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The World Health Organization has declared a H1N1 influenza pandemic and advised governments to prepare for a long-term battle against the virus. On June 11, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention then raised the H1N1 pandemic status to level six, indicating an international pandemic. The World Health Organization has reported a huge leap in the swine flu pandemic toll to more than 59,814, and the mortality rate stands at 263, as of June 26. Swine flu has now been reported in more than 100 countries and territories.
What is a pandemic? It is a disease which has spread worldwide. The declaration of a pandemic does not mean there is a change in the behavior of the virus, but that it is spreading in more parts of the world. The word “pandemic,” though, strikes fear in many people because it sounds like pandemonium or panic. Currently the countries most affected are: Mexico, United States, Canada, Argentina, Chile, Britain, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Philippines, Australia, Japan, Thailand, Korea, and Spain, but it has appeared in Iraq, the Solomon Islands, New Zealand, and India and many other countries. That certainly covers most of the continents and islands worldwide. The highest flu rate currently has been reported from the United States.
This is the fourth flu pandemic in the last 100 years. The first great outbreak was the Spanish flu in 1918, which killed an estimated 40 million. The second one was in 1957 and the one following was in 1968. Though with this swine flu, the severity of the infection is comparable to the more seasonal flu, this virus, unlike the seasonal flu virus affects younger people. About half the deaths are in the age group 30-50, unlike seasonal flu where the elderly population is most at risk. Of the all the viruses that have the potential to kill large numbers in the developed world, influenza or flu is the most common.
How does the flu get around? It travels in the respiratory tract of people traveling worldwide. A sneeze and a cough on a plane or crowded market or public place and the virus is in the air and on various surfaces. A person can spread the flu before he or she knows they are sick. It spreads readily from person to person and humans can even spread it to animals. There was a report from Argentina that linked infected farm workers to infections in pigs. So the virus can hop species from humans to animals as well.
What is the impact of the flu? There are recent reports on schools closing in the U.K., the U.S. and worldwide. The flu has caused cancellations of summer camps, has a hospital delaying elective surgery in Australia because it needs beds for the flu cases. In England some Roman Catholic churches temporarily stopped sharing communion wine. Cruises have been cancelled or passengers quarantined. U.S. airlines saw passenger traffic drop 9.5 percent in May, with the H1N1 swine flu outbreak a factor, and their revenue dropped another 26 percent compared to April. The Mexican tourist industry was particularly hard hit.
Why the flu this time of the year? There are several theories circulating around, including environmental, cultural and economic issues: the current recession, loss of retirement funds, compromised nutrition, reduced exercise, obesity and other factors produce a depressed immune system. Some at-risk populations seem to be at the poverty level. Health officials in Manitoba say they have confirmed almost 460 cases of H1N1, with more than one quarter of those from remote northern communities. Aboriginal leaders have declared a state of emergency. Officials worry that swine flu is very likely to spread rapidly in the Solomon Islands. This is because of poor personal hygiene, over crowding, poor access to health care, struggling health services. “Even if it does not mutate into a more deadly form, a second wave of the flu in low-income countries could have serious consequences. These countries have limited capacity to monitor and treat an outbreak, coupled with the higher incidence of chronic disease within their populations.
So even knowing about the outbreak which started in Mexico, the world health community has not been able to prevent it from spreading rapidly worldwide.
Dr. Joanne Stolen is retired from Rutgers University where she taught microbiology. Her scientific interests are in emerging infectious diseases and environmental pollution. She lives in Breckenridge.
What is a pandemic? It is a disease which has spread worldwide. The declaration of a pandemic does not mean there is a change in the behavior of the virus, but that it is spreading in more parts of the world. The word “pandemic,” though, strikes fear in many people because it sounds like pandemonium or panic. Currently the countries most affected are: Mexico, United States, Canada, Argentina, Chile, Britain, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Philippines, Australia, Japan, Thailand, Korea, and Spain, but it has appeared in Iraq, the Solomon Islands, New Zealand, and India and many other countries. That certainly covers most of the continents and islands worldwide. The highest flu rate currently has been reported from the United States.
This is the fourth flu pandemic in the last 100 years. The first great outbreak was the Spanish flu in 1918, which killed an estimated 40 million. The second one was in 1957 and the one following was in 1968. Though with this swine flu, the severity of the infection is comparable to the more seasonal flu, this virus, unlike the seasonal flu virus affects younger people. About half the deaths are in the age group 30-50, unlike seasonal flu where the elderly population is most at risk. Of the all the viruses that have the potential to kill large numbers in the developed world, influenza or flu is the most common.
How does the flu get around? It travels in the respiratory tract of people traveling worldwide. A sneeze and a cough on a plane or crowded market or public place and the virus is in the air and on various surfaces. A person can spread the flu before he or she knows they are sick. It spreads readily from person to person and humans can even spread it to animals. There was a report from Argentina that linked infected farm workers to infections in pigs. So the virus can hop species from humans to animals as well.
What is the impact of the flu? There are recent reports on schools closing in the U.K., the U.S. and worldwide. The flu has caused cancellations of summer camps, has a hospital delaying elective surgery in Australia because it needs beds for the flu cases. In England some Roman Catholic churches temporarily stopped sharing communion wine. Cruises have been cancelled or passengers quarantined. U.S. airlines saw passenger traffic drop 9.5 percent in May, with the H1N1 swine flu outbreak a factor, and their revenue dropped another 26 percent compared to April. The Mexican tourist industry was particularly hard hit.
Why the flu this time of the year? There are several theories circulating around, including environmental, cultural and economic issues: the current recession, loss of retirement funds, compromised nutrition, reduced exercise, obesity and other factors produce a depressed immune system. Some at-risk populations seem to be at the poverty level. Health officials in Manitoba say they have confirmed almost 460 cases of H1N1, with more than one quarter of those from remote northern communities. Aboriginal leaders have declared a state of emergency. Officials worry that swine flu is very likely to spread rapidly in the Solomon Islands. This is because of poor personal hygiene, over crowding, poor access to health care, struggling health services. “Even if it does not mutate into a more deadly form, a second wave of the flu in low-income countries could have serious consequences. These countries have limited capacity to monitor and treat an outbreak, coupled with the higher incidence of chronic disease within their populations.
So even knowing about the outbreak which started in Mexico, the world health community has not been able to prevent it from spreading rapidly worldwide.
Dr. Joanne Stolen is retired from Rutgers University where she taught microbiology. Her scientific interests are in emerging infectious diseases and environmental pollution. She lives in Breckenridge.
