Biotech Analysis

What is swine flu?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs.

What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated withswine flu. Severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

How does swine flu spread?
Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes.

How can someone with the flu infect someone else?
Infected people may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to seven or more days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

How long can an infected person spread swine flu to others?
People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic, possibly up to seven days following illness onset. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?
Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. Germs can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

How long can viruses live outside the body?
We know that some viruses and bacteria can live two hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent hand washing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.

Are there medicines to treat swine flu?
Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir (tamiflu) or zanamivir (relenza) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within two days of symptoms).

If I am traveling, should I carry Tamiflu?
Consult with your medical provider. Consideration should be given to carrying Tamiflu, especially to areas where access to healthcare may be limited. Tamiflu, which can reduce symptoms if started within two days of onset, might be considered for patients who have:
• underlying chronic medical conditions such as heartdisease, diabetes, asthma, or a compromised immune system;
• had flu like symptoms for less than 48 hours.

Should travelers carry antibiotics?
Antibiotics are not effective against a flu virus. In some cases with severe influenza, antibiotics are used to treat complications of the flu such as bacterial pneumonia. But the selection of which antibiotics to use would require expert medical advice. A traveler who develops significant respiratory illness should seek medical care rather than self-treatment with oral antibiotics.

What should I do if I get sick?
If you become ill with influenza-like symptoms (e.g. fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea), contact your health care provider, who can determine if influenza testing or treatment is needed. Stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others. Employees with significant respiratory illness or fever should not go to work. Notify your manager of the illness as well as your medical provider.

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color • Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

Should I travel to Mexico or other affected areas?
Neither the U.S. Center for Disease Control or the World Health Organization has issued travel health advisories. However, it is recommended that people postpone travel to affected areas at this time.

What is the risk of catching swine flu if I travel to or live in Mexico or other affected areas?
The risk is unknown but probably low. The disease is spread via respiratory secretions so good personal hygiene is important to reducing the risk.

What is the risk of contracting swine flu from exposure to travelers from an affected area?
Visitors who feel well should pose very little exposure risk. Swine flu in Mexico has shown human-to-human transmission. Visitors who feel ill or have a fever should not come to work to avoid the risk of spreading influenza or another viral illness and should seek medical attention.

Where do I get additional information?

http://equity-research.com

www.cdc.gov
www.who.int/en
www.dhhs.gov/nvpo/pandemics/
www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm