attention. We do not know what the full impact of swine flu. It has only just begun in North America, keeping in mind that flu season here is ending. The place we need to watch is the Southern hemisphere where flu season is just beginning.
Labels: Green living, swine flu
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