Don’t Panic: What You Need to Know About the H1N1 Virus
In recent years, the world has been shaken by near-pandemics such as the SARS outbreak and the avian flu. Today, the world’s eyes and efforts are turned towards the Influenza A/H1N1 virus, previously called the swine flu and referred to as A/H1N1 for short. To date, there are a little over 15,000 cases of the disease and approximately a hundred deaths resulting from it across the world.
What makes the A/H1N1 virus strain of influenza different from the rest? Is it more dangerous than the previous influenza viruses that caused pandemics in previous years? What should we do to protect ourselves from it?
The A/H1N1 Virus Is a New Virus
Some of us are probably unaware that flu outbreaks are seasonal. They typically happen every year when the cold season starts in each hemisphere. Scientists have even seen patterns in flu outbreaks that they have come to predict the movement of these flu outbreaks as it spreads across the world.
But while flu outbreaks do happen regularly, there are strains of influenza viruses that are more virulent and dangerous than the others. What we need to understand about the flu virus is that it changes and mutates according to how its host reacts to its presence.
In the case of A/H1N1 virus, scientists call it a mess of a virus. It was originally called the swine flu virus because a good part of its genes are similar to the type of flu virus that mostly affects pigs. However, scientists have found that the A/H1N1 virus is actually a mix of four sets of influenza virus genes: the swine flu virus strain more commonly found in Europe and Asia, the swine flu strain more commonly found in North America, the human influenza virus and the North American strain of the avian flu virus.
Symptoms of the A/H1N1 Virus Infection
Right now, the A/H1N1 virus is not seen to be that dangerous by scientists. The number of deaths purported to be caused by this strain of the flu virus is said to be normal during flu outbreaks. Scientists, however, fear that the A/H1N1 virus may mutate into something more life-threatening than its current form.
People infected with the A/H1N1 virus display the typical symptoms of the flu – cold, fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose or runny nose, headaches, body aches, chills and tiredness. Additional symptoms include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Emergency treatment is needed if the patient begins to experience trouble breathing, is turning blue, is feeling pressure in the abdominal region or has sudden spells of dizziness. In children, additional signs that they need to be rushed to the hospital is excessive irritability or irresponsiveness.
Treating and Preventing the A/H1N1 Virus Infection
Currently, pharmaceutical companies are developing vaccines for the A/H1N1 virus, but these developments are stalled by the possibility that the virus may mutate during the later months of 2009. The CDC recommends the use of typical antiviral medicine in treating patients afflicted with the A/H1N1 virus.
In order to prevent getting infected by the A/H1N1 virus, the following measures will help in stopping the spread of the virus:
• Washing the hands thoroughly with soap and water, or with an alcohol-based hand cleanser
• Covering the mouth with tissue when coughing or sneezing, and disposing the tissue afterwards
• Avoiding contact with sick people
• Avoiding touching the nose, mouth and eye area
• Staying at home when you are not feeling well.
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