Swine Flu gains nation's attention

A couple of weeks ago few had heard the term "swine flu" but in less than two weeks it has become a topic of conversation and concern. Last week a 23-month-old boy from Mexico City who had underlying health problems, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, died in a Houston area hospital. As of 10:00 p.m. Sunday May 3, there are 30 states with a total of 226 confirmed cases.

There is talk of a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). But what is a pandemic? Wikipedia says a pandemic is "an epidemic of infectious disease that spreads through populations across a large region; for instance a continent, or even worldwide." A few examples of a pandemic would be smallpox, cholera and the plague.

According to the WHO a pandemic can start when three conditions have been met: 1. Emergence of a disease new to a population. 2. Agents infect humans, causing serious illness. 3. Agents spread easily and sustainably among humans.

A disease or condition is not a pandemic merely because it is widespread or kills many people; it must also be infectious. For instance, cancer is responsible for many deaths but is not considered a pandemic, because the disease is not infectious or contagious.

So what is "swine flu"? It's a common respiratory disease in pigs that doesn't usually spread to people. When pigs catch this flu, many get quite sick, and 1% to 4% die, according to WHO. In the past, people have sometimes caught swine flu if they worked directly with pigs.

How is this swine flu virus different? This strain appears to be a subtype not seen before in humans or pigs, with genetic material from pigs, bird and humans, according to WHO. Unlike most cases of swine flu, this one can spread from person to person.

Were pigs the carriers of this virus? Not really, but they were the mixing bowl for for this virus. Birds can't pass bird flu to people but pigs are uniquely susceptible to getting flu viruses that infect birds. Experts have long worried that a pig would catch a bird strain of the flu and then the virus would mutate inside the pig to a form that could also infect other mammals. That may be what happened in this case according to the AARP Bulletin today.

Can you catch swine flue from eating pork? Not according to WHO. The Department of Agriculture is conducting tests to confirm that the food supply is safe.

As of May 3, 2009, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services web site, there have been 43 confirmed cases of H1N1 (swine) flu in Texas. The total includes 5 residents of Mexico. Leon County is in Region VI and, according to Judge Byron Ryder; Navasota ISD is the only school in that region to close.

All UIL events that were scheduled for the weekend of March 2 were postponed to the weekend of March 9. The Relay for Life event scheduled to take place at the Leon Campus was postponed. Centerville Elementary cancelled its trip to the zoo . The new buzz word is call "social distancing".

To date there is no vaccine for the virus but according to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, the virus has been identified and a vaccine could be produced quickly, if CDC feels it is necessary.

The bottom line is to use common sense and good hygiene. Stay home if you are sick and wash your hands often.

For current information you can go to the Oakwood ISD website and click on the scrolling message and it will take you to the News Update sheet.