1 Good News & Travel Precautions Swine Flu Health Promotion Unit Ahmadi Hospital Wishing you a healthy life

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Good News & Travel Precautions

Swine Flu

Health Promotion Unit Ahmadi Hospital

Wishing you a healthy life



الأحمدي – بمستشفي الصحة تعزيز الأحمدي – وحدة بمستشفي الصحة تعزيز HEALTH PROMOTION UNIT IN AHMADI HOSPITALHEALTH PROMOTION UNIT IN AHMADI HOSPITALوحدة

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Swine Flu in Pigs

What is swine Influenza?

• Swine influenza, or “swine flu”, is a highly contagious acute

respiratory disease of pigs, caused by one of several swine

influenza A viruses. It cause rregular outbreaks in pigs and

can cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs.

Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine

throughout the year.


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How common is swine flu among pigs ?

• Swine flu viruses are endemic among

pig populations in many countries

(specially from H1N1 and H3N2 ).


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Can pigs infected by human or avian flu?

• Yes, pigs can be infected by avian

influenza and human influenza viruses

as well as swine influenza viruses.


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Is this mix of virus infection dangerous?

• Yes , and this is reason that we are afraid of mixed

infection inside the pigs leading to viruses reassort

(swap genes) and new viruses mixed of swine,

human and/or avian influenza viruses can emerge

leading to big human problem.


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What is the most common Current Virus?

• A(H1N1) viruses , which is considered the

classical swine flu virus ,and was first

isolated from a pig in 1930.and it is the

current one


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Swine Flu in Humans

Is the current H1N1 swine flu virus the

same as human H1N1 viruses?

• No. The H1N1 swine flu viruses are

antigenically very different from

human H1N1 viruses and, therefore,

vaccines for human seasonal flu

would not provide protection from

H1N1 swine flu viruses.


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What are the most important affected countries with human infection?

• Mexico, USA , Canada, Spain,

• The map is widened everyday .

• Before travel you can updated by WHO

website


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Is there is Swine Flu in Kuwait?

• No. There are no cases till now.


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Can human catch swine flu?

• People do not normally get swine

flu, however sporadic human

infections with swine flu have

occurred. Swine flu viruses have

been reported to spread from

person-to-person, but in the past,

this transmission was limited and

not sustained beyond three people.


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How common is swine flu infection in humans?

• Very rare , e.g. in USA and from December 2005 through

February 2009, 12 cases of human infection with swine

influenza have been reported. But recently and As of 26

April United Sates and Mexico confirmed nearly 40 cases

of Swine flu affecting human, beside many extra

suspected cases.


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Is this swine flu virus contagious ?

• Yes , this swine influenza A

(H1N1) virus is contagious

and is spreading from

human to human. However,

at this time, it not known

how easily the virus

spreads between people.


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What are the implications for human health ?

• Outbreaks and sporadic human

infection with swine influenza have

been occasionally reported.

Generally swine flu symptoms are

similar to seasonal influenza and

ranges broadly from asymptomatic

or mild infection and may be sever

or even fatal in rare cases.


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How does swine flu spread ?

• Generally Flu viruses can be directly transmitted

from pigs to people and from people to pigs.

• Human infection with Swine flu viruses from pigs

are most likely to occur when people are in

close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig

barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs.

• Human to human is reported in isolated cases.


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How do people become infected ?

• People usually get swine influenza from infected pigs, however,

some human cases lack contact history with pigs. Human to

human transmission has occurred in some instances but was

limited to close contacts and closed groups of people.


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How does Swine Flu transmitted from human to human ?

• Most probably in the same way as

seasonal flu occurs in people

• which is mainly person-to-person

transmission through coughing or

sneezing of people infected with the

influenza virus.

• People may become infected by touching

something with flu viruses on it and then

touching their mouth or nose.


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What are the symptoms of swine flu in people ?

• Similar to the symptoms of normal

human flu (e.g. fever, cough, sore

throat, body aches, headache,

chills and fatigue).Some people

are suffering from diarrhea and

vomiting.


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Is swine Flu very sever or fatal for human?

• Usually not and most of cases are mild and

cured .But sometimes ,Swine flu (Like

normal human flu) can make severe illness

or complication and may be deaths in some

cases specially in high risk groups.


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How long can an infected person spread swine flu to others?

• beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up

to 7 or more days after becoming sick.

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?

• Any contaminated surfaces by

droplet from infected person like a

desk , mobile phone, TV remote

control, tabe,,,etc


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How long can viruses live outside the body?

• We know that some viruses and bacteria can

live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like

cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks.


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Can I get swine influenza from eating or preparing pork?

• No. Swine influenza viruses are not spread

by food. therefore it is not transmitted by

eating pork or pork products.


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Good News

Prevention and treatmentPrevention and treatment


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What can I do to prevent my self from getting the flu ?

• The Most important tool is to wash your hands

thoroughly and frequently.

• Promote your health: by balanced food, plenty of

fluids, being physically active, plenty of sleep,

manage your stress,

• Try not touch surfaces that may be

contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close

contact with people who are sick.


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Are there any effective medicines to treat swine flu?

• Yes, like Tamiflu.

• Consult Your doctors first.


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Is there is any vaccine to protect human from swine Flu ?

• There is no vaccine available right now to

protect against swine flu.

• WHO is trying hard to produce the vaccine

with drug manufactures.


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What should I do if I get sick?

• Do Not panic , consult your doctor immediately if

you live in areas where swine influenza cases have

been identified and become ill with influenza-like

symptoms


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Pandemic Stage of Swine Flu in Humans

• level of influenza pandemic alert is phase 4 indicates that the

likelihood of a pandemic has increased, but not that a pandemic is

inevitable.


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What about the pandemic risk ?

• If a swine virus establishes efficient human to human

transmission, it can cause an influenza pandemic. The impact

of a pandemic caused by such a virus is difficult to predict: it

depends on virulence of the virus, existing immunity among

people, cross protection by antibodies acquired from seasonal

influenza infection and host factors.


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Travel Health Precaution

• NOT to close borders

• Not to restrict international travel.

• If not important ,It is better to avoid travel

to the suspected areas.

• If you are ill delay international travel.


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Before you leave, Be ready

• Visit well documented international

sites like CDC & WHO

• Consult PMS& OHD Department to

make specific recommendations for

you.

• update all your routine vaccinations,

including seasonal influenza vaccine .

• Always seek medical care if you are

severely ill.


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Antiviral Medications specially for high risk are effective

• Antiviral Medications: consult your doctors before

leaving to suspected areas .

• High risk travelers going to infected areas (e.g. persons

with diabetes, lung disease, heart disease, and the

elderly) are recommended to take antiviral medications

for prevention of swine influenza during travel.

• The recommended antiviral drug is Tamiflu®).

• It keep flu viruses from reproducing in your body. This

drug can prevent infection if taken as a preventative.


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Other Normal Precautions

• Pack a travel health kit that

contains basic first aid and

medical supplies.

• Identify the health-care

resources in the area(s) you will

be visiting.

• Check if your health insurance

plan will cover you abroad.


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During your visit

Monitor the local situation:

• Follow local public health

guidelines, including any

movement restrictions and

prevention recommendations.,

you may be asked to put on a

surgical mask to protect others.


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Practice healthy habits

• Wash your hands often with soap and water.

• Use waterless alcohol-based hand gels

(containing at least 60% alcohol) when soap

is not available and hands are not visibly

dirty.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue

when you cough or sneeze and put your

used tissue in a wastebasket.


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Healthy habits

• If you don't have a tissue, cough or

sneeze into your upper sleeve, not

your hands.

• Wash your hands after coughing or

sneezing, using soap and water or

an alcohol-based hand gel.

• Wear a surgical mask if you are in

contact with other people.


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Seek medical care if you feel sick

• Consult your doctor if you are suffering

from any flu like symptoms.

• After you return from Mexico or other

infected areas

• Closely monitor your health for 7 days

• Call your doctor if you feel any flu like

symptoms.

• Follow the same personal hygiene


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World Health Organization Recommendations Summary (27 April 2009)

• NOT to close borders and not to restrict international travel.

• level of influenza pandemic alert is phase 4.that means indicates that the likelihood of a pandemic has increased, but not that a pandemic is inevitable.


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• No risk of infection from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products.

• • Individuals are advised to wash hands

thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis

World Health Organization Recommendations Summary (27 April 2009)


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Current Casualties

• As of 27 April 2009, the United States Government has

reported 40 laboratory confirmed human cases of swine

influenza A(H1N1), with no deaths.

• Mexico has reported 26 confirmed human cases of infection

with the same virus, including seven deaths.

- Canada has reported six cases, with no

deaths,

- Spain has reported one case, with no deaths.


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References

• This research is based mainly on the

following sites

• www.cdc.gov/travel.

• www.who.int

• www,mayoclinic.com


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1 Good News & Travel Precautions Swine Flu Health Promotion Unit Ahmadi Hospital Wishing you a healthy life