So, a quick State of the Flu...

New name - H1N1 is a more scientific, more accurate descriptor than "swine flu." All the health orgs are using it and I agree with the change - it's not just pork-industry propaganda, it is more precise and provides real, true information about the virus.


Current levels -

• WHO (World Health Orgainization) level = 5
• Worldwide confirmed cases = about 500
• Nationwide confirmed cases (as of late this morning) = 141
• Nationwide confirmed H1N1 death (as of late this morning) = 1 (the one death is a toddler. Tragic, but expected.)
• Probable (but unconfirmed) cases in Wisconsin = 14 (http://pandemic.wisconsin.gov/)
• EPL (Eithni Panic Level) = Nope, not yet

Testing option -
If you remain concerned, you can go to this website for testing information:
http://www.doihavepigflu.com/

ego_id_non_feci , perhaps you could recommend it to your munchkins' parents.

As the H1N1 influenza outbreak continues to spread, I thought I would post a few things regarding common questions and sensible, rational precautions. Now, I'm still not advocating freaking out, and I'm not saying that you need to enact these things yet, but if you are worried about needing to prepare for a pandemic, here are some things you can read and think about.


( If you are worried that there won't be enough antiviral medications -  )

(  If you are worried about how fast and how far this is spreading -  )

( If you decide to wear a face mask-  )


( If you want to prepare your household for an outbreak-  )

The CDC page for individual planning is here. And the checklist is here.


Go wash your hands. ;)

Just a short word - Today, the WHO raised the pandemic threat level to 5 in response to the continued spread of the disease. While this sounds alarming, it's still not a reason to freak out. We have a grand total of 91 confirmed cases in the US, some of which I am sure is due to increased testing, not additional illnesses. And, yes, there is now one confirmed US death. A mortality rate of ~1% is high for an influenza, but keep in mind we know nothing about the dead patient, so very few conclusions can be drawn from that.

So... still don't freak out.


Go wash your hands.

OK, since it is starting to hit main news outlets and people are starting to worry, I thought I would do one of the Dr. Jean Health Care summaries for y'all.

#1 - Don't freak out. Really.
At this point, it is a potentially scary infection, but limited to people who have recently been to Mexico or their close contacts. No, it is not transmitted in food, so enjoy your ham sammiches and bacon cheeseburgers. We will know more in the next few days about how virulent it is and how easily it is transmitted from one person to the next, but right now it's not worth getting your undies in a bunch. Be cautious, yes. Watch the news updates, yes. But don't freak out. THAT doesn't help anyway. 

#2 - Like many viral illnesses, it is preventable to some degree.
They are saying that the influenza can be passed on by someone for about eight days - the day before they become ill and the week after. The virus can be transmitted through the air or from surfaces. So, avoid hanging out with people who have recently been to Mexico or the Southwest near the border or who are obviously unwell. Wash your hands. Don't go to Mexico. Wash your hands. Cover your mouth with your arm/your elbow/a kleenex (NOT your hands) when you sneeze or cough. Wash your hands. Get a lot of rest and stay the hell home if you feel ill. Wash your hands. If you are immunosuppressed, have small children, or otherwise have health conditions that would make any bout of influenza a dangerous thing, consider avoiding large groups of people (Maul of America, large sporting events, etc.). Wash your hands. Clean with bleach if anyone in the house is ill. Wash your hands. Consider calling your doctor with any influenza-type illnesses, but don't just go in. Wash your hands.

Regarding handwashing: Hot water and soap. Scrub well for 30 seconds (sing the birthday song) and scrub up past the wrists. Rinse well and wipe off promptly. Use alcohol gel if you cannot wash your hands promptly or as an added measure.

Regarding masks - viruses are vanishingly small little buggers and so may not be filtered out by masks but viruses are usually transmitted on sneeze droplets, so masks are not entirely useless. However, they are probably not generally a necessary precaution unless you are a high-risk individual going into a high-risk situation, OR you work in a health-care setting where this is a risk to you or your patients, OR if this does become more wide-spread and you are prone to touching your face, biting your nails, chewing on pens, etc. simply because a mask blocks you from doing so.

#3 - I am throwing up!!!! OMG!11!1!!! I haz swine flu!!!1!11!!.... Or not.
This strain of influenza is like most influenzas - the primary symptoms are RESPIRATORY, not GASTROINTESTINAL. The symptoms you are looking for are: fever, cough, headache, sore throat, body aches, etc. Some people have reported some nausea and diarrhea, but they are not the classic, primary symptoms. If you do develop influenza-type symptoms but are not in a high-risk group and have not had knowing contact with someone who was recently in Mexico or one of the affected areas, you probably just should ride it out. If you are worried about it, call your medical practitioner and report the illness, but don't be alarmed if they tell you to just stay the hell home unless it gets worse. High-risk or high-suspicion cases may be asked to come in for testing.

#4 - Yes, there are medications for it. No, don't ask your doctor for them.
There is a great big stockpile of antivirals, two of which are effective against this sort of flu. However, don't ask for them because chances are your doctor is not going to release them for treatment unless you actually test positive for THIS strain of influenza and you won't get them prophyllactically unless this does turn into a pandemic. Even then, they probably will be reserved for active cases and high-risk patients. Think about it - we don't want to over-use the two known effective medications - viruses mutate quickly and we don't want to promote early resistance. Besides, cases outside of Mexico seem to be more mild than those reported in Mexico. Whether that is because of a loss of virulence, genetic predispositions/protections, a matter of scale in the number of people affected, or what, remains to be seen. Sadly, because it is primarily a swine flu, it seems that the influenza vaccine from last year likely will not offer any protection. See my previous post about influenza and non-prescription treatments you can use.

#5 - It's actually sort of cool... FrankenVirus!
I'm actually sort of geeked out that it's a FrankenVirus - part human, part avian flu, part Western swine flu, part Eastern swine flu. Hee.


So, the short list is:

• Don't freak
• Wash your hands
• Don't go to Mexico/Southwest/Southern California if you can help it
• Keep up with the news (I'll post important updates, too, I imagine)
• Stay the hell home if you are sick

CDC Website on the outbreak