Swine Flu: WHO Declares Flu Pandemic

15 June, 2009 (22:22) | BlogHer, Health, YouTube, family, healthcare, life, news, vaccines, women's health | By: Catherine Morgan

On Thursday the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the first flu pandemic in 41 years. But there is no need to panic, the H1N1 virus (swine flu) has not become any more lethal, it’s just being recognized as a pandemic now because of the numbers of cases and areas affected.

From The Wall Street Journal – Flu Pandemic Is Declared…

As of Thursday, the WHO reported 28,774 confirmed cases of H1N1 in 74 countries, including 144 deaths. A sharp jump in cases in Australia, where more than 1,300 people have been diagnosed, contributed to the decision to raise the alert level.

In Hong Kong, the government on Thursday ordered the closure of all nurseries, kindergartens and primary schools for two weeks after a dozen students at one school tested positive for swine flu.

While the new flu strain has spread rapidly, fewer than 1% of reported H1N1 cases have resulted in deaths. The most recent pandemic in 1968 killed about one million people, according to some estimates. The most lethal flu pandemic of the past 100 years, in 1918, is believed to have killed tens of millions of people.

The WHO estimates that seasonal flu kills up to 500,000 people each year.

So what does all of this mean for you and me? Here is a video from The New York Times…

Erin Cooper shares some tips on preventing the H1N1 virus…

There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Stay home if you are sick for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.
Other important actions that you can take are—
• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
• Be prepared in case you get sick and need to stay home for a week or so; a supply of over-the-counter medicines, alcohol-based hand rubs, tissues and other related items might could be useful and help avoid the need to make trips out in public whileyou are sick and contagious.

From A Pregnant Pause…

Pregnant women and mothers with children are probably the most worried of all when WHO announced the first flu pandemic in 41 years with 74 countries affected.

With the Summer break (and school holidays) coming up, many families would probably have planned their flights home or purchased their holiday packages months ahead at travel fairs, even before swine flu (A H1N1) was first reported in April (early Spring) US and Mexico.

As a pregnant mother with a 3.5 year old toddler planning her travel home and deciding where to deliver my baby, this announcement pretty much firms up our decision to go home.

From EmpowerHer – First Batch of Swine Flu Vaccine…

European drug maker Novartis AG announced Friday that it has successfully produced the first batch of H1N1 swine flu vaccine, weeks earlier than had been expected.

The shortened production schedule was made possible because the vaccine was produced in cells, rather than the egg-based method typically used for vaccines, the company said.

Where do you get your Swine Flu information?

At Dr. Gwenn Is In bloggers are being asked to take a quick survey – How Do Bloggers Get Information About Swine Flu?

With Swine Flu, Influenza H1N1, now at pandemic levels world wide, gathering data and information about the virus is important to keep us all healthy. Believe it or not, part of the information hunt involves how you get your information on important health issues such as Swine Flu.

How are you feeling about the Swine Flu being recognized as a pandemic? Are you more worried? Not worried at all? Will you be changing your summer travel plans? Let me know what you think in comments.

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