The fever is a flu virus strain H1N1, which usually affects pigs but can also attack humans. Swine influenza in humans is a respiratory illness that usually causes symptoms similar to seasonal human influenza.
Questions – Answers:
I heard that people suffering from the flu virus. What is it?
Human cases of swine influenza have been reported in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Swine influenza is a strain of influenza virus that usually affects pigs but can also attack humans.
Swine influenza in humans is a respiratory illness that causes symptoms similar to seasonal human influenza. These symptoms are fever, fatigue, lack of appetite, cough and sore throat. People with swine influenza have also reported vomiting and diarrhea.
How does a flu virus can spread to humans of pigs?
Several strains of influenza spread continuously in our environment, including strains that can make humans sick, birds and pigs.
Occasionally, strains of flu are spread from humans to animals and vice versa, as a result of direct contact, such as pig or cattle fairs. In the case of persons who have contact with pigs, the recommendations to avoid infection are identical to those which apply in the case of seasonal flu – frequent handwashing, annual flu vaccine, covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing and staying in bed when you are sick.
When influenza virus affects a human pig, there is a risk that the animal suffered a flu mutation and spread directly between humans.
Swine influenza is it contagious? As spreads Does between humans?
Yes the virus is contagious. Since many people affected in Mexico and the United States has not been in direct contact with pigs, we know that the virus has spread from one person to another.
Further research is needed about the spread of the virus between humans, but we believe it is spreading in the same way as seasonal flu.
Influenza and other respiratory infections are transmitted from one person to another through the spread of germs through the nose or throat. Coughing and sneezing expel germs in the air where they can be sucked up by other people. Germs can also be deposited on rigid surfaces such as work surfaces and door handles, where they are passed to the hands and then the respiratory system when the person touches his mouth or his nose.
What can do to protect myself from infection?
The Public Health Agency of Canada offers the following advice to Canadians:
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or hand sanitizer
- Cover mouth when coughing or sneezing
- Taking advantage of the annual vaccine against influenza
- Continue normal activities but stay home when sick
- Consult the www.fightflu.ca site for more information
- Check if travel advisories were issued on www.voyage.gc.ca
- Consult a health professional if symptoms of severe influenza.
Why is so much attention to this strain in particular?
The human strain of swine influenza (H1N1) reported in Canada, Mexico and the United States is a new flu virus.
As a new strain, it is likely that people have no natural immunity against the virus. International experts fear that this strain can spread rapidly. An investigation is under way on the mode of spread of the virus. Government around the world and the World Health Organization have undertaken to research the situation and find a solution.
Human cases of swine influenza are all serious?
No. Human cases of swine flu reported in Canada and the United States were less serious than those reported in Mexico. All cases reported in Canada and the United States so far have recovered. The cases reported in Mexico have been more serious, affecting mostly young people in good health whose condition has rapidly progressed from a mild illness to severe respiratory distress in five days on average.
Now that cases of swine influenza have been reported in Canada, what additional measures the Canadian government will take it to contain the virus?
Our main goal is to slow the spread of the virus and is reflected in several measures:
- The supervision is more intense and health workers are frontline to the search for positive cases and report.
- Health care workers have received detailed instructions on how to treat suspected or confirmed.
- If necessary, medication antiviral Canadian Reserve will be used to treat cases of the disease and to prevent the onset of the disease in relatives of patients affected – this is called “prophylaxis.”
The federal government recommends Does the closure of schools and other gathering places to curb the spread of the virus?
In Canada, decisions about school closures are made by local authorities. In some circumstances it may be useful. PHAC recommends that those affected to stay at home to reduce the risk of spreading infection. If the virus spreads, it may be wise to avoid the crowds in order to reduce the risk of exposure.
Canadians should they resort to special measures such as wearing a surgical mask to protect against swine flu?
Canadians should take the same precautions they would normally protect themselves from ordinary flu. While we study the mode of spread of this virus, the best advice we can give to Canadians is to wash hands frequently, to cover the mouth when coughing or sneezing and stay in bed if they are sick.
The Public Health Agency of Canada does not recommend the public wearing a surgical mask to avoid contracting the flu virus. Experience shows that this measure is not effective in preventing transmission of influenza. People often use masks incorrectly or contaminate by threading or by withdrawing, which can ultimately increase the risk of infection.
I heard that WHO has declared a public health emergency. What does this mean for Canada?
The federal government has already taken measures to step up the vigilance against the disease, including surveillance and information sharing increase – recommended by WHO in this statement.
At the international level, what steps will be taken to slow the spread of the disease?
- If necessary, travel advisories will be issued to recommend to avoid non-essential travel to affected areas.
- The level of monitoring will increase.
- Quarantine officers are stationed at airports in Halifax, Montreal and Vancouver, and border and hold the amount of those symptoms for evaluation.
How can I get antiviral medications as required?
Antiviral drugs are issued on prescription. Can be purchased in a pharmacy.
The federal government has a reserve of antiviral medicines and the provinces and territories have their own reserve. The provinces and territories have access to the national reserve. Antiviral drugs are distributed by an equal amount per capita.
Antiviral drugs will be effective against this strain of swine flu?
Laboratory tests performed on the first cases indicate that this strain of swine influenza antiviral meets we have in reserves.
If this becomes a pandemic flu, how long Canada will he need to develop a vaccine?
Canada has a plan for preparing a vaccine during a pandemic. Once identified the virus, development and testing of an effective vaccine requires a period of about six months. The vaccine will be produced in sufficient quantity to all Canadians.
What is the difference between a vaccine and an antiviral?
Antivirals are drugs used for prevention and early treatment of influenza. If one takes a short time after the onset of illness (within 48 hours), they can reduce influenza symptoms, shorten the duration of the disease and possibly prevent serious complications of influenza.
Antivirals reduce the reproductive capacity of the virus, but not n’immunisent against the virus. Two antiviral drugs are used in the treatment of swine influenza H1N1 in humans, oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).
Vaccines are substances that stimulate the production of antibodies and immunize against the disease in question. Vaccines are the primary tool of prevention against disease and death caused by influenza. They stimulate the production of antibodies against the influenza virus in the vaccine, producing an immunization against the virus.
To ensure effective protection, a vaccine must be developed according to a precise strain of flu.
I received a flu vaccine this year. Am I protected against swine flu?
Immunization of the current year against the flu or flu vaccine offers protection against the strain of human influenza H1N1. The H1N1 strain of swine influenza is different from the human strain. It is unlikely that the vaccine against seasonal influenza provide protection against swine flu. The vaccine protects against seasonal influenza, which is still in Mexico.
What protection will the federal government does with health care workers against the swine flu?
Health care workers should wash their hands frequently. When in direct contact with patients, health workers take extra precautions such as wearing a mask and a device for protecting eyes.
Should avoid exposure to pigs?
In this case, we know that the virus of swine influenza (H1N1) is spreading among humans, and not directly from pigs to humans. Therefore, proximity to pigs does not increase the risk.
However, given that humans can transmit the disease to pigs, people who have symptoms of influenza should avoid contact with pigs to reduce the possibility of transmission of the disease within the animal population .
Government representatives are conducting investigations to learn more about how this particular strain of swine flu in humans spreads.
Is this the next influenza pandemic?
It is too early to know. An influenza pandemic is defined by the spread occurring for a new flu virus in a large geographic area. In this case, further investigation and more information is needed to determine how the virus spreads easily. This investigation is ongoing.
Pandemics are all serious?
No. An influenza pandemic may be mild or severe. There is talk of a pandemic if the flu virus spreads easily among humans and that it affects a large geographic area. A flu pandemic is not necessarily cause a disease more serious than other flu.
I have plans to travel to Mexico (or in the southern United States). Should I cancel my trip?
There was no publication restrictions on travel, but the Public Health Agency of Canada issued a travel advisory.
During a trip in a region, do what you normally would in order to protect themselves and others during a period of influenza. Wash your hands, cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, stay in bed if you’re sick and you prevail in the annual vaccine against influenza.
Even if the annual vaccine against influenza will not protect you against swine influenza, seasonal influenza is circulating in Mexico and the vaccine against influenza will protect you against seasonal influenza.
If I traveled to Mexico, California, Texas, or in an affected region of Canada and I am sick, what should I do?
If you traveled in one of the regions affected and you have flu symptoms – especially respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough or difficulty breathing – see your doctor and tell him that you have recently traveled in these regions.
What do I do if I get sick while traveling?
If you experience any symptoms while traveling, consult a health professional local.
What do I do if I get sick when I reserved a seat on an airplane, a train or a bus?
If you experience any symptoms, consult a doctor before boarding. If you get sick at the airport, officials see the airport before boarding.
Diseases like influenza reported in Mexico are all related to the swine flu?
No. The peak flu season in Mexico is later than usual this year. Seasonal influenza type A and B is reported in Mexico.
What steps are taken to ensure that travelers do not spread the virus?
Quarantine officers are stationed at airports in Halifax, Montreal and Vancouver, and border and hold the amount of those symptoms for evaluation.
However, symptoms may occur later. In this case, travelers should contact their healthcare professional to discuss their symptoms and their movements.
Is it possible to catch the flu from eating pork pork?
No. Adequate cooking of pork can kill any virus. Make sure the pork is cooked enough and is not pink in center. Use a food thermometer to confirm that the temperature of pork has reached 71 degrees Celsius (160 degrees Fahrenheit).
