Costa Rican president has swine flu

[Xeric]

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNe...57B04720090812

Costa Rican president has swine flu
Wed Aug 12, 2009 12:14pm EDT

By John McPhaul

SAN JOSE (Reuters) - Costa Rican President Oscar Arias is suffering from the H1N1 virus, making him the first head of state known to have contracted swine flu.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Arias, 68, has a mild case of the virus which he tested positive for on Tuesday after feeling unwell at the weekend, the government said.

Arias is at home and plans to do some work from there.

"Apart from the fever and a sore throat, I feel well and in good shape to carry out my work by telecommuting. I expect to return to all my duties on Monday," he said in a statement.

The H1N1 flu outbreak, declared a pandemic on June 11, has spread around the world since emerging in April and could eventually affect 2 billion people, according to estimates by the U.N. World Health Organization. More than 20 people have died of swine flu in Costa Rica.

Arias suffers from asthma. While the vast majority of swine flu cases have not been serious, infected people who have other medical conditions are most susceptible to complications.

"The tests ... show that there is no other complication," Information Minister Mayi Antillon said.

Some of the president's duties have been given to Cabinet ministers for the moment.

Last month, Arias brokered talks to try to end a political crisis in Honduras after President Manuel Zelaya was ousted in a coup on June 28.

Negotiations broke down two weeks ago over whether Zelaya can return to power and Arias' illness is unlikely to affect the situation in Honduras.

Arias won the Nobel prize in 1987 for a peace plan to end Central American civil wars and guerrilla conflicts.

He first served as president from 1986-90 and was re-elected in 2006 on a promise to end corruption and take the small country into a Central American free trade pact with the United States.

Arias broke Costa Rica's decades-old diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 2007 to establish ties with rival Beijing, saying his country could no longer ignore China's growing power in the world.

Doctors ordered Arias last year to stop talking for a month due to a vocal chord ailment. He communicated by writing and typing.

(Writing by Alistair Bell, editing by Anthony Boadle)

 

[owais.usmani]

Just to make sure you don't end up being the Costa Rican president, here's what to do:

What is swine Flu :

First thing first swine flow is not a new disease and this is now the first time human being are affected by it . Neither is this first time an influenza pandemic is haunting us L ( search of Spanish flu to know more ).
Its just another variant of Influenzavirus A.The other types being -


Influenzavirus A cause of all flu pandemics and infect humans, other mammals and birds


Influenzavirus B infect humans and seals

Influenzavirus C infect humans and pigs

The present pendemic is caused by virus that is usually found in Pigs- H1N1 . The other variations ie mutations of Type A include :


H1N1, H1N2, H2N2, H3N1, H3N2, H3N8, H5N1, H5N2, H5N3, H5N8, H5N9, H7N1, H7N2, H7N3, H7N4, H7N7, H9N2, H10N7



Like any influenza , H1N1 spreads via body fluids . Saliva , Nasal secretion , faces and blood .Common symptoms of influenza infection are fever, sore throat, muscle/joint pains, severe headache, coughing, and weakness and fatigue.

What Swine Flu is not :

Its not the seasonal influenza .


Most people will not have immunity against it , like seasonal flu .


Its not a death sentence .


According to WHO The severity of the disease ranges from very mild symptoms to severe illnesses that can result in death. The majority of people who contract the virus experience the milder disease and recover without antiviral treatment or medical care. Of the more serious cases, more than half of hospitalized people had underlying health conditions or weak immune systems

Prevention :

Be alert and rush to a doctor if your fever persists for more than 3 dayz .

For individuals who are well:

refrain from touching mouth and nose;


perform hand hygiene frequently, by washing with soap and water or using an alcohol based hand rub, especially if touching the mouth and nose and surfaces that are potentially contaminated;


reduce as much as possible the time spent in close contact with people who might be ill;


reduce as much as possible the time spent in crowded settings;


improve airflow in your living space by opening windows as much as possible

For individuals with influenza-like symptoms:

stay at home if you feel unwell and follow the local public health recommendations;


keep distance from well individuals as much as possible (at least 1 metre);



cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, with tissues or other suitable


materials, to contain respiratory secretions. Dispose of the material immediately after use


or wash it. Clean hands immediately after contact with respiratory secretions!


improve airflow in your living space by opening windows as much as possible.

Should I Wear a Mask ? :

Since the disease spreads via nasal fluids you MUST wear a mask when meeting patients .For regular life its recommended you may .



The recommended mask is : N-95 respirators .


While people may use usual surgical masks , cloths or even N95 mask we must remember Face Mask help in preventing the does’t guarantee anything .The other case with Masks is -Quoting WHO :


If masks are worn, proper use and disposal is essential to ensure they are potentially


effective and to avoid any increase in risk of transmission associated with the incorrect


use of masks.


place mask carefully to cover mouth and nose and tie securely to minimise any gaps



between the face and the mask


while in use, avoid touching the mask


- whenever you touch a used mask, for example when removing or washing, clean


hands by washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based handrub


replace masks with a new clean, dry mask as soon as they become damp/humid


do not re-use single-use masks


- discard single-use masks after each use and dispose of them immediately upon removing.

Vaccine :

There is no vaccine developed for H1N1 swine flu yet .Its supposed to be available by Sept 2009 .Another thing evidence suggests that it is unlikely that seasonal influenza vaccines will be protective against the new pandemic virus” WHO.

Available Laboratory tests:

Rapid Antigen Tests: not as sensitive as other available tests.

RT-PCR

Virus isolation

Virus Genome Sequencing

Four-fold rise in swine influenza A (H1N1) virus specific neutralizing antibodies.

High-risk group :

resident of institutions for elderly people and the disabled;

people with certain chronic health conditions (chronic heart or lung disease, metabolic or renal disease or immunodeficiencies);

elderly people and very young children.

Treatment :

First thing first : NO self medication of over the counter antivirus please.


The treatment advised by WHO for swine flu is an antiviral drug called Oseltamivir ( branded TamiFlu ).



Since this is declared epidemic recently . As of now only Govt approved agencies should administer treatment (private clinics should be allowed soon).

 

[pmukherjee]

Just to make sure you don't end up being the Costa Rican president, here's what to do

owais, Thanks for a very useful post. What is the status of swine flu in Pakistan? In India it is spreading like wild fire with the mortality rate going up in geomatric progression.

 

[Xeric]

owais, Thanks for a very useful post. What is the status of swine flu in Pakistan? In India it is spreading like wild fire with the mortality rate going up in geomatric progression.

One patient confirmed of swine flu but they also claimed that he has been cured now.