Swineflu Alert: It's Spreading Like wild Fire

This deadly swineflu has killed 163 people and infected over 35,000 worldwide at the time of this release, mostly in north and central America. Experts are scrabbling to create a protective vaccine amid concerns that a global pandemic, affecting millions of people, is inevitable.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Jamaica Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton in an effort to assure pig farmers and pork eaters, said that there is no evidence that the 'Swine Influenza' (swineflu) which continues to devastate several countries across the globe, originated in animals.

What is swine flu?
Swineflu is a highly contagious respiratory disease, caused by a strain of the influenza type A virus known as H1N1. This H1N1 virus is the same strain which causes seasonal outbreaks of the common flu in humans on a regular basis. But this latest version of the H1N1 virus is different: it contains genetic material that is typically found in strains of the virus that affect humans, and other animals like birds and swine.

Flu viruses have the ability to swap genetic components with each other, when they come into close contact in the same host. In this case pigs are thought to have provided the ideal "melting pot" to create the new strain.

But although the strain may have originated in pigs, (no evidence to substantiate this claim) it is now a wholly human disease. It can be spread from person to person by coughing and sneezing.

Release from World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO Director General Margaret Chan called on all countries to activate their pandemic plans, including heightened surveillance and infection-control measures.

"I have therefore decided to raise the level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6. The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic. We are in the earliest days of the pandemic. The virus is spreading under a close and careful watch.

No previous pandemic has been detected so early or watched so closely, in real-time, right at the very beginning. The world can now reap the benefits of investments, over the last five years, in pandemic preparedness".

It's spreading fast
More than 70 countries are now reporting cases of human infection with H1N1 swineflu. This number has been increasing over the past few weeks, but many of the cases reportedly had links to travel or were localized outbreaks without community spread. The WHO designation of a pandemic alert Phase 6 reflects the fact that there are now ongoing community level outbreaks in multiple parts of world.

Is it still ok to eat pork?
Yes, all those pork lovers out there, you can still enjoy your famous Boston Jerk Pork. . There is no evidence that swineflu can be transmitted through eating meat from infected animals. Experts are also stressing that this is now a disease which is being passed between people.

The World Organization for Animal Health said culling pigs, as Egypt has done, was therefore "inappropriate" as a measure to stop swine flu spreading. It added there was no evidence of infection in pigs, nor of humans acquiring infection directly from pigs.

What should we do to stay safe?
There are some immediate measures to be taken for your safety. Anyone with flu-like symptoms who might have been in contact with the swine virus - such as those living or travelling in the areas of Mexico that have been affected - should seek medical advice.

Persons are encouraged to take the necessary precautions to prevent an onset of the influenza virus. These are:

1. Frequent hand washing with soap and water
2. Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing
3. Avoid contact with persons with flu-like symptoms
4. Avoid intimate contact including hand shaking and kissing

Long term measures to safeguard yourself from swineflu or any other flu, is to exercise the Basic Essentials of good health. These are Rest, Exercise and Diet (RED). Health Conscious Livingis happy way live because its simple and rewarding.

Let us look at proper dieting for example, people who eat right and strengthen their immune system, are less likely to get ill from viruses, germs or bacteria. Our cells need 52 different nutrients to carry out their daily functions. When any of these nutrients are missing, it's like a domino effect, everything is out of balance.

The influenza virus has been determined more dangerous for people in the following categories:

• The very old and the very young
• Chronic heart disease
• Chronic lung disease (e.g.asthma)
• Diabetes
• Obesity

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