ANDREA MCMILLIAN
The Corsair
With the H1N1 virus in full swing around the world, it’s hard not to be bombarded with myths and misinformation concerning the swine flu. That’s exactly why PJC hosted a Swine Flu Information Session on Thursday, Oct. 8, in the Hagler Auditorium.
The purpose of the seminar was to educate the public on swine flu and alleviate some worries brought on by the media. The speaker was Issa E. Ephtimios MD, who works with the Center for Prevention and Treatment of Infections.
Swine Flu: The Pandemic
In June 2009, The World Health Organization declared H1N1 a pandemic. The word pandemic literally means “all people”. A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that is spreading through human populations across a large region. The reason that H1N1 is being called a pandemic is because it has affected people of all ages in many different countries. Swine Flu is the first pandemic since 1968 to reach a level six, which means that the strain has increased and sustained transmission in the general population.
As of Oct. 2, the number of laboratory confirmed cases of H1N1 nationally hit over 343,298 with at least 4,108 deaths. Over 130,000 of these cases are in the United States and have caused 4,108 deaths. In Florida there have been a documented 2,915 cases of swine flu resulting in at least 23 deaths.
Vaccines
Swine Flu vaccinations will be available to the public by mid October. Certain groups of people are encouraged to get vaccines. Target groups for vaccinations are: pregnant women, persons who live with or provide care for infants, health-care providers, persons ages six months to 24 years, and people ages 25-64 who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza related complications.
Those five target groups together make up an estimated 159 million people in the U.S. alone.
Because there will be such a large amount of people to be vaccinated, there is a subset list of target groups that are on priority during times of limited vaccine ability. These subsets include: pregnant women, people who live with or provide care for infants, health care providers, children ages six months to four years, and children/adolescents ages 5-18 who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza related complications.
Some groups of people may also have to receive two doses of H1N1 vaccines. Ongoing studies are providing information on which groups these may be. Previously, only children ages ten and under have received two doses.
Seasonal flu shots will not provide protection for H1N1. There are two separate vaccines this year because normal influenza shots were already under production when the H1N1 virus broke out. If the swine flu is still a problem next year, the seasonal flu shot may include protection for H1N1 as well.
Ways to Prevent Swine Flu
1. Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer.
2. Always cover your cough or sneeze with a disposable tissue or your shirt sleeve.
3. If you have been exposed to the flu, stay home until your symptoms have been gone for 24 hours.
4. If you cannot stay home, wear a surgical mask in public.
5. Get the vaccine.
H1N1 is spread by coughing, sneezing or touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the nose or mouth. The easiest and most simple way to prevent the spread of H1N1 is to maintain good hygiene.
Symptoms
Along with regular flu-like symptoms, other warning signs of swine flu in adults include: difficulty breathing, sudden dizziness, confusion and persistent vomiting/diarrhea. Symptoms for children also may include: bluish or gray skin color, not waking up or interacting and fast or difficulty breathing.
To stay updated on vaccine information and to learn more about swine flu visit www.cdc.gov/flu.