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Swine Flu Put in Perspective

Swine Influenza Cases Still Affect Very Few People

Apr 30, 2009 Karen Sheviak

On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) increased its global pandemic alert level to 5 on a 6-phase scale, which means a swine flu pandemic is imminent.

The WHO recommends that countries prepare their communications and public health strategies to deal with an outbreak of swine flu. All of this sounds very worrisome, but a look at what these stages and numbers actually mean gives much-needed perspective.

Updated Flu Case Numbers

According to the WHO, phase 5 means there is human-to-human spread of virus in at least two countries in one of the WHO regions. The country-by-country breakdown is as follows:

The United States has 91 human cases, with one death.
Mexico has reported 26 human cases including seven deaths.
The following countries have confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (13), Germany (3), Israel (2), New Zealand (3), Spain (4) and the United Kingdom (5).

What is Swine Influenza?

Health Canada states that swine influenza is a respiratory infection that causes influenza in pigs. Human cases are usually caused by direct contact with pigs. Symptoms include headache, chills, cough followed by fever, loss of appetite, muscle aches and fatigue, runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes and throat irritation. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may also occur.

Free to Travel

Some airlines and travel companies have suspended travel to Mexico and offered customers free cancellations or allowed them to postpone their vacations. Canada and the United States have recommended that their citizens avoid nonessential travel to Mexico. But the WHO does not advise the closure of borders or restrictions on travel. Similarly, there are no advisories restricting the consumption of pork products.

The Regular Flu Is Worse

Although the risk to you and your family may seem severe, the numbers are tiny compared to an average flu season: according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), anywhere between five and 20 per cent of people in the United States get the flu every year, about 200,000 are hospitalized and 36,000 die.

Steps to Take to Stay Healthy

Fortunately, there are simple things you can do to avoid getting the flu at any time.

Wash your hands. This is the number one way to keep the flu at bay. This means washing with warm water and soap for 20 seconds, or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if you can't get to a sink.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue if you cough or sneeze, throw it away and, that's right, wash your hands.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth because that's how germs are often spread.

Remember that although swine flu may seem like something to worry about, it is affecting far fewer people than the regular flu that hits the population every year. By following simple steps, such as washing your hands and not touching your face, you can increase your chances of staying healthy all the time, not just when influenza is in the news.

The copyright of the article Swine Flu Put in Perspective in General Medicine is owned by Karen Sheviak. Permission to republish Swine Flu Put in Perspective in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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