Thread: H1N1 "Swine" Flu...

People who do stock tips on Twitter are called "Stocktwits" so what is this? A Porktwit?

Lady

coch-a-doodle-Oink
(Changed first word, auto filter didn't like a rooster's other name) Boy!

What is swine flu?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses. Outbreaks of swine flu happen regularly in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Most commonly, human cases of swine flu happen in people who are around pigs but it’s possible for swine flu viruses to spread from person to person also.

Are there human infections with swine flu in the U.S.?
In late March and early April 2009, cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses were first reported in Southern California and near San Antonio, Texas. CDC and local and state health agencies are working together to investigate this situation.

Is this swine flu virus contagious?
CDC has determined that this virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it not known how easily the virus spreads between people.
What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

How serious is swine flu infection?
Like seasonal flu, swine flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Between 2005 until January 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu were detected in the U.S. with no deaths occurring. However, swine flu infection can be serious. In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman in Wisconsin was hospitalized for pneumonia after being infected with swine flu and died 8 days later. A swine flu outbreak in Fort Dix, New Jersey occurred in 1976 that caused more than 200 cases with serious illness in several people and one death.

How do you catch swine flu?
Spread of swine flu can occur in two ways:
• Through contact with infected pigs or environments contaminated with swine flu viruses.
• Through contact with a person with swine flu. Human-to-human spread of swine flu has been documented also and is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu. Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
Are there medicines to treat swine flu?
Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

How long can an infected person spread swine flu to others?
People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to 7 days following illness onset. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.
What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are
also effective.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread
this way.

Interim Guidance on Specimen Collection and Processing for Patients with Suspected Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection

(Information for Health Care Professionals)


April 28, 2009 06:00 AM ET

Objective: To provide interim guidance on appropriate specimen collection, storage, and processing for patients with suspected swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.


Case Definitions for Infection with Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus

A confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with an acute febrile respiratory illness with laboratory confirmed swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection at CDC by one or more of the following tests:

1. real-time RT-PCR
2. viral culture

A probable case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with an acute febrile respiratory illness who is:

• positive for influenza A, but negative for H1 and H3 by influenza RT-PCR, or
• positive for influenza A by an influenza rapid test or an influenza immunofluorescence assay (IFA) plus meets criteria for a suspected case

A suspected case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with acute febrile respiratory illness with onset

• within 7 days of close contact with a person who is a confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, or
• within 7 days of travel to community either within the United States or internationally where there are one or more confirmed swine influenza A(H1N1) cases, or
• resides in a community where there are one or more confirmed swine influenza cases.

Duration of Viral Shedding

The duration of shedding with swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is unknown. Therefore, until data are available, the estimated duration of viral shedding is based upon seasonal influenza virus infection. Infected persons are assumed to be shedding virus and potentially infectious from the day prior to illness onset until resolution of fever. Infected persons should be assumed to be contagious up to 7 days from illness onset. Some persons who are infected might potentially shed virus and be contagious for longer periods (e.g., young infants, immunosuppressed, and immunocompromised persons).

Testing for Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus

All suspected cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) should have upper respiratory specimens collected to test for swine influenza A (H1N1) virus.

Preferred Respiratory Specimens:

The following should be collected as soon as possible after illness onset: nasopharyngeal swab/aspirate or nasal wash/aspirate. If these specimens cannot be collected, a combined nasal swab with an oropharyngeal swab is acceptable. For patients who are intubated, an endotracheal aspirate should also be collected. Specimens should be placed into sterile viral transport media (VTM) and immediately placed on ice or cold packs or at 4°C (refrigerator) for transport to the laboratory. Recommended infection control guidance is available for persons collecting clinical specimens and for laboratory personnel.

Swabs

Ideally, swab specimens should be collected using swabs with a synthetic tip (e.g., polyester or Dacron®) and an aluminum or plastic shaft. Swabs with cotton tips and wooden shafts are not recommended. Specimens collected with swabs made of calcium alginate are not acceptable. The swab specimen collection vials should contain 3ml of viral transport medium (e.g., containing, protein stabilizer, antibiotics to discourage bacterial and fungal growth, and buffer solution), such as M4RT or the BD Universal Viral Transport System.

Storing Clinical Specimens

All respiratory specimens should be kept at 4°C until they can be placed at -70°C. If a -70°C freezer is not available, specimens should be kept at 4°C, preferably no longer than 1 week.

Shipping Clinical Specimens

Clinical specimens should be shipped on dry ice in appropriate packaging.
All specimens should be labeled clearly and include information requested by your state public health laboratory. Suspect case specimens shipped from the state public health laboratory to CDC should include all information required for seasonal influenza surveillance isolate or specimen submission.

Recommended Tests

Real-time RT-PCR for influenza A, B, H1, H3 at a State Health Department Laboratory is recommended. Currently, swine influenza A (H1N1) virus will test positive for influenza A and negative for H1 and H3 by real-time RT-PCR. If reactivity of real-time RT-PCR for influenza A is strong (e.g., Ct <30) it is more suggestive of a novel influenza A virus. Confirmation as swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is performed at CDC currently, but may be available in state public health laboratories soon.

Other Influenza Tests

Rapid Influenza Antigen Test

Some commercially available rapid tests can distinguish between influenza A and B viruses. A patient with a positive rapid test for influenza A may meet criteria for a probable case (see above). These tests have unknown sensitivity and specificity to detect human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) virus in clinical specimens, and have suboptimal sensitivity to detect seasonal influenza viruses. Therefore, a negative rapid test could be a false negative and should not be assumed a final diagnostic test for swine influenza infection.

Immunofluorescence (DFA or IFA)

These tests can distinguish between influenza A and B viruses. A patient with a positive for influenza A by immunofluorescence may meet criteria for a probable case (see above). Immunofluorescence depends upon the quality of a clinical specimen, operator skills, and has unknown sensitivity and specificity to detect human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) virus in clinical specimens. Therefore, a negative immunofluorescence could be a false negative and should not be assumed a final diagnostic test for swine influenza infection.

Viral Culture

Isolation of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is diagnostic of infection, but may not yield timely results for clinical management. A negative viral culture does not exclude infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) virus.

• Links to non-federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the federal government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.

Read more here also:http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=101112 warning, deep reading

Jeff

edit: more here also:http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20422

Nice website. that helps me understand the technical side. thanks!

FYI. Mapped below are individual cases of the pandemic (worldwide)!
Although, note, we may not see here China, or other South Asian Countries reporting their cases! But still, this is updated frequently so, its spread can be tracked by this website (generally). Be sure to Pan across to Europe, and also Austarlia areas - and try zoom -in/zoom-out.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...144.492187&z=3

Moderator,

Please rename thread to "H1N1 Flu". Apparently, the term "Swine" scares our less educated global partners and they may decide to stop importing our pork products.

Also, "Swine" is not kosher, so we are not to "offend" the flu with disgusting little names like that.

I'm currently seeking an interview with Hydrogen and Nitrogen to determine if they fear retaliation/segregation with the way the flu is annotated above. Apparently no one has yet to consult them.

Does anyone get the feeling that our "PC"isms are now officially "OUT OF CONTROL?"

Frixxx may be right, but what about the Bird Flu that was (and still is) the concern of a year ago.
Oh, hey maybe bunny huggers and leaf lickers would take offense at the term Bird Flu. But maybe we need something more PC here too? I agree Frixxx. Where's it end, what's the big deal?

Important thing is to monitor this pandemic's spread!!! http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...144.492187&z=3

Next one could be much worse, and so far CDC is as expected - impotent to even know where to begin, and now its out of control!

Originally Posted by Frixxxx

Moderator,

Please rename thread to "H1N1 Flu". Apparently, the term "Swine" scares our less educated global partners and they may decide to stop importing our pork products.

Also, "Swine" is not kosher, so we are not to "offend" the flu with disgusting little names like that.

I'm currently seeking an interview with Hydrogen and Nitrogen to determine if they fear retaliation/segregation with the way the flu is annotated above. Apparently no one has yet to consult them.

Does anyone get the feeling that our "PC"isms are now officially "OUT OF CONTROL?"

"What's in a name?

That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet."

I read on one of the biologist's threads the debate about what name it should be.

"Mexican Flu" was ruled out, as it castigates an entire nation.


"Swine Flu" was taking hits from Israel, and Arab countries, as well as U.S. Pork Producers.

So, the best name I heard proposed so far is this....

Since the genetic makeup appears to be directly traceable to 2 parts of Swine Flu, one part Human flu, and one part Avian flu (genetically related, so to speak),, one person proposed calling it ....

the "SHa Na Na Flu" (Swine, Human, aNd Avian flu...)

( i guess that dates me, eh? )