it has been long overdue...

The 1918 flu pandemic (commonly referred to as the Great Spanish Flu or The Great Swine Flu) was an influenza pandemic that spread to nearly every part of the world. It was caused by an unusually virulent and deadly Influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1. Historical and epidemiological data are inadequate to identify the geographic origin of the virus. Most of its victims were in the prime of life, in contrast to most influenza outbreaks which predominantly affect juvenile, elderly (probably benefit from earlier exposure), or otherwise weakened patients. The pandemic lasted from March 1918 to June 1920, spreading even to the Arctic and remote Pacific islands. It is estimated that anywhere from 20 to 100 million people were killed worldwide, or the approximate equivalent of one third of the population of Europe, more than double the number killed in World War I. Almost 80% of American casualties in the war was the result of the flu; not enemy fire. This extraordinary toll resulted from the extremely high illness rate of up to 50% and the extreme severity of the symptoms, suspected to be caused by cytokine storms. The pandemic is estimated to have affected up to one billion people: half the world's population at the time. This pandemic has been described as "the greatest medical holocaust in history" and may have killed more people than the Black Death.

- adapted from Wikipedia

But this swine flu is a new form of the old nemesis, and has been circulating widely since the "Russian flu" outbreak reintroduced H1N1 to the human population in 1977. And so, the virus has finally decided to come out of ‘hiding’ and try its hand on a new generation of humans. This shows that virus outbreaks are chronic. We should never discount that a particular disease has been completely eradicated, just because it hasn’t been around for decades. These types of viruses or microbes are the most deadly as they remain dormant. They will take their time to evolve into super-virus or super-microbes which are more resistant to our current drugs. The new strain, A/H1N1 strain of swine flu virus has the combination that of birds’, pigs’, and humans’ flu virus but still very treatable. Another reason to the genesis of deadly diseases and outbreaks from animals particularly livestock is the fact that these animals are constantly fed with antibiotics for the sole purpose to prevent any pandemics. In fact, 70% of known antibiotics are used on them. They should be practically immune to everything right? But this measure is like us humans shooting at our own foot; we get more than we give. By doing so, we are only giving microbes more chance and luxury to evolve as they like. And I don’t have to say it twice that microbe can divide and multiply incessantly and at such a rapid rate. If they multiply into a ‘mutant’ form and somehow found that it suits the condition around them, they could ‘spread this news’ to the other microbes and that is how a new strain is formed. One which is highly resistant to antibiotics.

The current WHO pandemic alert phase for the Swine Flu is 4. **** Latest! It's now 5!

Some facts about swine flu:

How does it spread?

- do not typically infect humans – except in close proximity ie farmers

- human-human spread “documented”

- not transmitted by food – internal temperature of >70°C kills swine flu virus

Signs & Symptoms (S&S)

- flu like – fever, lethargy, runny nose, cough, sore throat, lack of appetite

- to some – vomiting, diarrhoea

Treatment (Tx)

- resistant to two common drugs – amantadine & rimantadine

- vaccines for human seasonal flu would not provide protection – H1N1 virus for human and swine are different

- “seed vaccine” has been specifically tailored to this swine flu – will be manufactured if deemed necessary

- Swiss drug company Roche Holding AG said WHO has enough anti-flu Tamiflu (first defence against influenze pandemic – effective against bird flu) for 5 million people

o Full Tx (5 days) – 10 capsules twice a day within 48 hours of onset of s&s

........................................................................................................................................................................

I think this pandemic is potentially VERY SERIOUS. History may repeat itself. Take care folks!

Wash your hands before eating!