What is the A (H1N1) influenza?
It is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. It regularly causes high flu outbreaks in pigs but with low death rates. There are four main sub-types of the virus, but the most recent isolated influenza viruses from pigs have been H1N1 viruses.
How does it spread?
Influenza A (H1N1) viruses do not typically infect humans though they do occur through close proximity or contact with infected pigs or contaminated areas. Cases of human-to-human spread have been documented.
Click on thumbnail for larger image. What are the symptoms?
The symptoms are similar to those of regular flu:
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting and diarrhoea in some cases.
How common is the A (H1N1) flu infection in humans?
In the past reports of about one human A(H1N1) flu virus infection had been received every one to two years in the United States. From December 2005 till February 2009, 12 cases have been reported.
Has this strain of flu been seen before?
No. Flu mutates constantly, so it is common for new strains to emerge. Pigs can also be infected with both human and avian influenza, and the current circulating A (H1N1) flu strain appears to contain genetic elements from all three.
Can the A (H1N1) flu be treated with antiviral drugs and flu vaccine?
The A (H1N1) flu is resistant to two common drugs – Amantadine and Rimantadine. The A (H1N1) flu viruses are very different from human H1N1 viruses. Therefore, vaccines for human seasonal flu would not provide protection. However, a “seed vaccine” has been specifically tailored to this swine flu and will be manufactured if officials deem it necessary.
Can people catch A (H1N1) flu by eating pork?
No. The A (H1N1) influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 70ºC and above kills the swine flu virus.
How long is someone with the A (H1N1) flu considered contagious?
People with the A (H1N1) influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic; possibly for up to seven days following the onset of the illness. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.
What can I do to protect myself from the A (H1N1) flu?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against the A (H1N1) flu.
However, you can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza by:
- Covering your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or handkerchief when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the waste basket after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also helpful
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people. - If you get sick with influenza, stay at home and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Consult your nearest healthcare facility if you think you have any of the symptoms.
What precautions are in place in Malaysia?
- The Health Ministry’s operations room in Putrajaya has started a 24-hour monitoring of the situation. The public can call 03-8881 0200/300 for enquiries.
- Those returning from Latin American countries and found to have flu-like symptoms will be quarantined.
- Health Ministry officials are conducting health screenings on passengers arriving from the United States.
- Thermal scanners will be placed at international airports to speed up the screening process for A (H1N1) flu.
- Public and private medical practitioners have been instructed to report to the district health office any patient with influenza-like illnesses or severe pneumonia symptoms and who had travelled to the affected countries after April 17.
All Malaysian must take these Preventive Measures :
- Know the difference!
- Practise good personal hygiene:
- Frequently wash your hands with water and soap, especially after you cough or sneeze. Also wash your hands after touching your nose, mouth or eyes.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth.
- Cover your nose and mouth with tissue, towel or handkerchief when coughing or sneezing.
- Discard soiled tissue in the trash can.
- Wear a mask if you have flu-like symptoms.
- Avoid close contact with people who have influenza-like illness
- Avoid direct contact with Influenza A(H1N1) cases. If you need to be in close contact with cases of Influenza A (H1N1), use an appropriate protective mask and practice strict personal hygiene:
- Practice Social Distancing
- Pada lazimnya seseorang yang dijangkiti virus influenza A (H1N1) akan menyebarkan virus tersebut melalui batuk atau bersin bagi tempoh dia mengalami gejala penyakit ini. Tempoh penyebaran ini adalah sehingga 7 hari dari tarikh mula mengalami gejala penyakit ini. Dengan tidak keluar rumah, orang yang sedang sakit boleh mengelakkan jangkitan kepada orang lain.
- Rawatan dirumah adalah memadai bagi kebanyakan orang sembuh dari penyakit ini.
- Secara umumnya orang ramai dinasihatkan mengurangkan pergi ke tempat-tempat awam untuk mengelakkan risiko dijangkiti memandangkan penyakit ini telah menular di dalam komuniti.
Jika terpaksa pergi, kita hendaklah menjarakkan diri daripada sesiapa yang mempunyai gejala selesema sekurang-kurangnya (1) meter untuk menggelakkan jangkitan. - Juga pastikan anda tidak meluangkan terlalu banyak masa di tempat-tempat awam.
- Murid sekolah dan pelajar institusi pengajian tinggi yang diberi cuti untuk pulang ke rumah masing-masing kerana kejadian penyakit ini sekolah/institusi mereka mestilah sentiasa berada di rumah dan awasi tahap kesihatan diri dengan memantau gejala panyakit ini. Mereka dilarang pergi ke tempat-tempat awam, majlis keramaian ataupun bergaul dengan rakan-rakan secara beramai-ramai.
Make an informed decision and take the right action! Understand the difference between Cold & Influenza A (H1N1):
Symptoms | Common Cold | Influenza A (H1N1) |
Fever | Rare | Characteristic, high (380 C) lasts 3-4 days |
Headache | Rare | Prominent |
General Ache | Pains Usually Slight | Often Severe |
Fatigue | Very Mild | Can last up to 2-3 weeks |
Extreme Exhaustion | Never | Early and Prominent |
Running/Stuffy Nose | Common | Sometimes |
Sneezing | Usual | Sometimes |
Cough | None/Mild | Severe, without phlegm in the beginning |
Sore Throat | Common | Sometimes |
Chest Discomfort | Mild to moderate | Common: Can become severe |
- Tangan merupakan satu cara utama bagaimana penyakit ini berjangkit. Tangan yang tercemar dengan virus ini melalui sentuhan dengan permukahan yang tercemar, akan menjangkiti seseorang individu apabila tangan tersebut menyentuh mulut, hidung atau mata. Oleh yang demikian adalah amat penting untuk kita sentiasa mencuci tangan dengan air dan sabun atau bahan pencuci lain supaya virus yang ada pada tangan dapat dinyahkan.
- Perlu mengelakan menyentuh mulut, hidung atau mata kerana virus penyakit ini boleh memasuki tubuh badan seseorang melalui mulut, hidung atau mata apabila disentuh oleh tangan yang tercemar dengan virus penyakit ini.
- Seseorang individu yang berkemungkinan dijangkiti virus ini boleh menyerbahkan virus ini kepada orang lain apabila dia batuk atau bersin. Dengan menutup mulut dan hidungnya dengan sapu tangan atau tisu kuman ini disekat daripada tersebar orang lain. Seterusnya apabila beliau mencuci tangan penyebaran virus ini terhenti dengan berkesan.
- Dengan membuang tisu dengan betul kemungkinan untuk menyentuhnya atau mencemari permukaan adalah terhindar.
- Seseorang dapat mencegah sebaran virus penyakit ini yang keluar melalui batuk atau bersin dengan memakai penutup mulut dan hidung. Titisan yang mengandungi virus penyakit ini akan keluar dari mulut dan hidung akibat batuk atau bersin. Penutup mulut dan hidung dapat menyekat sebaran titisan tersebut. Dengan cara ini, orang lain dapat lindungan dari jangkitan penyakit influenza A (H1N1).
- Ini dapat membantu dari segi pencegahan penyakit ini seandainya individu tersebut telah dijangkiti virus tersebut.
DENGUE / DENGGI
What is dengue fever?
Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes. It is an acute illness of sudden onset that usually follows a benign course with headache, fever, exhaustion, severe joint and muscle pain, swollen glands (lymphadenopathy), and rash. The presence (the "dengue triad") of fever, rash, and headache (and other pains) is particularly characteristic of dengue.
Dengue (pronounced DENG-gay) strikes people with low levels of immunity. Because it is caused by one of four serotypes of virus, it is possible to get dengue fever multiple times. However, an attack of dengue produces immunity for a lifetime to that particular serotype to which the patient was exposed.
Dengue goes by other names, including "breakbone" or "dandy fever." Victims of dengue often have contortions due to the intense joint and muscle pain, hence the name breakbone fever. Slaves in the West Indies who contracted dengue were said to have dandy fever because of their postures and gait.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a more severe form of the viral illness. Manifestations include headache, fever, rash, and evidence of hemorrhage in the body. Petechiae (small red or purple blisters under the skin), bleeding in the nose or gums, black stools, or easy bruising are all possible signs of hemorrhage. This form of dengue fever can be life-threatening or even fatal.
What areas are at high risk for contracting dengue fever?
Dengue is prevalent throughout the tropics and subtropics. Outbreaks have occurred in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Cuba, and Central America. Cases have also been imported via tourists returning from areas with widespread dengue, including Tahiti, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, the West Indies, India, and the Middle East.
Dengue fever is common and may be increasing in Southeast Asia. Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia have all reported an increase in cases. According to the World Health Organization, there are an estimated 50 million cases of dengue fever with 500,000 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever requiring hospitalization each year. Nearly 40% of the world's population lives in an area endemic with dengue.
How is dengue contracted?
The virus is contracted from the bite of a striped Aedes aegypti mosquito that has previously bitten an infected person. The mosquito flourishes during rainy seasons but can breed in water-filled flower pots, plastic bags, and cans year-round. One mosquito bite can inflict the disease.
The virus is not contagious and cannot be spread directly from person to person. There must be a person-to-mosquito-to-another-person pathway.
What are the signs and symptoms of dengue?
After being bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus, the incubation period ranges from three to 15 (usually five to eight) days before the signs and symptoms of dengue appear. Dengue starts with chills, headache, pain upon moving the eyes, and low backache. Painful aching in the legs and joints occurs during the first hours of illness. The temperature rises quickly as high as 104° F (40° C), with relative low heart rate (bradycardia) and low blood pressure (hypotension). The eyes become reddened. A flushing or pale pink rash comes over the face and then disappears. The glands (lymph nodes) in the neck and groin are often swollen.
Fever and other signs of dengue last for two to four days, followed by rapid drop in temperature (defervescence) with profuse sweating. This precedes a period with normal temperature and a sense of well-being that lasts about a day. A second rapid rise in temperature follows. A characteristic rash appears along with the fever and spreads from the extremities to cover the entire body except the face. The palms and soles may be bright red and swollen.
How is dengue fever treated?
Because dengue is caused by a virus, there is no specific medicine or antibiotic to treat it. For typical dengue, the treatment is purely concerned with relief of the symptoms (symptomatic). Rest and fluid intake for adequate hydration is important. Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be avoided. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and codeine may be given for severe headache and for the joint and muscle pain (myalgia).
How can dengue fever be prevented?
The transmission of the virus to mosquitoes must be interrupted to prevent the illness. To this end, patients are kept under mosquito netting until the second bout of fever is over and they are no longer contagious.
The prevention of dengue requires control or eradication of the mosquitoes carrying the virus that causes dengue. In nations plagued by dengue fever, people are urged to empty stagnant water from old tires, trash cans, and flower pots. Governmental initiatives to decrease mosquitoes also help to keep the disease in check but have been poorly effective.
Wear long pants and long sleeves. For personal protection, use mosquito repellant sprays that contain DEET when visiting places where dengue is endemic. Limiting exposure to mosquitoes by avoiding standing water and staying indoors two hours after sunrise and before sunset will help. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is a daytime biter with peak periods of biting around sunrise and sunset. It may bite at any time of the day and is often hidden inside homes or other dwellings, especially in urban areas.
There is currently no vaccine available for dengue fever. There is a vaccine undergoing clinical trials, but it is too early to tell if it will be safe or effective.
0 comments:
Facebook and Twitter Badge
Copyright 2007 | All Rights Reserved.