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What is all the Fuss about with Swine Flu?

There are widespread reports of a new flu strain which has the potential to become a pandemic sweeping across the globe at the moment. There are already confirmed human cases of an emerging new 'swine' strain of influenza having been reported in Mexico, Canada, Spain, Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America to name a few. There have even been reports of cases in the UK and an unconfirmed report in Cape Town. Swine flu is the latest buzz word in all the newsrooms at the moment.

In its simplest form the latest flu strain came about from a pig that has caught human flu and an animal flu and those two strains have combined and mutated into a brand new third strain which is now becoming known as swine flu. The World Health Organization has a 6 phase scenario for the different stages of a pandemic outbreak. The first phase is an animal virus but it is not transferable to humans. The second phase is a known animal virus which has caused an infection with a human. The current outbreaks of the new swine flu virus have originated from Mexico with symptoms in people being similar to that of a regular human seasonal flu infection. The symptoms include fever, fatigue, a lack of appetite, coughing and a sore throat. Some people with swine flu have also reported vomiting and diarrhoea.

Phase 3 is the same the level at which bird flu had reached when it had an outbreak. Phase 3 is an animal or a mutation of a human-animal flu virus which has caused sporadic cases or small clusters of disease in people. The current status of swine flu is Phase 4 and that means that the swine flu virus has now progressed to human to human transfer. This is a human to human transfer of a virus that originated from an animal virus strain. There is still a possibility that there is a risk of a pandemic but it does not necessarily mean that a pandemic is a foregone conclusion.

Pandemic flu is different from ordinary seasonal flu, which for most people is an unpleasant but self-limiting and not life endangering illness. Pandemic flu can occur when a new flu virus like swine flu emerges which is quite different from the regular circulating strains which humans have little or no immunity. It is because of the lack of immunity that this virus is able to infect humans and spread rapidly from person to person.

At present testing has shown that the new human swine influenza H1N1 is sensitive to and can be treated with the antivirals oseltamavir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza). Countries have batches of flu antivirals, the UK is boosting their stockpiles from 35 million to 50 million. The current antivirals are curing the human flu strain which mutated with the animal flu in the original pig host.

At the moment there is a seemingly simple cure however since the flu virus has mutated through a number of phases there is still a possibility where it could mutate further into a strain that would be immune to the current antivirals and then there is a serious threat of a worldwide pandemic. The current status of swine flu is Phase 5 where it is breaking out in other countries. The current swine flu does not seem to be that dangerous to society and the human race, however it would be quite a different reaction worldwide we would be witnessing if the virus caused certain death like the Spanish flu from 1918-20 which killed from 70 to 100 million people worldwide.

In the work place emergency services staff need to be immunised first so that if there is a pandemic they are still able to function and perform their duties. At present there are antivirals being used however as a preventative measure a cheaper we are seeing face masks being worn by people who are among those who are infected with the swine flu. The face masks help to protect the wearer from either breathing in infected droplets or if they are infected when they sneeze, then infecting people over a wider area. This flu virus can very easily travel through a buildings airconditioning system.

What to do to prevent infection of swine flu:

General infection control practices and good hygiene between your cough and sneezing and hands will help reduce spreading all flu viruses, including the human swine influenza. To protect yourself from the current outbreak the World Health Organisation suggests that you: includes:

• Keep your nose and mouth covered when coughing or sneezing. Use a tissue. • Throw away the dirty tissues promptly and carefully

• It is by maintaining good basic hygiene, like washing your hands frequently with soap and water which will help reduce the spread of the virus. The virus can spread from your hands to your face or to other people

• Clean hard surfaces regularly (e.g. door handles)and frequently using a normal cleaning product

• Make sure your children follow this advice

Jonathan Mason was a national press officer for the Health and Safety Executive covering a number of serious issues including pandemic flu. He enjoys writing freelance articles and runs the website http://www.yorksafetywear.com Currently a Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (MCIPR) with over 15 years experience in Public Relations. I am a dynamic and creative writer with a great sense of humour and a passion for writing.