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What is Swine Flu?

By on June 30, 2009

According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC for short), it is an influenza-like illness, that is, a fever with a cough or sore throat, caused by the H1N1 influenza A virus.  The illness is spread by sneezing and coughing.  Patients are thought to be infectious from one day before the onset of the illness until seven days after.  Most cases are mild, with only 5% requiring admission to hospital in a recent US study.

How did it start?

First there was SARS (2003), then it was bird flu (2007-08), and now it’s swine flu.

Whatever we call them, these infections didn’t arise in a vacuum.

Newsweek, May 11-19, 2009:  “…the strange ecology we have created to feed meat to our massive human population…where billions of animal are concentrated into tiny spaces…by 2020, world consumption could top 386 million tons of pork, chicken, beef and farmed fish.  This is the ecology that, in the cases of pigs and chickens, is breeding influenza.”

Compassion in World Farming (www.ciwf.org.uk): “Factory farming is the biggest cause of animal suffering in the world today. Globally, we rear around 60 billion animals a year, mostly in factory farms. Cheap meat conceals the real costs to animals, people, and the planet.”

Food for thought indeed.

What about Tamiflu?

According to the CDC, patients with mild illness (the majority) do not need testing or treatment with Tamiflu.  It should be considered for those at risk of complications of the flu, that  is, people admitted to hospital, pregnant women, those over 65 years, children under 5 – especially those aged between 1 and 2 years – or those with disorders such as asthma, heart or liver disease, or immune system disorders.

Should I wear a mask?

Current sources of information indicate that face masks should be used by people who have or are suspected of having flu, and by those in close contact with such patients.  The CDC says: “Based on currently available information, for non-healthcare settings where frequent exposures to persons with novel influenza A (H1N1) are unlikely, masks and respirators are not recommended.”

In other words, for healthy people going about their normal activities in public, wearing masks as a means of avoiding infection is unlikely to be helpful. On the other hand, for ill people who have or may have swine flu and who must go out in public, they should wear a mask to reduce the risk of spread to others.

Conclusion

If you think you have flu, the best thing is to stay at home until you’ve recovered and treat the symptoms with the usual household remedies.

Note

This brief review of swine flu is based on information available at the time of writing and is not intended as medical advice. If you are worried about your health, you should consult a doctor.

Dr Gabriel Symonds has been working as a general practitioner in Tokyo since 1984.  A graduate of the University of London, he has wide experience in general and family medicine, and is one of the few foreign physicians licensed to practice in Japan.  He founded the Tokyo British Clinic in 1992. 

Tel: (03) 5458-6099

www.tokyobritishclinic.com

About Dr. Gabriel Symonds

Dr. Gabriel Symonds was the director of the Tokyo British Clinic. The clinic closed down in May 2014 after serving the expatriate community for 20+ years. Dr. Symonds has retired and the Tokyo British Clinic is now closed. Dr Symonds will continue to live in Tokyo and may be contacted by e-mail over any questions concerning medical records or related matters: symonds@tokyobritishclinic.com He will be available from another address for: smoking cessation psychotherapy/counselling circumcision information Tel: (03) 5458-6099 www.tokyobritishclinic.com