http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/key_facts.htm
What is Swine Influenza?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans.
How common is swine flu infection in humans?
In the past, CDC received reports of approximately one human swine influenza virus infection every one to two years in the U.S., but from December 2005 through February 2009, 12 cases of human infection with swine influenza have been reported.
What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You can not get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.
How does swine flu spread?
Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with 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 transmission of swine flu can also occur. This is thought to occur 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.
What do we know about human-to-human spread of swine flu?
In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman was hospitalized for pneumonia and died 8 days later. A swine H1N1 flu virus was detected. Four days before getting sick, the patient visited a county fair swine exhibition where there was widespread influenza-like illness among the swine.
In follow-up studies, 76% of swine exhibitors tested had antibody evidence of swine flu infection but no serious illnesses were detected among this group. Additional studies suggest that one to three health care personnel who had contact with the patient developed mild influenza-like illnesses with antibody evidence of swine flu infection.
How can human infections with swine influenza be diagnosed?
To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness (when an infected person is most likely to be shedding virus). However, some persons, especially children, may shed virus for 10 days or longer. Identification as a swine flu influenza A virus requires sending the specimen to CDC for laboratory testing.
What medications are available to treat swine flu infections in humans?
There are four different antiviral drugs that are licensed for use in the US for the treatment of influenza: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir. While most swine influenza viruses have been susceptible to all four drugs, the most recent swine influenza viruses isolated from humans are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine. At this time, CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses.
April 28, 2009
April 18, 2009
Whom should I vote for?
The ideal person to vote is a person who is honest, who understands and works for the development of the society.
However it is hard to find such a person. There might be independent candidates who might be good, but it is not practical to vote for an independent candidate as today our nation needs political stability and not a coalition government; which all the time hankers for power and wastes everyone's time and tax payers' money.
In Karnataka, there has always been political instability and most of the governments have never done anything good for the common people.
But since we have to vote, I think it is better trying out our "luck" by voting for the ruling party in the state so that atleast we get some more visibility in the center. Yeah it is not the best decision, but a decision based on practicalities.
It is high time that we change our political system to a 3 party system similar to the US to provide greater stability and to make the politicians answerable to their actions.
We don't need to divide our votes based on religion, caste. We just need good people!
Few of parameters to think about before voting:
1. Does the party we vote for have a good leader? Manmohan Singh/Sonia vs L.K Advani/Modi
2. Does the party have a good track record in implementing their development agenda?
3. How will the country benefit by voting this person/party to power?
However it is hard to find such a person. There might be independent candidates who might be good, but it is not practical to vote for an independent candidate as today our nation needs political stability and not a coalition government; which all the time hankers for power and wastes everyone's time and tax payers' money.
In Karnataka, there has always been political instability and most of the governments have never done anything good for the common people.
But since we have to vote, I think it is better trying out our "luck" by voting for the ruling party in the state so that atleast we get some more visibility in the center. Yeah it is not the best decision, but a decision based on practicalities.
It is high time that we change our political system to a 3 party system similar to the US to provide greater stability and to make the politicians answerable to their actions.
We don't need to divide our votes based on religion, caste. We just need good people!
Few of parameters to think about before voting:
1. Does the party we vote for have a good leader? Manmohan Singh/Sonia vs L.K Advani/Modi
2. Does the party have a good track record in implementing their development agenda?
3. How will the country benefit by voting this person/party to power?
Will power
Do you have the will power? Can you do something once you have decided to do it... I mean something realistic...
What it needs is determination, dedication & discipline!
The problem again is life is uncertain... You could only plan on 60% of your activities as things are too fast to catch up in this fast paced world.
We decide on something and suddenly something else comes in the way and our focus is diverted.. Thus we might lose on the "dedication" that we had started with, however "discipline" can come to our rescue by re-allocating the "dedication"!! And Yes ofcourse "determination" is a mind game! But if you practice your mind to do the thing you have set forth to do, you can get used to it and no longer need the "determination" rather it becomes a habit!
So you start of with determination, then be (disciplined <-> dedicated) and make your determination a habit until you succeed!
Thats the secret of being successful! So finally nothing is impossible. All that it needs is "realistic planning" and the 3 D's
What it needs is determination, dedication & discipline!
The problem again is life is uncertain... You could only plan on 60% of your activities as things are too fast to catch up in this fast paced world.
We decide on something and suddenly something else comes in the way and our focus is diverted.. Thus we might lose on the "dedication" that we had started with, however "discipline" can come to our rescue by re-allocating the "dedication"!! And Yes ofcourse "determination" is a mind game! But if you practice your mind to do the thing you have set forth to do, you can get used to it and no longer need the "determination" rather it becomes a habit!
So you start of with determination, then be (disciplined <-> dedicated) and make your determination a habit until you succeed!
Thats the secret of being successful! So finally nothing is impossible. All that it needs is "realistic planning" and the 3 D's
April 5, 2009
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