Some Facts of H1N1 Swine flue

The following information on the H1N1 Swine flue (short for influenza) has been sent by Desmond Oliver.
The flue should not be taken lightly.
Thr only death of a student (K W Lu) which occured in our school was during the Asian Flue which spread throughout the world in 1957.
Here is more about it.
Asian flu: A pandemic of influenza A (H2N2) in 1957-58. First identified in China in late February 1957, the Asian flu spread to the United States by June 1957 where it caused about 70,000 deaths. Also known as Asian influenza.

Immunity to this strain of influenza A (H2N2) was rare in people less than 65 years of age, and a pandemic was predicted. In preparation, vaccine production began in late May 1957, and health officials increased surveillance for flu outbreaks. Unlike the virus that caused the 1918 pandemic, the 1957 pandemic virus was quickly identified, due to advances in scientific technology. Vaccine was available in limited supply by August 1957.

The virus came to the United States quietly, with a series of small outbreaks over the summer of 1957. When children went back to school in the fall, they spread the disease in classrooms and brought it home to their families. Infection rates were highest among school children, young adults, and pregnant women in October 1957. Most influenza-and pneumonia-related deaths occurred between September 1957 and March 1958. The elderly had the highest rates of death. By December 1957, the worst seemed to be over.

However, during January and February 1958, there was another wave of illness among the elderly. This is an example of the potential "second wave" of infections that can develop during a pandemic. The disease infects one group of people first, infections appear to decrease and then infections increase in a different part of the population

If I am right no vaccine has so far been made for H1N1 and vaccines of Tamilflue which we are using is just a stop gap arrangement to prevent it spreading.
The only hope is prevention by taking precautions in our daily life as mentioned below.

FOR INFO.

Understandably in the light of recent media reports, we have been receiving few enquiries on "how to protect oneself from H1N1". All employees should continue to monitor their own health for flu symptoms, and encourage others to do the same. We would urge you to follow these simple and effective steps to protect yourselves and others from the flu:
Clean/ wash hands frequently
Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough
Consider wearing a mask (surgical mask) if you are suffering from seasonal or any other flu...and do not touch your mouth, nose and eyes
If you are displaying flu symptoms then stay at home until your symptoms subside
Keep the home/work environment clean
If you or your family member develop any flu like symptoms, please consult a doctor

Avoid movement in crowded and unhygienic areas
We would like to encourage employees suffering even from common cold, seasonal flu/ influenza etc. to make use of a mask at the workplace. Its a choice you can make to reassure yourself and your colleagues against any spread of virus. Wearing a mask does not necessarily convey that the user is suffering or suspecting H1N1 virus.

GOVERNMENT AUTHORIZED HOSPITALS FOR TREATMENT OF SWINE FLU


City

Hospital

Address

Contact

Chennai

King Institute of Preventive Medicine (24/7 Service)

Guindy, Chennai - 32

(044) 22501520, 22501521 & 22501522

Communicable Diseases Hospital

Thondiarpet, Chennai

(044) 25912686/87/88, 9444459543

Government General Hospital

Opp. Central Railway Station, Chennai - 03

(044) 25305000, 25305723, 25305721, 25330300

Pune

Naidu Hospital

Nr Le'Meridian, Raja Bahadur Mill, GPO, Pune - 01

(020) 26058243

National Institute of Virology

20A Ambedkar Road, Pune - 11

(020) 26006290

Kolkata

ID Hospital

57,Beliaghata, Beliaghata Road, Kolkata - 10ý

(033) 23701252

Coimbatore

Government General Hospital

Near Railway Station, Trichy Road, Coimbatore - 18

(0422) 2301393, 2301394, 2301395, 2301396

Hyderabad

Govt. General and Chest Diseases Hospital,

Erragadda, Hyderabad

(040) 23814939

Mumbai

Kasturba Gandhi Hospital

Arthur Road, N M Joshi Marg, Jacob Circle, Mumbai - 11

(022) 23083901, 23092458, 23004512

Sir J J Hospital

J J Marg, Byculla, Mumbai - 08

(022) 23735555, 23739031, 23760943, 23768400 / 23731144 / 5555 /
23701393 / 1366

Haffkine Institute

Acharya Donde Marg, Parel, Mumbai - 12

(022) 24160947, 24160961, 24160962

Kochi

Government Medical College

Gandhi Nagar P O, Kottayam - 08

(0481) 2597311,2597312

Government Medical College

Vandanam P O, Allapuzha - 05

(0477) 2282015

Taluk Hospital

Railway Station Road, Alwaye, Ernakulam

(0484) 2624040 Sathyajit - 09847840051

Taluk Hospital

Perumbavoor PO, Ernakulam 542

(0484) 2523138 Vipin - 09447305200

Gurgaon & Delhi

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)

Ansari Nagar, Aurobindo Marg Ring Road, New Delhi - 29

(011) 26594404, 26861698 Prof. R C Deka - 9868397464

National Institute for Communicable Diseases

22, Sham Nath Marg, New Delhi - 54

(011) 23971272/060/344/524/449/326

Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital

Kharak Singh Marg, New Delhi - 01

(011) 23741640, 23741649, 23741639 Dr. N K Chaturvedi - 9811101704

Vallabhai Patel Chest Institute

University Enclave, New Delhi- 07

(011) 27667102, 27667441, 27667667, 27666182

Bangalore

Victoria Hospital

K R Market, Kalasipalayam, Bangalore - 02

(080) 26703294 Dr. Gangadhar - 94480-49863

SDS Tuberculosis & Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases

Hosur Road, Hombegowda Nagar, Bangalore - 29

(080) 26631923 Dr. Shivaraj - 99801-48780

STAY ALERT! PREVENT AGAINST SWINE FLU









Subject: Swine Flu Symptoms



An excerpt from Krishna's school circular for "Swine Flu"

Swine Flu Symptoms

Symptoms of swine flu infections can include:

· fever, which is usually high, but unlike seasonal flu, is sometimes absent

· cough

· runny nose or stuffy nose

· sore throat

· body aches

· headache

· chills

· fatigue or tiredness, which can be extreme

· diarrhea and vomiting, sometimes, but more commonly seen than with seasonal flu

Signs of a more serious swine flu infection might include pneumonia and respiratory failure.

If your child has symptoms of swine flu, you should avoid other people and call your pediatrician who might do a rapid flu test to see if he has influenza infection. Further testing can then be done to see if it is a swine flu infection. (Samples can be sent to local and state health departments for confirmation of swine flu, especially if a child is in the hospital.)

Serious Swine Flu Symptoms

More serious symptoms that would indicate that a child with swine flu would need urgent medical attention include:

· Fast breathing or trouble breathing

· Bluish or gray skin color

· Not drinking enough fluids

· Severe or persistent vomiting

· Not waking up or not interacting

· Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

· Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

What You Need To Know

· Swine flu likely spreads by direct contact with respiratory secretions of someone that is sick with swine flu, like if they were coughing and sneezing close to you.

· People with swine flu are likely contagious for one day before and up to seven days after they began to get sick with swine flu symptoms.

· Droplets from a cough or sneeze can also contaminate surfaces, such as a doorknob, drinking glass, or kitchen counter, although these germs likely don't survive for more than a few hours.

· Anti-flu medications, including Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza
(zanamivir), are available to prevent and treat swine flu .

· The latest swine flu news advice that children should not attend school if they have had swine flu symptoms in the previous seven days.