Essentially, influenza (aka, “The Flu”) is a viral infection that attacks our population in a yearly cycle. Fortunately, the human immune system is there to recognize and neutralize the effects of the virus. Each year, the virus mutates just slightly and most of the population is once again susceptible to the disease. This is why a new vaccine must be created regularly to reflect the most recent influenza mutants out in the environment. Under normal circumstances, this is all you need to know about the flu (aside from how to avoid infection and take care of yourself if you do come down with it).
Recently, some changes in the status quo have raised alarm bells at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). There have been reports of “swine flu” in Mexico and several other countries whose citizens regularly visit Mexico, including the United States.
Putting the news figures aside for a moment, let me explain exactly what swine flu is. The influenza virus has a number of components, but the most variable parts of the virus are the spines found around its exterior. These are proteins called “peplomers” and there are two major kinds. The HA (hemagglutinin) peplomer is responsible for binding the virus to host cells and the NA (neuraminidase) peplomer allows the virus to break its bonds to the host cell once it is ready to move on. When you hear about the H1N1 virus or the H3N2 virus, the viruses are being referred to and classified by their external receptors. This is a bit of a simplification, but knowing the chemical nature of the peplomers isn’t crucial to understanding their function.
The peplomers are a double edged sword. They allow the viral particles access to the machinery of the cell (this is how viruses replicate themselves), but they also allow the immune system to recognize and target the virus. When the human flu virus mutates its external proteins, the body’s defenses still recognize them and eventually mount a response (the period of sickness occurs while the body is developing that response). If this failed to happen, you would eventually succumb to the virus and die.
The virus didn’t originate in humans, though. Birds, pigs, and even horses have their own versions of influenza. Remember the “bird flu” or “avian flu” scare a while ago? Scientists feared the influenza common in birds had “jumped the species barrier” and begun infecting humans. This is called a “zoonotic” disease – a disease that moves from animals to people. Now, the same worries have arisen about swine flu. Why does this matter? Won’t our immune system just deal with the new influenza virus the same way it has always done with the seasonal one?
Unfortunately the answer is a weak “maybe.” While your immune system might not immediately stop a new human influenza infection, it DOES recognize that new mutant and begin building a response. Avian and swine peplomers, on the other hand, are not easily recognized by the human system because our evolution did not include pressure from those particular viruses. As humans have come into close contact with the animals that carry these viruses, the animal influenza has been able to mutate enough to cross the species bridge and infect humans as well. In the past this would not have been a global problem. An infected village might just die out in isolation. Things are different now: a traveler can become infected in one region and fly thousands of miles to another, long before they experience symptoms.
So what’s the take away message from all of this? Can we do anything about this? Well as individuals it’s wise to go through the same sanitary practices as we might during flu season. Also, traveling to places which have reported cases probably isn’t a great idea. Governments and regulatory bodies like the CDC and the WHO are in an “all hands on deck” kind of status right now. As the outbreaks continue (they are expected to grow for at least the time being), these groups will be tracking any reported cases and trying to treat those infected.
There are people who have spent their whole lives preparing for just these kinds of events and they’re currently working very hard to provide the public with the best information and advice. Hopefully you now have a better understanding of the science behind influenza and zoonotic diseases.
healthmap: Bacterial meningitis outbreak in Oklahoma 2nd grade class: 2 dead, 4 hospitalized. http://bit.ly/9PNQtX
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healthmap: Bacterial meningitis outbreak in Oklahoma 2nd grade class: 2 dead, 4 hospitalized. http://bit.ly/9PNQtX
This year’s flu materials include messaging to address both Seasonal and 2009 H1N1 flu (sometimes called “swine flu”) recommendations.
Excerpt from:
Flu Print Materials Available in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hmong, Korean, Russian and Vietnamese
The January 12, 2010 National Influenza Vaccination Week Webinar featured Dr. Nicole Lurie with the US Department of Health and Human Services; Dr.
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2009 H1N1 Influenza and its Impact on People with Chronic Medical Conditions: Questions and Answers
Quebec’s public health institute says the H1N1 vaccination campaign last fall cost nearly $146 million, but they added that the price tag was lower than expected. (Source: CTV Health) MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed – updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.
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Quebec swine flu campaign cost nearly $146M
The first phase of a swine flu vaccination program trial conducted in Tasmania by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and the Department of Health and Human Services has proved popular with the community.
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Pharmacy Swine Flu Trial Moves Into Phase II – Pharmaceutical Society Of Australia
DH overrules review body recommendations on doctors’ payRelated items from OnMedicaPractice managers slam extended opening hours’Invest more in consultants’ urges BMA Scotland Agenda for Change has failed, claim MPsBMA denies GP swine flu ’strike’ claimsDoctors slam ‘disappointing’ pay award (Source: OnMedica Latest News)
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Most doctors will receive no pay rise this year
CDCemergency: Help us improve our Twitter profile! Click here to complete a short survey: http://is.gd/a8F8L (OMB# 09200735)
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CDCemergency: Help us improve our Twitter profile! Click here to complete a short survey: http://is.gd/a8F8L (OMB# 09200735)
Data from Texas households confirm that the virus tends to target children Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Pages: Flu, H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)
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H1N1 Flu Spreads Slower Than Seasonal Flu
Trial Results in Rural Canadians Show Effect of Herd Immunity
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NIAID Study: Vaccinating Children against Flu Helps Protect Wider Community
Although flu activity has declined in recent weeks, 2009 H1N1 Influenza viruses continue to spread in the United States and abroad, causing illness, hospitalizations and even deaths.
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CDC and American College Health Association Spring Break Vaccination Letter
