Swine Flu, SARS, and Kimchi

[1] "If there is anywhere in the world that took a beating by SARS, it was Hong Kong," says Peter Cordingley, spokesman for the World Health Organization (WHO) in Manila. "The lesson was learned." Drawing on the past, Hong Kong has already issued travel advisories and stepped up controls at airports, including the use of infrared temperature scans and the detainment of travelers arriving with flu-like symptoms. [2] The countries and overseas territories/communities that reported their first pandemic (H1N1) 2009 confirmed case(s) since the last web update (6 July 2009) as of 22 July 2009: Afghanistan, Andorra, Belize, Bhutan, Botswana, La Runion (French Overseas Community), Haiti, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Namibia, Sint Eustatius (Netherlands Antilles), Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, the Sudan, Tonga, Turks and Caicos Islands (UK Overseas Territory), the United Republic of Tanzania, American Samoa (US), Guam (US) As of July 22, 2009, the Grand Total of deaths attributed to swine flu is 1,154. For updated information of reported cases visit the WHO Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 site listed at the bottom of this article. The below listed link to a Google Map depicts areas of the swine flu outbreak providing an accurate geographical image of infection outbreaks. How is it treated? For suspected cases of the virus, a five-day treatment of zanamivir alone or combination of oseltamivir and either amantadine or rimantadine is initiated. For confirmed cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, either oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) may be administered. [3] Will a facemask protect me from being infected? We have very limited information of the effectiveness of facemasks and respirators in combating and control of influenza. If used correctly, facemasks and respirators may help reduce the risk of getting influenza, but they should be used along with other preventive measures, such as avoiding close contact and maintaining good hand hygiene. "Unless otherwise specified, "respirator" refers to an N95 or higher filtering face piece respirator certified by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Three feet has often been used by infection control professionals to define close contact and is based on studies of respiratory infections; however, for practical purposes, this distance may range up to 6 feet. The World Health Organization uses "approximately 1

meter"; the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration uses "within 6 feet." [3] Any prognosis for the future? Approximately 90-95% of infected people recover despite harsh symptoms to include 100+ degree temp. headaches, extreme fatigue, chills, diarrhea, sore throat, aching muscles, basically all the common flu symptoms. To date, caution must be taken as swine flu (H1N1) is still spreading and may become a pandemic affecting entire regions or countries. Annual Flu outbreaks are expected and predictable. However this outbreak has not followed usual flu patterns. The future speculated prognosis is split among those who believe swine flu (H1N1) will diminish and die out this summer '09 and those who believe it will return to claim more cases similar to the influenza pandemic of 1918. H7N9, PandemicHomeCare.com