Tuesday, April 28, 2009

About swine flu

At this time the AMA has created a web-page
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/medical-science/infectious-diseases/topics-interest/swine-flu.shtml
, which contains clinical guidance that is extracted from the CDC source documentation and will
be updated according to changes in the interim guidance.

About swine flu:
Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by a type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza among pigs. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans; however, human infections with swine flu do occur. Public health officials have determined that this strain of swine flu virus spreads from human to human and can cause illness.

The outbreak is ongoing and additional cases are expected. The human symptoms of swine flu are similar to the symptoms of seasonal influenza and may include:

Fever (greater than 100°F or 37.8°C)
Sore throat
Cough
Stuffy nose
Chills
Headache and body aches
Fatigue
Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. 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.

Infectious period
Persons with swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection should be considered potentially contagious for up to seven days following illness onset. Persons who continue to be ill longer than seven days after illness onset should be considered potentially contagious until symptoms have resolved. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

Non-hospitalized ill persons who are a confirmed or suspected case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection are recommended to stay at home (voluntary isolation) for at least the first seven days after illness onset except to seek medical care.

1 comment:

  1. The situation around of “swine flu” is very serious now. H1N1 virus may be very pathogenic for people because this virus has haemagglutinin and neuraminidase subtypes typical for “human flu virus”. We see “shift antigen” situation for flu virus. This situation may be onset of new flu pandemic. Only international measures for flu pandemic prevention (exchange of information, international preventive measures, vaccine creation) may modify this situation.
    Irina Shurygina, Russia

    ReplyDelete