“Because it’s not just another swine flu. This flu has swine, bird and human influenza genetic components and markers in it.”
OK. Just trying to understand. Why is this more of a concern?
Never mind. I just read the Wiki link posted above.
Because it is a pandemic and it is killing a much higher number of people. In 1918 during that pandemic the flu virus was causing what's called a cytokine storm (google it) that killed healthy human adults.
That one went on to kill 50 million people worldwide. Also humans have no defense against this one so it's much more virulent and contagious than previous outbreaks.
Skeptics are going ... big frakking deal ... 51 cases ... that's today ... epidemics use exponential math not linear math. In two weeks it could be 10 thousand or even more.
Just keep some facts in mind. While indeed there may be ‘markers’ of different strains — pig, human, avian ... this is still an H1N1 variant. Thus it is closely related to Type A influenza. Type A influenza(s) have had human-to-human vectors (transmission) for generations and generations. It is not news if an H1N1 virus spreads ... UNLESS it is highly virulent, with high morality rates, and doesn’t respond to existing therapeutics.
IT would be BIG news if the so-called H5N1 ‘avian-flu’ was being transmitted human to human like this one is.
Not to minimize the threat, cuz this one is causing SARDS (severe acute respiratory distress syndrome) and/or pneumonia (fluid in the lungs). Just keep in mind that right now the guidance to professionals is no different than for a regular winter-time flu bug — tell your patients to stay home, stay hydrated, stay clean, and don’t spread it. The professional guidance is NOT to check in to a hospital. The guidance is to self-quarantine, which would be a nice way of saying call in sick.
The data about mortality are not clear yet, but ... one might logically infer that this virus is more potent than last winter’s flu bug that sorta kinda made the rounds.
Personally, I’d recommend having the stuff at home you need to keep care of the entire family if all fall ill. No need to declare “Alas Babylon.”
Just so ya know, the CDC is telling docs that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir.