piggy flu revisited

Ok, so this week while at school, we had a Vanderbilt epidemiologist come and talk about the Swine Flu and what the fuss is all about. After listening to him, I now understand why people are concerned.

It is the flu. The symptoms can vary from other strains of flu we've seen in the past. Typically the flu affects the very young and the very old, but this strain is affecting those in the middle, which is different.

When you look historically over the last hundred years, the times in history where there have been pandemics and wide-spread disease and death is very similar to the trend that they are seeing now. The Spanish Influenza in 1918 is one of the specific episodes that mimics the Swine Flu. (PS- did you know that there was a Swine Flu outbreak in 1976??).
What is concerning is that we've had a relatively small spike in flu starting this May, which is similar to the small spike they had in 1918 around this same time of the year. (Summer flu tends to not be that bad, but winter flu is worse). Later that year in 1918, there was a HUGE flu spike that caused many illnesses and death. This is what they worried about this winter- when you have a new flu strain introduced in the spring and summer months , it gives the virus time to change and morph, potentially creating a stronger and more potent virus that is more dangerous and deadly.

The concern is that if more people that usual get the flu this winter, there are not going to be enough resources (Tamiflu, Relinza, face masks, hospital equipment for the many more than usual admissions, hospital staff, etc). And, the virus could change so that it becomes resistant to Tamiful and Relinza, which is a whole other ball of wax.

So, wash your hands. Cover your mouth with your arm or sleeve when you cough. Get a flu shot (they've already determined the strains of flu for the fall flu shots, but they're coming up with an additional flu shot and possible booster to hopefully cover the swine flu for the fall).

I personally think the media overreacted, but that's to be expected, right? :)