The new flu in a world without borders: the last 50 key global epidemic

The new flu in a world without borders: the last 50 key global epidemic


* The influenza A-H1N1, or swine flu, has filled in just a few days the headlines across the globe and has touched off a global alarm.
* The epidemic is still full of unknowns, but moves fast.
* The virus, its spread, its effects, what is being done, what is not known, the role of the food industry, other major epidemics ...
* MAP: Where are localized influenza cases.

Swine flu

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In just one week, the world has stopped talking about the economic crisis and, justified or not alarmism, has his eyes on one of its oldest and most recalcitrant enemies: the flu.

This time, the new virus comes from Mexico, has shown that it can be fatal and is spread at full speed. The number of cases is increasing every day and the WHO is an imminent threat of a pandemic, but experts insist that, for now, things need not be particularly serious. No more, at least, that other diseases with which we live.

Originally called the swine flu, influenza A-H1N1 now, is still, in any case too many unknowns.

Fifty clues about the disease, its spread, its effects, what is being done to combat it, the role of the animal food industry, all you do not know yet, and other major epidemics in history.



NEW FLU

1. What is your name?

Originally known as "swine flu", this remains the most widely used name. The World Health Organization (WHO), however, has changed the name to "influenza A-H1N1, because the virus is in the process of becoming a human flu virus," and because "we were receiving reports that in some places the pigs were being slaughtered, and this is not right. Animals are not to blame for what is happening. "

It also reshuffled the names of U.S. flu or flu Mexican, "referring to the area where the epidemic has emerged, but were discarded to avoid creating stigma."

The International Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has asked to be called the flu "influenza in North America," and the European Commission has recommended calling it "new flu."

2. WHAT IS IT?

Influenza A-H1N1 is a variant of flu known as A Influenzavirus A enfermerdad respiratory viral in nature, in its origin, affects pigs, with a duration of between 7 and 10 days.

3. HOW IS THE VIRUS?

The Influenzavirus A is a virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae. Just one species, influenza A, which causes influenza in birds and mammals.

The virus that is causing the current epidemic appears to be a hybrid virus with components pigs, humans. Porcine and human components make it easily transmissible, the avian component highly pathogenic.

4. HOW MANY TYPES OF VIRUS 'influenza' THERE?

The most common subtype is H1NH1, but there are others: H1N2, H3N1, H3N2 ...

5. WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT Shortcut?

Because, like all influenza viruses, constantly changing, and also for its hybrid nature.

6. HOW IS MURDER?

Although the disease is highly contagious among pigs, especially in autumn and winter mortality is usually low (less than 4%).

As for humans, in the first week of epidemic had been a dozen confirmed deaths from 400 cases. Bird flu, 2003, for example, affected 421 people, of whom half have died.

Die every year in Spain between 2000 and 3000 persons because of common flu.

7. WHY IS THAT LESS DEADLY VIRUS OF AVIAN FLU?

One possible explanation is that, unlike birds, pigs exchange virus with humans on a regular basis, so that in principle have a greater capacity to respond. It also helps that the current virus has a human component.

8. How does it affect humans?

After simultaneously infected with various types of influenza (swine, human, avian) since 1998 are known to generate new viruses of pigs (with new genetic material) capable of infecting humans.

Historically, sporadic infections had been detected in people working with pigs (17 in Europe since 1958) and, so far, only a few cases of transmission between people. The most famous case in New Jersey (USA) in 1988.

9. How is it transmitted?

From pigs to humans by direct contact with live animals. Some people, like the common flu: coughs, sneezes, and in some cases, touching the nose or mouth after having touched something infected with the virus.

10. CAN YOU a Person Comiendo PORK?

No. The virus can not withstand the high temperatures at which food is cooked. According to WHO, when cooking pork to an internal temperature of about 71 ° C, deletes not only the swine flu virus, but other bacteria and viruses.

11. RECOMMEND WHAT TO AVOID?

Not to approach people with respiratory infections, avoid greetings that involve physical contact, not sharing food, cups or cutlery, to maintain proper hygiene, ventilate enclosed spaces and allow the sun.

Although at present the WHO has not recommended restricting travel to affected areas, many countries (including Spain) have advised their citizens not to travel to Mexico, except in case of need.

12. WHEN SHOULD I GO TO THE DOCTOR?

The symptoms of influenza in people are similar to those of common flu-high fever, cough, headache, sore muscles and joints, irritation of eyes and nasal discharge, in addition to vomiting and diarrhea, although the association with pneumonia can to cause death if not treated early and adequately.

If you feel these symptoms should go immediately to the doctor, avoid sudden temperature changes, shelter and washing your hands often with soap and water.

13. HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?

The incubation period is estimated at 10 days, and its diagnosis should be collecting a sample of the respiratory system among the first 4 to 5 days of infection. Until we obtained the DNA sequence of the virus is not known if a person with influenza is that new and unusual strain.

14. HOW IS IT TREATED?

To prevent and treat the disease are four antiviral drugs: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir, although only two of them (oseltamivir and zanamivir) seem to have had success with this new strain of the virus.

WHO has stockpiled 5 million doses of Tamiflu (oseltamivir), the drug used against bird flu, and that is also sensitive to the swine flu.

15. Is there a vaccine?

There are vaccines that are administered to pigs, but there is no vaccine to protect people against this disease. WHO has already said that the seasonal flu vaccine is not effective.

However, this same organization has commissioned the development of new vaccines that are capable of preventing infection with influenza AH1N1.

16. How long does factory?

In about two weeks will send the material to the viral vaccine-producing companies, which each year produce some 400 million doses of seasonal influenza. Seasonal vaccines that are manufactured today have a process around four months. But this time it will be even greater in the case of the vaccine virus AH1N1 because we have to add what it takes to develop the WHO-reactive between four and six weeks.

THE EPIDEMIC

17. WHEN AND WHERE TO START?

In mid-March was first detected in Mexico D. F. a sudden increase in cases similar to seasonal influenza and pneumonia. On April 13 a woman died in the Mexican state of Oaxaca by a pneumonia, and then confirmed that he was infected with influenza AH1N1. On April 17 two cases were confirmed in two children in California.

On April 23 the WHO warned of an outbreak of swine flu in Mexico and Mexican authorities say they have a flu outbreak in the country which affects primarily the Federal District. Suspending classes in all schools and universities in the capital.

On April 24 Mexico reported 20 possible deaths (one week after the confirmed death toll was 10) because of the virus and a thousand patients hospitalized with suspected cases (300 confirmed a week later). Closing museums, libraries and theaters in Mexico City and its environs. It extends the use of masks among the population.

18. WHO'S EDGAR?

Edgar Enrique Hernandez is a child of five years that the media has been called the "patient zero" of the epidemic. He lives in the Mexican town called La Gloria, a place that Mexican authorities are studying as a possible epicenter of the epidemic, after which 60% of its inhabitants have been affected by respiratory problems. Gloria In addition, there is a farm where swine are raised about a million pigs a year. Edgar ill the April 2, and you're cured.

19. HOW MANY CASES ARE THERE?

The numbers of confirmed cases of people infected by the virus are increasing day by day, with new infections throughout the world. This Friday, May 1, and WHO reported a total of 311 in 11 countries, Mexico had confirmed 9 deaths and the U.S., one (a baby). Only a day later, on Saturday, cases totaled more than 600 in 14 countries ...

20. WHAT COUNTRY IS AFFECTED AND HOW?

Apart from Mexico, with 156 cases and 9 deaths, and U.S. (109 cases, one death), on Friday, May 1 had confirmed cases (no deaths) the following countries: Canada (34), Spain (13), England United (8), Germany (3), New Zealand (3), France (2), Israel (2), Switzerland (1), Netherlands (1) and Austria (1).

But on Friday night began to reach the first cases of Asia and the figure soared, with 15 affected countries and on Saturday mornings. Moreover, as had been the first person to person infection in Spain, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom (until then the people who were infected had traveled to Mexico).

21. HOW TO SPAIN HAS AFFECTED?

It is the high number of tourists visiting Mexico, the fourth worst affected country, after Mexico, USA and Canada (the three North American countries). This May 1 Health spoke of 13 confirmed cases and 116 suspects. The outbreaks were confirmed in Catalonia (6), Castilla-La Mancha (2), Madrid (2), Murcia and Basque Country (1).

22. WHAT LEVEL OF ALERT U.S.?

On April 29 the WHO raised the alert for the H1N1 flu to level 5 on a scale of 6.

23. WHAT ARE THE LEVELS OF ALERT?

At level 1, the only virus circulating among animals, without infecting humans in the 2 has gone to a human, but they are few and isolated cases, 3 are given in small outbreaks among humans and infected animals at 4 flu infections among humans begin to be common in a given area, there are 5 in the infection among humans in at least two countries, playing in the 6 outbreaks in two different areas of the world and there is danger of a pandemic.

24. WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE LEVEL 5?

According to the WHO level 5 means that the actions of governments should move from the preparation for a global response to try to reduce the impact on society.

While most countries are not affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is an indication that there is little time to organize, communicate and implement the mitigation measures planned.

25. What is the difference between a pandemic and an epidemic?

We speak of an epidemic when cases are detected with similar symptoms, whose number is much higher than the normal frequency which tends to affect a large number of individuals in a given region. The amount involved must exceed the usual number of cases expected, and cases are usually referring to a single country or region. Cholera or dengue, are some examples of current epidemics.

In a pandemic disease, in addition to overcome the expected number of cases, stretching across several countries and continents and persists over time. The bubonic plague or smallpox, for example, were pandemics. AIDS can also be viewed as such.

26. IS THERE RISK OF PANDEMIC?

According to WHO, yes. Its director general, Margaret Chan, said that "all mankind is under the threat of an imminent pandemic."

27. WHY has spread so fast?

Because the current means of transport and the global expansion has been made possible. Millions of people travel the world in transoceanic planes within hours. Mexico is also one of the main tourist destinations on the planet.

28. WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW?

It is very difficult to know how the virus will evolve. The new strain of influenza H1N1 is behaving just as health experts hope to do is, unpredictably.

In Europe, however, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has said the EU is likely to affect between 40% and 50% of the continent's population, although most cases are mild.

Experts insist that, although their ability to spread very quickly, the virus is not, in principle, as lethal as other diseases are now widespread around the globe.

THE REMEDY

29. WHAT IS WHO DOING?

Organizing, coordinating and studying all the information it receives from the various countries concerned, to instruct and supervise the laboratory development of vaccines, and advice to both Governments and the public on measures is necessary or desirable.

30. What are scientists?

In various laboratories of the world are analyzed viral samples and working on vaccines. This week, for example, samples of the virus came to the National Institute for Medical Research in London, where they analyze their structure, in coordination with researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the USA, in Atlanta.

31. WHAT IS DOING IN SPAIN?

The Ministry of Health has reported that have been activated and prevention measures that the National Health System is ready to handle this situation. " When it detects a suspected case intensifies surveillance, reporting to health services in the area and conducting epidemiological investigations and contact between families.

32. HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL MAKE OUR COUNTRY?

The Minister of Health, Trinidad Jimenez, on Friday assured that within one month, the State will have 10 million antiviral treatment encapsulated against swine flu, which are available to the autonomous enough if they need them.

33. Who WILL MAKE?

The Ministry has signed an agreement with Roche to encapsulate the specific antiviral for this type of flu. The company will now begin to encapsulate, in the laboratories of the Hospital Militar de Burgos, 8 million antiviral that the government and the autonomous communities had saved his best for powder storage (currently the state has 2 million doses already encapsulated ).

34. Is it possible to buy in a pharmacy?

No. Health has sent a communication to the pharmaceutical laboratories, through the Spanish Agency of Medicines, which indicates that the swine flu medications can be administered only in hospitals.

MYSTERIES

35. Muto WHERE THE VIRUS?

It is virtually impossible to know. The first symptoms began to detect in the Mexican state of Veracruz, in an area with many pig farms, where the said town of La Gloria. Many people were sick of the area to work in Mexico City, which could infect others there.

But this does not mean that the virus mutase in Veracruz. He travels so fast that it could have come there from anywhere. Some Mexican authorities, as reported by The New York Times, have suggested that could come even from Pakistan, Bangladesh or China, but this is not verifiable.

In any case is not relevant. And little can be done at home to mitigate the expansion.

36. WHY HAS ARISING IN MEXICO?

There is no clear theory on the matter. There is talk of weaknesses in the health system in this country, or the still existing reluctance in some areas to see a doctor until the symptoms are too severe. Also the tendency to self by many Mexicans. But these factors are also in many other parts of the world.

Other theories point to the pollution in Mexico City or the altitude, but there have been cases in areas not contaminated and lower.

37. WHAT WHERE feared SCIENTISTS COME TO BE THE NEXT EPIDEMIC?

Other major epidemics caused by influenza viruses (of birds), the 1918, 1968 and 1977 and most recently the 2003 came from Asia, and particularly the Southeast of the continent and China, so scientists who assumed that, should another epidemic, would come from there, where there is overcrowding of animals and people in many farms, and would be of avian origin (for the migration of birds). But this has not happened.

38. Could PREVENTED?

Despite the fever seems to have emerged suddenly, the virus was already some time before being discovered. According to some experts, such as the director of the Global Viral Forecasting Initiative of the U.S., biologist Nathan Wolfe, the problem could have been detected earlier if it had paid more attention to the interaction between humans and animals that makes possible the emergence of these virus.

It would have been necessary for this, and drawing on the experience of other epidemics, frequent testing of persons at risk, to collect genetic samples, conduct regular check-ups, etc..

39. HOW ARE INFECTED IN MEXICO?

To protect the privacy of victims, the Mexican Government has given little detail on those affected. However, municipal authorities in Mexico City on Thursday reported that according to preliminary investigations, the majority of those killed by flu possibly living in deprived areas.

It has also been known that at least five of the confirmed deaths were between 20 and 40 years, ie they were young. This may be of concern because, apart from people who are already suffering from other diseases, the flu tends to kill more elderly or very young children, whose defenses are lower.

40. WHY IS AFFECTING YOUNG PEOPLE?

It is not known yet. On the one hand, many students and tourists that visit Mexico are young. It is also possible that the adult population in this country is immune to having better contact with animals. But they are only theories.

41. ¿It becomes a most dangerous viruses?

The virus undergoes continuous change, so it is not possible to know. The experts, however, do not think very likely. Of mortality will be more, rather, it spreads to other sectors of the population least affected so far (children, elderly), rather than to achieve greater virulence.

42. Will 'REPLICAS? WHEN?

It is also unknown, but so far, the major flu pandemics have always chained up two or three new phases of expansion, it is not excluded. After a probable reference during the summer season would be more conducive to the autumn in the northern hemisphere

43. DO YOU HAVE THE FAULT OF THE CURRENT MARKET ANIMAL FOOD?

Although the industries they deny it, more and more experts and NGOs (such as Grain) establishing a connection between the advent of animal epidemics end with the man and the conditions under which the animals for food industry, both in massive exploitation of macrogranjas (cramped, artificially fed) and on the farms without adequate sanitary controls that exist in many parts of the world

The market on animal nutrition and the needs of the food industry in developed countries, especially in the West, has spread in North America called the animal breeding industry.

Researchers at the National Institute of Health in the U.S. in 2006 noted that "because the power systems tend to concentrate large numbers of animals in very little space, facilitate the rapid transmission and mixing of viruses," and three years before, a report in the journal Science warned that the swine flu was evolving rapidly because the increase in the size of the breeding industry and the widespread use of vaccines in these establishments.

44. HAVE YOU CREATED OVEREXPOSURE alarm?

The alert from WHO and the increase in the number of cases, and the great response to the epidemic has received in all media worldwide, coupled with the proliferation of news, thanks especially to the Internet, has led to the situation created by the virus to a degree of social relevance virtually unprecedented in such cases and in such a short time.

In any case, opinion is divided between those who think that, given the low mortality of the potential virus, an excessive fear, and those who believe, however, that the more information you have the easier fight.

45. WHAT THEY SAY THE conspiracy theories?

Everything. A case report circulated on the Internet, for example, accuses the drug cartels in Mexico to work with Al Qaeda to spread the new strain of flu.

ECONOMIC IMPACT

46. HOW IS THE FLU economically affected A MEXICO?

For the moment, is devastating for tourism, which is essential in the Mexican economy, Cancun is empty. And many companies have been forced to temporarily close its doors because of the flu, from large to small industries for the public (bars, restaurants, cinemas, theaters ...), that employ thousands of people.

But worse, perhaps, is the effort that the country will have to do to try to erase the bad image that projects the world epidemic, at a time, exactly where the fight against another pest, the drug trade, began to give some results.

47. HOW IS THE ACCUSED THE GLOBAL ECONOMY?

The airlines, tourism and exchanges have already begun to notice the impact of the swine flu epidemic that started in Mexico. "The hysteria of swine fever has beleaguered markets, giving an end to a streak that began to be positive," said Chris Hossain Reuters from ODL Securities.

The degree of mortality and duration of the flu globally will be key to determining the economic condition, but the World Bank has estimated that a flu pandemic would cost 2.3 billion euros into the global economy .

48. Who has benefited?

Pharmaceutical industries and manufacturers of masks and hygiene products are the most these days come out strengthened.

OTHER EPIDEMICS

49. WHAT HAS OCCURRED other epidemics in the last century?

Flu:

* Spanish flu (pandemic). Killed between 50 million and 100 million people between 1918 and 1919 and affected 40% of world population. It is considered the worst pandemic in history (worse than the plague in the Middle Ages, for example) and a particularly unique case. Recent analysis has suggested the possibility that it is an avian virus (H1N1, combined with human influenza). Half of these deaths, contrary to what usually happens in cases of influenza, were between 20 and 40 years. The limited resources of the medicine of the time and the spread of the virus by the movement of troops exacerbated the situation. Despite its name (so called because the Spanish press, without censorship to be neutral in the Great War, reported more of it) did not originate in Spain but it is believed, in the USA.

* Asian flu (pandemic). Nearly two million dead, mostly in Asia, for an avian influenza virus (H2N2) originated in China in 1957. A common flu virus in wild ducks and mutual crossed with a strain that affects humans. This time, the virus was quickly identified and developed a vaccine, which prevented the epidemic reached the level of 1918.

* HONG KONG flu (pandemic). Identified in Hong Kong in 1968, caused one million deaths. The strain of the virus (H3N2) was similar to the Asian flu. WHO was able to develop contingency plans in place, it already had new antibiotics and could develop a vaccine.

AVIAN FLU * 2003 (epidemic). Outbreaks of the disease re-emerged this year, mostly in Asia but also in Europe. Were infected over 400 persons, of whom 257 have died so far.

Other animal:

* Mad cow disease. The first cases of BSE in cattle was detected in 1985 in the United Kingdom. Took the leap to humans in the nineties and reached Spain in 2000. It has caused 150 deaths (five of them in Spain).

50. WHAT EPIDEMICS fear for the future?

Some reports speak of up to twelve scientists epidemics that may arise as a result mainly of increased temperatures caused by climate change. A study by the Society for Wildlife Conservation (WCS, in English) listed the following: cholera, tuberculosis, Ebola, yellow fever, avian influenza, plague, Riff Valley fever, sleeping sickness, a disease of the red tide , babebiosis, Lyme disease and intestinal parasites.

Not all are chronic or fatal, but all have in common that they come from animals, in this case, insects or parasites that live in warm areas, and will benefit from trade without borders and transoceanic trade.