Swine flu deaths continued unabated as the toll crossed 620 even as the country's drug authority today asked chemists to stock Tamiflu drug but not sell it without prescription.
The number of people affected by the flu is 9311 this year so far, much more than past few years. With the death toll rising, the number could surpass that of 2013, which had reported 699 deaths. 218 people had died of swine flu last year. In 2012, there were 405 deaths.
Health Minister J P Nadda chaired a high-level review meeting here to take stock of the crisis as officials assessed reports from states and measures to deal with the infectious disease, sources said.
The disease was first detected in Mexico in 2009 and then spread to many countries in the world. The influenza was earlier referred to as H1N1 because of the virus which was found in the laboratory testing which were similar to those found in the pigs in North America. While the virus is spreading across the country, here we is all you need to know about the deadly virus.
What is Swine Flu?
Swine Flu, also known as H1N1 type A influenza, is a human disease. The name 'Swine Flu' stuck because originally the disease transmitted from pigs to humans. However, the current pandemic involves human to human transmission, according to this article on The Health Site. In 2009, H1N1, or swine flu was called a pandemic by World Health Organization (WHO) because of its massive spread across the world.
Signs and symptoms
In humans the symptoms of “swine flu” H1N1 virus are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness. These include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. The symptoms of swine flu are very similar to regular flu. People with Swine Flu are more likely to feel nauseous and throw up than people who have seasonal flu. But a lab test is the only way to know for sure.
What causes Swine Flu?
Swine Flu is a respiratory disease. A virus called swine influenza virus causes the disease. Swine Flu is mainly caused by SIV sub type H1N1, however other subtypes H1N2, H1N3, H3N1, H3N2 and H2N3 can also be reasons for Swine Flu.
It is an airborne disease and the virus transmits from person to person through the same medium as other flu viruses. It is a contagious disease and it spreads through saliva and mucus particles. A simple sneeze may cause thousands of germs to spread through the air.
People who don't follow proper hygiene are at a high risk of contracting the virus. People who are at high risk of getting infected include:
* Individuals having any other respiratory condition like pneumonia
* Pregnant women
* People suffering from chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes
* People more than 65 years of age and children younger than 2 years
Why this is dangerous?
The constant evolution of its virus is what makes this disease particularly dangerous. Because of its constantly evolving nature it is tough to acquire immunity against it. Also it's very seasonal and keeps on changing depending on a lot of factors.
The number of cases shoots up during the summer and monsoon seasons. The current seasonal return of swine flu cases in Maharashtra has been attributed to fluctuating temperatures.
Prevention
The same flu vaccine that protects against seasonal flu also protects against the H1N1 swine flu strain. The vaccine may be given through an injection or nasal spray. Currently, injectable H1N1 vaccines available in the market are – Influvac, Agrippal, Vaxigrip, Vaxiflu-S and Fluarix.
The injections cost around Rs 600-700 per dose. The doctors advise people to get a repeat vaccine dose every year.
Although, here are a few do-s and dont-s that will help you stay healthy and safe:
Besides a flu shot, there are other things you can do to stay healthy:
• Wash your hands throughout the day with soap and water. Sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice to make sure you've washed long enough. Or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Don't touch your eyess, nose, or mouth.
• Avoid people who are sick.
• Cover your face while coughing or sneezing: And make sure people around you in office or home also follow this.
• Sleep: Get enough sleep of 8 hours every night to keep your immune system strong and ready to fight infection.
• Eat immune-boosting foods: Eat whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and other vitamin-rich foods to keep your body strong and nourished.
• Drink water: Keep your body hydrated by drinking water of about 8-10 glasses daily. This will help flush toxins out of your body while maintaining good moisture and mucous production in your sinuses.
• Eat immune-boosting foods: Eat whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and other vitamin-rich foods to keep your body strong and nourished.
If you still fall victim to this disease, Vaccines are available at every hospital which includes: Antiviral medications – Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and Zanamivir (Relenza) help relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of serious complications.
• But these vaccines should only be taken after a doctor's prescription as indiscriminate use could lead to resistance to the virus.
• The patient will need to hospitalized, isolated and put on a ventilator in severe cases.
