Swine Influenza Outbreak
For those planning to travel to Mexico or the USA in the near future it may be wise to check on the status of the Swine Influenza outbreak in Mexico that has been spread to the USA and other countries by vacationers returning home. The US government has declared a “Health Emergency” in order to be able to release stockpiles of anti flu medications if needed.
Swine Flu
This is a disease of pigs and as a rule is only passed to persons who take care of pigs. However, from time to time there have been cases of human-to-human transmission and death. Many may remember the swine flu shots in 1975. Soldiers at Fort Dix, New Jersey became ill with confirmed swine flu and one died. Because of the concern of an epidemic swine flu shots were recommended and taken by many but, in fact, no epidemic evolved.
Infectious disease experts in 1975 were concerned that the swine flu cases could spread like the “Spanish Flu” during World War I where over a million persons died worldwide.
Prevention and Treatment
According to the CDC last year’s flu shot will not help prevent this swine flu. However, unlike the 1970’s there are effective antiviral medications for flu today.
The CDC recommends that the medications zanamivir by itself or oseltamivir with amantadine or remantadine should be started as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms and continued for five days.
This “flu” is respiratory illness, not a “stomach flu.” Thus the symptoms are congestion, hoarseness, cough, fever, etc.
PRECAUTION: If your children have a fever with suspected flu do not give aspirin for a fever and do not use Pepto Bismol in order to avoid the possibility of Reye Syndrome, which causes swelling of the brain and damage to other organs.
Travel
Right now European authorities are recommending that citizens not travel to Mexico or to the USA. If the outbreak truly turns into an epidemic one may see travel restrictions. For now anyone expecting to travel to the USA may want to watch CNN or refer to the CDC web site posted above.
