Swine Flu ( H1N1) Education - part 2

Here is the second of the information gathered referring to the Swine Flu (H1N1) virus, kindly check the first part...

What is Pandemic?

Influenza pandemics happen when a new human influenza virus emerges and spreads rapidly across the globe because humans have no previous immunity against the so called virus.

Are We Risk of Pandemic?

No one can basically say if the current situation would evolve in a sever pandemic. Whether if it turns out to be a catastrophic health event or littl more that a bad flu season, it is suggested to be prepared for the worst.

What Can We Do?

Prepare ourselves and our family immediately for a possible pandemic. It includes gathering and storing emergency supplies and adopting habits that will reduce the chance of us and our family from getting infected and giving to others, like washing our hands regularly, covering our nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing and please don not spit in public.

What is U.N. Doing?

United Nations organization are working to educated and inform staff about the threat of a pandemic and how best to prepare for it. Departments and offices have prepared business continuity plans and decided which functions are to be considered critical during pandemic. Non-critical functions may be suspended for a period in the event of a severe pandemic, most staff will be requested to remains at home and follow United Nation's medical guidelines. Kindly check also UN pandemic website.

Difference between Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza

Are you at Risk?

Seasonal Influenza

Everyone is at risk of getting seasonal influenza. It passes easily from person to person through droplets expelled from nose and mouth and an infected person. These droplets can pass directly into the nose, mouth or eyes of a person who is nearby (less than 1 meter, or 3 feet away) or directly when a person touches surfaces that droplets have fallen onto and then touches his or her nose, mouth or eyes before washing hands. Crowded indoor environments may promote the chances of such transmissions, which may explain the increase in respiratory infections during winter months.

Seasonal Influenza can lead to a complications and even death. Most complications occur in people aged 65 years old and above or in people with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart or lung diseases and diabetes. Pregnant women, infants and very young children are also at increased risk of complications from influenza.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that each year 3 million to 5 million people have severe cases of seasonal influenza worldwide, and 250, 000 to 500,000 people die.

Pandemic Influenza

When pandemic occurs, everyone will be at risk, not just frail or elderly people. Pandemic influenza passes from person to person just as easily and quickly as seasonal flu. But, unlike with seasonal flu, people will not be immune to this new virus, so many people will become infected. in addition, it is possible that even young and healthy people who do not normally suffer complications from seasonal flu may develop serious complications and even die in a pandemic.

It is important to know, however, that the majority of people who will develop a flu like illness in a pandemic will recover and develop immunity to the new human virus.

Information taken from the following:

http://www.un.org/staff/pandemic/
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
and reading materials gathered from my office, from hospitals and health centers