Pigs may not be flying, but a virus named after them sure is. Influenza A (H1N1), which originated in Mexico, has been spreading rapidly around the world.
What is swine flu? What are the symptoms? Is it deadly? These are the questions many people are asking, as the spread of influenza has become global.
According to The New York Times, this strain of the flu first appeared in the U.S. in New York City, California and Texas.
Twelve public schools in New York City have been closed since the virus began spreading.
The swine flu has affected many, including Assistant Principal Mitchell Wiener of I.S. 328, who died on Sunday May 17. The school, shut down because were also infected with swine flu, reopened on May 26th.
A second death occurred on Sunday May 24, 2009 when a woman in her late fifties, succumbed to the virus. By May 27 two more deaths occurred, one a thirty-four year-old male and a forty-one year-old female. By June 4, the number of deaths rose to seven in NYC, and it was announced that 40% of people admitted to the hospital or seriously ill suffer from asthma.
There have been 6,552 confirmed cases of the swine flu in the United States, with 365 confirmed cases in New York City to date.
According to the World Health Organization, the swine flu has become a pandemic, an outbreak of a disease that spreads throughout the world. An epidemic is when a disease affects a large number of people and may spread shortly after throughout communities.
According to The Associated Press, the outbreaks began in Mexico on Tuesday April 28. As travelers from Mexico returned home, they spread the virus.
According to Voice of America News, there have been more than 4,100 confirmed cases of swine flu in Mexico, with ninety deaths.
The World Health Organization says fifty-eight countries have officially reported more than 13,418 cases of swine-flu infection.
So how do we protect ourselves from the new strain of the flu?
“The chances of someone contracting it in our school are very slim. As a nurse, we have a specific protocol that is given by the Department of Health. Nurses advise the students to see their doctors and be evaluated. The doctors usually take nose swabs and send them to labs to be tested,” said Nurse Brigid Davies.
The symptoms of the H1N1 virus are similar to the symptoms of influenza, a typical flu: high fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and a headache.
“The difference between the flu and the swine flu is that it is a different strain of virus. The flu is usually an upper-respiratory problem. The symptoms of the swine flu and flu are similar and treatable. The main way to avoid the swine flu in our school is to wash your hands all the time. In general, take the basic universal precautions by not sharing drinks, coughing into your arms, and seeing a doctor if illness persists,” continued Ms. Davies.
According to Center for Disease Control, there are many actions to take to avoid this flu. Always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and discard the tissue immediately. Consistently wash your hands with soap and warm water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Germs spread easily when you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, so avoid close contact with sick people.
According to an anonymous source at the CDC, “The swine influenza is spreading quickly, and the illness is short. The symptoms of the disease are mild and treatable, and those infected are recovering quickly. Still, our concern is that we don’t know if this flu could become more severe now or in the fall if it reappears.”
If you become sick with swine flu, the CDC also recommends you stay home from work or school and limit your contact with people.
“I would follow the regulations that were given to me from the Department of Education. The DOE’s regulation is to see if they suspect anything. Any kid that has a fever and a sore throat is kept away from the general population. The nurse will take care of the student and contact the parents. Bathrooms are being stocked with soap and paper towels. Janitors are disinfecting doorknobs. The only advice I can give, is if someone has the disease then you should stay home for at least seven days,” said Principal Ms. Aimee Horowitz.
Deaths in the United States due to the H1N1 virus have recently reached fourteen .
If you do become ill, consult a doctor on other ways to prevent the swine flu. Your doctor may be able to prescribe medicine to shorten the severity of symptoms.
