I was busy in the kitchen cooking pork with bamboo shoot when one of my sister screamed" The newsreader in NDTV(my favourite News channel in India) just now announced that there is Swine Flu in Mexico".I replied"Oh no!that means I wouldn't be able to eat momo and pork chow. Hope this disease does not come to India".I live in Nagaland,a small state in the Northeastern part of India,where the main delicacy is meat.No meal is complete without rice and meat. I then asked her why all new diseases come from developed countries and big cities ,where living condition is very high and clean and not from India,a country known for its poverty and slums.She replied that it is because since we Indians are so used to living in unhealthy sourroundings,our bodies are immuned against new diseases and thats why all new diseases comes from clean and developed countries.i too agree with that and till the time time of this posting,Swine Flu hasn't reached India. Now lets try to learn what is Swine Flu or Swine influenza?

SWINE FLU PANDEMIC

Meaning of Pandemic--anepidemic that spreads over a large area, such as an entire country or continent and affecting a large number of the population. Swine Influenza virus(H1N1) is causing an epidemic among humans in Mexico and has spread to neighbouring United states and Canada.. Some cases are now being reported from Europe and Asian countries.The World Health Organization (WHO)said on Thursday, April 30 in Geneva that the world is at the brink of a pandemic, raising its threat level to Phase 5 as the swine flu virus spread outside of Mexico to other parts of the world.

Already in Mexico City , all schools, restaurants, nightclubs and public events have been shut down to try to stop the sickness from spreading. Top officials across the world have warned against travel to areas hit by a outbreak of swine flu, amid growing concern over the spread of the virus. Experts suspect it has killed more than 100 people in Mexico. Cases have also been found in Canada, the US and in Spain. At least five other nations are testing patients for possible swine flu. Several countries have banned imports of raw pork and pork products from Mexico and parts of the US, although experts say there is no evidence to link exposure to pork with infection.

WHAT IS SWINE FLU (SWINE INFUENZA)?

Swine Flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A Influenza Virus (H1N1) that regularly cause outbreaks in pigs. This new, never-before-seen type of influenza is a mixture of swine, human, and avian flu viruses..Quoting a CNN report:

"The new virus has genes from North American swine influenza, avian influenza, human influenza and a form of swine influenza normally found in Asia and Europe, said Nancy Cox, chief of the CDC's Influenza Division.

CAN HUMAN CATCH SWINE FLU?

Swine Flu Viruses does not normally infect human.But sporadic infections with human have occurred who had direct exposures to pigs infected with Swine flu. But the current Swine Flu outbreak is different. It is caused by a new Swine Flu virus that spreads from person to person and it is infecting people who have not had any contact with infected pigs.

SYMPTOMS OF SWINE FLU

It takes about 4(four) days for the onset of symptoms when the person is infected. These symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting with swine flu..

Severe cases of Flu that leads to death are normally seen in very young or old people whose immune systems are too weak to fight off the virus.

TREATMENT FOR SWINE FLU

There is currently no vaccine for this new strain, but severe cases can be treated with antiviral medication .The symptoms of swine flu in people are very much like symptoms of the regular flu virus.

IS THERE A TREATMENT FOR SWINE FLU?

Yes,Swine Flu responds to the drugs Tamiflu and Rabenza.But the human form of HINI that is currently circulating is showing slight restraint to Tamiflu.

HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF FROM SWINE FLU?

1.Personal hygiene,such as avoiding people who are infected with cough

and sneeze.

2.Frequently washing our hands.

3.Proper diet to built good immunity.

4.Avoid crowded places.

WHAT ABOUT INDIA?

Alarmed that the deadly Swine Flu could reach India, Indian authorities have decided to screen all travelers coming from US ,UK, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand and France. Doctors have been deployed at nine airports, making it mandatory for all arriving to flu hit countries to undergo checks for fever and throat infection. Government of India advises all its citizens to defer non-essential travel to the affected countries. The list of affected countries is being constantly updated on www.who.int and www.mohfw.nic.in .People who have traveled from Mexico ,USA ,Canada in the past 10 days and show symptoms of influenza like fever, cough or sore throat and difficulty in breathing should immediately contact:

Outbreak Monitoring Cell, National Institute of Communicable Diseases or call 011-23921401