An outbreak of the H1N1 influenza earlier this year continues to spread across the world, infecting people in more than 70 countries, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. Additionally, on June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6 in response.
A Phase 6 designation by WHO indicates that a global pandemic is under way — specifically, that ongoing community-level outbreaks exist in multiple parts of the world. WHO’s decision to raise the pandemic alert level to Phase 6, according to the CDC’s Web site, is “a reflection of the spread of the virus, not the severity of illness caused by the virus.”
The CDC also says that the number of cases reported has increased over the past few weeks, but they also add that many of those cases reportedly were linked to travel or were localized outbreaks “without community spread.”
Students, faculty, staff and administrators in the North Central Texas College District can help deter the spread of swine flu and other types of influenza by following some basic tips provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, based in Atlanta.
The CDC tells everyone that the single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year, but good health habits can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu.
Here are the CDC’s tips, based on those good health habits:
- Avoid close contact with others, especially people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them.
- Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work or school and don’t run errands when you are sick to help others from catching your illness.
- Cover your mouth and your nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Clean your hands; washing your hands often will protect you from germs.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Why? Germs often are spread when a person touches something that is contaminated and then touches her or his eyes, nose or mouth.
- Practice other good health habits — get plenty of sleep; be physically active; manage your stress; drink plenty of fluids; eat nutritious food.
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The CDC defines swine influenza as 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 among pigs; most outbreaks among swine occur during the late fall and winter months, similar to outbreaks in humans.
Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with swine flu have occurred. Most commonly, these cases occur in people who are exposed directly to pigs; additionally, documented cases have occurred in which one person spreads swine flu to others. In the past, the CDC has received reports of approximately one human swine flu influenza virus infection every one to two years in the U.S.; however, from December 2005 through February 2009, 12 cases of human infection with swine influenza virus had been reported before the current outbreak (April 2009).
The symptoms of swine flu, according to the CDC, are similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza. They include:
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Lack of appetite
- Coughing
- Other symptoms that may occur in some people could include a runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
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Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food; they are transmitted mainly person-to-person, usually when they are exposed to others who are infected and who cough or sneeze on them, sharing the virus. People also may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then by touching their nose or mouth.
The CDC has posted key facts about swine influenza (swine flu) at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/key_facts.htm.
Source for all information provided above: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
