Blog Last Updated June 11, 2009
LEVEL VI
(June 11, 2009)
In
a statement sent to member countries, WHO said it decided to raise the pandemic
warning level from phase 5 to 6 — its highest alert — after holding an
emergency meeting on swine flu with its experts.
The
long-awaited pandemic decision is scientific confirmation that a new flu virus
has emerged and is quickly circling the globe. It will trigger drugmakers to
speed up production of a swine flu vaccine and prompt governments to devote
more money toward efforts to contain the virus.
"At
this early stage, the pandemic can be characterized globally as being moderate
in severity," WHO said in the statement, urging nations not to close
borders or restrict travel and trade. "(We) remain in close dialogue with influenza
vaccine manufacturers."
On
Wednesday, WHO said 74 countries had reported nearly 27,737 cases of swine flu,
including 141 deaths.
The
agency has stressed that most cases are mild and require no treatment, but the
fear is that a rash of new infections could overwhelm hospitals and health
authorities — especially in poorer countries.
Still,
about half of the people who have died from swine flu were previously young and
healthy — people who are not usually susceptible to flu.
Swine
flu is also continuing to spread during the start of summer in the northern
hemisphere. Normally, flu viruses disappear with warm weather, but swine flu is
proving to be resilient.
The
last pandemic — the Hong Kong flu of 1968 — killed about 1 million people.
Ordinary flu kills about 250,000 to 500,000 people each year.
Fear
has already gripped Argentina, where thousands of people worried about swine
flu flooded into hospitals this week, bringing emergency health services in the
capital of Buenos Aires to the brink of collapse. Last month, a bus arriving in
Argentina from Chile was stoned by people who thought a passenger on it had
swine flu. Chile has the most swine flu cases in South America.
In
Hong Kong on Thursday, the government ordered all kindergartens and primary
schools closed for two weeks after a dozen students tested positive for swine
flu — a move that some flu experts would consider an overreaction.
In
the United States, where there have been more than 13,000 cases and at least 27
deaths from swine flu, officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention said the move would not change how the U.S. tackled swine flu.
"Our
actions in the past month have been as if there was a pandemic in this
country," Glen Nowak, a CDC spokesman, said Thursday.
The
U.S. government has already taken steps like increasing availability of
flu-fighting medicines and authorizing $1 billion for the development of a new
vaccine against the novel virus. In addition, new cases seem to be declining in
many parts of the country, U.S. health officials say, as North America moves
out of its traditional winter flu season.
Still,
Osterholm said the declaration was a wake-up call for the world.
"I
think a lot of people think we're done with swine flu, but you can't fall
asleep at the wheel," he said. "We don't know what's going to happen
in the next 6 to 12 months."
PLEASE KEEP READING, AS IT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT NOW AS WHEN IT WAS WRITTEN MAY 27!
May 27, 2009
Everything we've seen to date leaves us with the understanding that we need to remain vigilant. We cannot let up on this. It's important that people understand that there's shared responsibility, that people need to continue to wash their hands, cover their coughs, and, most importantly, when they are sick, not go to school, not go to work when they are sick. Those measures can help reduce the spread in communities and keep people protected.
The CDC does expect to see more school outbreaks. They do expect to see more
clusters around the country. They do expect to see more transmission and they do expect to see disease in all states.
For the CDC to move or for W.H.O. to move from a level five or level six,
they will look to see is there sustained transmission of this virus
in more than one W.H.O. region? With the number of cases in other countries, the CDC would be surprised if we
don't get to a level six. But we are not there yet and W.H.O. has not
made that move.
As the flu season starts in the southern hemisphere, what takes place there is going to be incredibly important, how does the virus compete with other viruses that are circulating in the community, does it change, does it mutate? If so, in what way? Does it develop resistance?
For additional information on Press Conference, May 6, 2009, click below:
For Our Students, Faculty, and Staff
As you may know, the World Health Organization has raised the level of alert to LEVEL SIX. Since then, the University’s actions are consistent with those measures, such as activating its pandemic influenza response plan, which was developed three years ago in response to the potential outbreak of avian flu.
There is no imminent danger to the health of the University community at this time. However, the situation is evolving and University officials are closely monitoring developments. Do your part by keeping calm, informed, and practicing personal hygiene.
Faculty, staff, or students who experience flu-like symptoms are encouraged to use their sick days and stay home from work to keep others from getting sick. Flu-like symptoms are defined as a fever of 100 F (37.8 C) or higher, runny nose, cough, sore throat, and respiratory congestion.
Faculty, staff, and students, who experience flu-like symptoms and have
traveled to an area experiencing an outbreak of flu in the last seven days or have been exposed to
someone with the flu in the last seven days, are urged to seek
treatment from their regular health care provider.
WHO, instead of calling it swine flu, will label it by its technical scientific name H1N1 influenza A (April 30, 2009).
Interim CDC Guidance for Colleges, Universities, and Post-secondary
Educational Institutions in Response to Human Infections with Novel Influenza A
(H1N1) Virus (May 9, 2009)
These recommendations are based on current information and are subject to change based on ongoing surveillance and risk assessment.
For the purpose of this guidance, the term “university” is used to refer to institutions of higher learning (e.g. universities and colleges) and other post-secondary educational institutions.
Background
This document provides interim guidance specific for universities during the outbreak of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus on suggested means to reduce the spread of influenza in universities and their communities. These recommendations are based on the recognition of sustained human to human transmission of this new virus, which has spread across much of the United States, and information which suggests most cases of illness from this virus are similar in severity to seasonal influenza. However, recommendations may need to be revised as more information becomes available.
Interim Recommendations:
- CDC is not currently recommending that colleges, universities, or post-secondary educational institutions cancel or dismiss classes or other large gatherings.
- If confirmed cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection or a large number of cases of influenza like illness (ILI) (i.e. fever with either cough or sore throat) occur among students, faculty, or staff or in the community, university officials should consult with state and local health officials regarding an appropriate response.
- Because the spread of novel influenza A (H1N1) within a health professions school may pose special concerns, school administrators are strongly encouraged to contact their state and local public health authorities if they suspect that cases of ILI are present on their campuses.
- Students, faculty or staff who live either on or off campus and who have ILI should self-isolate (i.e., stay away from others) in their dorm room or home for 7 days after the onset of illness or at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved, whichever is longer.[Student Health Services strongly endorses this recommendation.]
- If possible, persons with ILI who wish to seek medical care should contact their health care provider or university health services [901.678.2287] to report illness by telephone or other remote means before seeking care. Universities should assure that all students, faculty, and staff receive messages about what they should do if they become ill with ILI, including reporting ILI to university health services. [If faculty, staff, or student has been diagnosed with H1N1 Flu, please notify Student Health Services at 901.678.2287 as soon as possible.]
- If persons with ILI must leave their home or dorm room (for example, to seek medical care or other necessities) they should cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing. A surgical loose-fitting mask can be helpful for persons who have access to these, but a tissue or other covering is appropriate as well. (See http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htm Interim Guidance for H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu): Taking Care of a Sick Person in Your Home).
- Roommates, household members, or those caring for an ill person should follow guidance developed for caring for sick persons at home. (See http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htm Interim Guidance for H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu): Taking Care of a Sick Person in Your Home).
- Persons who are at high risk of complications from novel influenza A (H1N1) infection (for example, persons with certain chronic medical conditions, children less than 5 years, persons 65 years or older, and pregnant women) should consider their risk of exposure to novel influenza if they attend public gatherings in communities where novel influenza A virus is circulating. In communities with several reported cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, persons who are at risk of complications from influenza should consider staying away from public gatherings.
Large gatherings
On the basis of what is currently known about the ongoing spread of novel influenza A (H1N1) and, as a means to prevent the further spread of disease on and off campus, universities should encourage persons with ILI to stay home and away from large gatherings. Persons who are sick should be instructed to limit their contact with other people as much as possible and to stay home for 7 days after their symptoms begin or until they have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. In addition, they should be reminded to use appropriate respiratory and hand hygiene. Gatherings may include graduations and commencement activities, concerts, sporting events, and other gatherings where close contact is likely between a large number of attendees.
Large university and other public gatherings offer a good opportunity for officials and event organizers to deliver key educational messages about measures attendees can take to help protect themselves and their family members from novel influenza A (H1N1) infection, including active promotion of good hygiene practices. [Monitor the University's Student Health Services Blog: www.uofmshs.typepad.com.]
1.
What
is H1N1 Influenza A (Swine Flu
Swine flu is a respiratory disease
affecting pigs that is caused by type A influenza virus. Swine influenza
viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur
during the late fall and winter months, similar to influenza outbreaks in
humans. It causes high levels of illness but low death rates in pigs.
What is
unusual about the present strain?
The new
strain is a hybrid of swine, human and avian flu viruses and the US Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it can spread from human to human but
the level of virulence is not yet clear.
2.
Does
Swine Flu affect humans?
Swine flu viruses that cause disease in
pigs very rarely affect humans. However, sporadic human infections with swine
flu have occurred. Most commonly, these cases occur in persons with direct
exposure to pigs but there have also be documented cases of human-to-human
spread of swine flu.
3.
How
does Swine Flu Spread to humans?
Swine flu spread to humans mainly
through contact with infected pigs, which shed the virus in their saliva, nasal
secretions and feces. Limited human-to-human transmission can also occur in the
same way as seasonal flu occurs in people.
4.
Can
people catch Swine Flu from eating pork?
There is currently no evidence to
suggest that swine flu can be transmitted to humans from eating pork or pork
products that have been thoroughly cooked.
5.
What
are the symptoms of Swine Flu in humans?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are
expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza. An
early symptom is fever, and this is followed by cough, sore throat, runny nose
and sometimes breathlessness a few days later.
6.
How
can human infections with swine flu be diagnosed?
To diagnose swine flu, a respiratory
specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of
the illness (when an infected person is most likely to be shedding the virus). However,
some persons, especially children may shed the virus for 10 days or longer.
7. What
medications are available to treat swine flu infections in humans?
There are four
different antiviral drugs for the treatment of influenza: amantadine, rimantadine,
oseltamivir, and zanamivir. While most swine flu viruses have been susceptible
to all four drugs, the most recent swine flu viruses isolated from humans are
resistant to amantadine and rimantadine. At this time the US CDC recommends the
use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) for treatment and/or
prevention of infection with swine flu viruses.
8. Is
it safe to visit countries with cases of Swine Flu and will I be quarantined
when I return? What travel precautions should I take?
The State Department
recommends that "U.S. citizens avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico at
this time." Some tour operators and airlines across the globe have
canceled flights and holiday packages to sunshine destinations like Cancun and
Cozumel. To be sure, contact your operator or airline. No quarantine situation
has been advised by the World Health Organization (WHO) for swine flu at this
time (April 29, 2009). If you travel to areas which have cases of swine flu,
you should take note of the following measures to minimize your risk of
acquiring swine flu:
Avoid contact with persons with
symptoms of influenza.
Avoid crowded areas and maintain good
ventilation. Stay at least six feet away from individuals.
Observe good personal and
environmental hygiene. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water frequently and
when they are contaminated by respiratory secretions e.g. after sneezing and coughing.
Maintain good body resistance through
a balanced diet, regular exercise, having adequate rest, reducing stress and
not smoking.
9.
What
should I do if I suspect I have swine flu after returning from a country that
has cases of swine flu?
You should consult
your doctor as soon as possible and inform your doctor if you have symptoms of
swine flu and had recently traveled to area which have cases of swine flu.
10.
What
should I do if I fall ill overseas?
You should consult a
local doctor as soon as possible and refrain from traveling until you are
certified fit by the doctor.
11.
Does
influenza vaccination help prevent Swine Flu?
There is no vaccine
to protect humans from swine flu. The seasonal influenza vaccine is unlikely to
protect against H1N1 swine flu viruses.
12.
What
Can I Do to Stay Healthy?
There
are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.
Wash
your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Avoid
touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Try
to avoid close contact with sick people.
·
Influenza
is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of
infected people.
· If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Q:
Should we be worried about Swine Flu?
A:
No - but we should take sensible precautions and stay informed. The World
Health Organization has warned that the outbreak has "pandemic
potential" and countries have been advised to step up surveillance and
preparation in case the infection spreads rapidly.
Q:
Does swine flu pose a more serious threat to pregnant women?
A:
All viruses are potentially dangerous to pregnant women as their immune systems
are under extra strain - but they should be fine if they eat well and keep up
essential minerals.
Q:
How long does the flu virus survive on surfaces?
A:
The flu virus survives for roughly 24 hours on hard surfaces, two hours on soft
surfaces.
Q:
What is a pandemic?
A:
If the flu spreads over a wide geographic area and affects a large proportion
of the population it goes beyond an epidemic and becomes a pandemic.
According
to the Health Protection Agency, an influenza pandemic is defined as a new or
novel influenza virus that spreads easily between humans.
When
new influenza viruses are introduced into the environment, humans do not have
any natural immunity to protect against them.
Therefore,
there is a risk that that new influenza viruses could develop into a pandemic,
if the virus passes easily from human-to-human.
Q:
Have humans been infected with swine flu in the past?
A:
Cases of swine flu in humans usually occur after a history of exposure to pigs.
For example, direct or close contact with infected pigs.
Cases
of person-to-person transmission have been previously reported but are rare.
There
have been no cases identified in the UK for at least 10 years.
A
single case of swine flu was reported in November 2008 in Spain. The person
only had mild symptoms.
We
don’t know if this virus will cause pregnant women to have a greater
chance of getting sick or have serious problems. We also do not know
how this virus will affect the baby. 