Be aware of:
INFLUENZA
The real threat (seasonal flu) vs. the theoretical threat (bird flu).
“DEADLY” has been the adjective that influenza has acquired after the twenty century pandemics around the world, with a death toll ranging in the millions, and more deaths than in the Second World War.
The world is facing the probability (theoretically speaking) of a new pandemic of influenza. Recent human fatalities of poultry-handler workers in Asia due to avian (H5N1) flu have raised the concern between scientist that the H5N1 virus could one day be able to infect humans and spread easily from one person to another: Human population have little or no protection against these viruses so in case of a “influenza pandemic” the result could be catastrophic.
Vaccines against H5N1 are in progress and the availability and production of antiviral medications such as oseltamavir and zanamavir, has been increased. Unfortunately, Tamiflu, the brand name of oseltamavir, will be commercially available in pharmacies in Mexico in no less than 4 months.
WHAT TO DO??
Let’s review some key facts:
1. Bird flu occurrs only in patients who are in direct contact with ill poultry and butchering of birds. (Plucking and preparing of birds, handling fighting cocks, playing with poultry- particularly asymptomatic infected ducks, consumption of duck’s blood and undercooked poultry). So, if you need to travel to countries with known outbreaks of bird flu (Asia) avoid poultry farms, contact with animals in live food markets, and any surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces from poultry or other animals. You should be careful when handling and cooking poultry. The World Health Organization has a complete guide about good hygiene practices to avoid the spreading of the virus through food. Visit this webpage:
http://www.who.int/foodsafety/fs_management/
No_02_Avianinfluenza_Dec04_en.pdf
2. Part of the theoretical risk implies that a patient infected with the “seasonal” flu gets into contact with the “bird” flu virus H5N1 and both virus share genetic information that serve to create a “supervirus”, able to transmit from human to human through inhalations of droplets and direct contact. If we control with vaccination the seasonal influenza, the risk will be minimized. Therefore, ideally everybody must be vaccinated; unfortunately, due to shortage, government reserves the vaccines to high risk groups, but everybody is able to get (with a cost of US$30.00-40.00 In Mexico) the vaccine from private hospitals and some doctor’s office. The main contraindication is allergy to egg-proteins. Healthy younger patients have less mortality from influenza but they could avoid this highly inconvenient disease with the vaccination.
The real threat already over us is the seasonal flu, which causes an average of 36,000 deaths in the United States each year and we must not underestimate it thinking in the theoretical risk of the avian flu. Patients worry more about storing Tamiflu than about their annual shot of influenza. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention recommends being vaccinated before October 24, 2005, because the immunological system needs three to four weeks for produce the new antibodies against the 2005-2006 strain of influenza. You are overdue if you are not vaccinated by the time you are reading this article, particularly if you belong to high-risk groups; other recommendations are to avoid crowded areas such as transports, crowded places and meetings, or to wear a N-95 facial mask (US$2.00-3.00).
Which are the high-risk groups?
• Persons >50 years with or without accompanied diseases. (particularly more than 65 year-old)
• Residents of long-term care facilities.
• Persons from ages 2-64 years with comorbid conditions, particularly diabetes and respiratory problems.
• children aged 6 -23 months
• pregnant women
• health-care personnel who provide direct patient care
• household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children aged <6 months
• International Travellers.
FURTHER READING:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/
avian_faqs/en/index.html
http://www.who.int/foodsafety/micro/avian/en/
| Do you know differences between the flu and a common cold? |
| Comparison of Influenza (the flu) and the Common Cold |
| Features |
Flu |
Common cold |
| |
|
|
| Fever |
High +101oF/38.5oC 3-4 days |
Uncommon or only 0.5°C (1°F) increase |
| |
|
|
| Muscle aches/pain |
Severe, common |
Uncommon / less prominent |
| |
|
|
| Headache |
Severe, common |
Mild, rare |
| |
|
|
| Dry Cough |
Common, severe |
Mild to moderate |
| |
|
|
| Malaise / Exhaustion |
Severe, early and prominent |
Uncommon/ Mild or moderate |
| |
|
|
| Fatigue, weakness |
More common, lasts 2 to 3 weeks |
Very mild, short lasting |
| |
|
|
| Chest discomfort |
Very Common, severe |
Mild to moderate |
| |
|
|
| Sneezing |
Sometimes |
Very Usual |
| |
|
|
| Sore throat |
Occasional |
Common |
