Will the New Swine Flu be Our Next Pandemic?
Posted: Friday, April 24, 2009
by Sandra E. Graham
My Books and Articles
Another flu strain-Swine Flu-has hit the news running. Mexico City has closed all its schools, Day Care centers, universities, and is now considering closing governmental offices as a flu virus threatens to become the next contagious pandemic. Some twenty people have died from the diagnosed Swine flu and another forty fatalities are being investigated as possible cases.
Flu vaccines administered to Americans last fall may have contributed to the recovery of these seven along with the fact that none of these seven people came into contact with pigs; which seems to be the culprit in this particular flu strain. Officials believe that this new virus strain can spread from human to human, which is unusual for a swine flu virus.
The virus combines genetic material from pigs, birds, and humans in a way that has even the researchers stumped for answers. The bug contains human virus, avian virus, and pig viruses. Officials have seen mixes of bird, pig and human virus before; but never mixed with more than one pig virus such as this strain.
It is unknown if the vaccinations that most Americans received last fall will be any protection from this terrible virus and it may not be something that will reach epidemic proportions. Everyone, however, should take precautions by washing their hands often and take all customary precautions when mingling with the general public.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)It is always good to take precautions, but living in fear of all the diseases that confront us is probably worse than the diseases themselves, in that fear affects more people than the diseases do. In the recent past we have had Avian Flu, then the SARs epidemic in Toronto, Canada, but not much is said about them now. Hopefully, this latest epidemic will also pass. Taking precautions is good; living in fear is not.Precautions are about the best we can do. Most Americans get flu vacinations every fall. My husband and I do, along with a pneumonia shot--not from fear (unless it's from the needles)--but from precautions and doctor's orders. Yes, I don't think we have a lot to fear from this new flu--I certainly hope it passes quickly and without spreading any more than it has.Thanks, David, for reading and commenting.Sandra
Good article. Hope it doesn't come to the U.S.SLJWe are all praying for that. Thanks for reading and commenting.Sandra
The answer to your title question: Fortunately, no.I hope you are right, Terry. Thanks for reading and commenting.Sandra
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