H1N1 Bringing into Consideration Its History, Transmission, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment - Coursework Example

Introduction Diseases come with different varieties (strains), which each affecting human race differently (CDC, 2010). One of such disease is the swine influenza sometimes called pig influenza, which is a strain of influenza that is commonly endemic in pigs (Trifonov 119). Two common strains of influenza exists which include influenza C and influenza A, which is further grouped as H1N1 H1N2, H3N1, H3N2, and H2N3. Thus, the aim of this paper is to analyse H1N1 bringing into consideration its history, transmission, causes, symptoms, and treatment. History H1N1 can be traced back to the 1918 flu pandemic when it was first proposed to be a disease that was related to human influenza, a time when humans and pigs were reported to be sick. However, the first time that it was reported that influenza virus contributed to disease in pigs was in 1930 (CDC, 2010). Generally, it means that the H1N1 subtype is the strain that has been causing influenza diseases in the 20th century, and thus contributes to seasonal epidemic influenza. According to statistics in US, direct transmission of influenza between pigs and humans is rare since it is believed that 12 causes have been reported since 2005. Nevertheless, it may be assumed that pigs retain the influenza strain even after it has disappeared from human population, and thus pigs may be assumed the reservoirs of the influenza virus. This means that later the influenza virus emerges to reinfect people especially when the immunity in humans has waned. Historically, numerous incidents have been reported that is assumed H1N1 caused deaths The first instance of pandemic was in the 1918 flu in which the influenza appeared in pigs; many people scientists and researchers before that this was the first incident of zoonsis either form humans to pigs or vice versa (Trifonov 116). Even though there is no clear evidence of direction of influenza virus movement since some scientists believe that humans infected pigs since the first instance of swine influenza was reported in the 1918 just after a large population of people had been infected. However, recent phylogenetic analysis indicates that the outbreak resulted after a re-assortment in a mammal and thus the exact strain of the virus is sill elusive. In the 1918 flu pandemic, it is believed that between 50 and 100 million died because of the infection. In 1976, an outbreak of H1N1 was reported in an army recruit when one soldier died while four others were hospitalised complaining of disease that had symptoms as those of the influenza. This strain was similar to the one that cause the 1918 flu pandemic. In 1988 and after a county fair, a woman died while other people were infected by the influenza (Smith 1124). A high percentage of those exhibiting pigs reported influenza like symptoms that were later tested and found to be antibodies to SIV. This influenza was able to spread between people because doctors who cared for some patients reported similar problems and antibody test reported similar outcomes. Transmission between pigs, humans The transmission between pigs is commonly between the infected and uninfected pigs. These common is through intensive farming, during transportation, and pigs touching each other. Another important means of transmission between pigs is airborne transmission especially when they sneeze or cough. In the case of humans, human population who commonly work with pigs and poultry, and are exposed intensely have an increased chance of infection (CDC, 2010). In such situations, re-assortment and zoonosis results. To reduce the chances of infection, vaccination can be used for those people who deal with these animals. Causes The causes of H1N1 flu depend on viewpoint, and the virus is attributed to causing swine flu. Due to enormous genetic variability, specific name for the virus is difficult to give because of usefulness in general parlance and scientifically correct (CDC, 2010). The names swine and h1n1 tends to defines viruses that have similar subsets but they are not conclusively applicable. Thus, World Health Organisation gave the name h1n1/09 to identify the virus that has influenza viruses that usually hijacks human “machinery”, and utilises the infected cells to reproduce. The cells that have been infected cause specific chemicals that affect the immune system, and thus contributes to symptoms that are common with swine fu. In most instances, virus is simple to an extent that it is difficult to determine whether they are ‘alive’ or ‘dead’. Even though, the viruses are small, the genetic variation is affected by a process commonly know as reassortment (Smith 1123). This means that viruses rearrange their makeup and also their characteristics bringing into consideration factors such as how the virus are transmitted, species that they infect, type of cell to infect etc. Thus, the immune system will be forced to play “catch up” meaning that the degree of immunity continues to change and hence the immunity may be ineffective. In other circumstances, different viruses can ‘reassort’ resulting in a single virus that may transmit the virus between animals and people, or vice versa (CDC, 2010). This is a simple way in which H1N1 come to be being. Moreover, bringing together a large number of animals result in a situation on which the virus can grow fast. This means that industrial meat production provides perfect environment that champions both mutation and for spreading, at exponentially faster rate, and hence the spread of the disease. Moreover, technological development and advancement results in prevalence of the H1N1 outbreak. Global travel and also large-scale meat production contributes towards advancement or cause of the disease. The travel industry has made easily travel in which many people can traverse the world within a short time and hence making the process of containment difficult (Trifonov 120). For example, the transmission of the virus “jumped” from the pig to people, in which the people later used travel industry to spread to other parts of the world. The influenza also can spread from person to person when it enters through the nose, eyes, or/and mouth. For example, sneezing and coughing results in release of virus to the environment in which other people can breathe easily (CDC, 2010). Through this process, the virus can rest on ATM buttons, doorknobs and counters. This means that when a person touches these surfaces and then touches their mouth, eyes or even nose, and hence causes infection. Symptoms Some of the symptoms that are associated with H1N1 include: Cough Headache Stuffy nose or runny nose Fever Tiredness or fatigue Vomiting and diarrhoea Other serious signs may include respiratory failure and pneumonia Even though, people population are in a position to be infected by the H1N1 flu, some groups are of high risk commonly called “High Risk Group”. Groups or individuals classed include: Children who are under the age of two year Women who are pregnant Adults and children with obesity Chronic medical problems associated people e.g. people with diabetes, asthma, immunosuppression and cardiovascular disease Some of the serious symptoms of H1N1 include: Trouble breathing or fast breathing Gray or bluish skin colour Persistent or severe vomiting Not able t interact or not waking up Being irritable Treatment The most appropriate for any virus infection especially H1N1 is through vaccination. Numerous vaccines exist in the market that makes people to be immune against H1N1 (Jain et al., 1940). The vaccines usually consist of live but attenuated H1N1 that is not supposed to be used by pregnant people or people who are immunocompromised. Moreover, there are antiviral agents that reduce or prevent the spread of H1N1; examples of these antiviral agents include tamiflu and relenza. Even though the antiviral and vaccines are available, it is important to misuse them because viral resistance may occur. Prevention of H1N1 H1N1 can easily be prevented if people understand how it spreads, and understanding all people is not immune to the infection. Some of the strategies that can be used for prevention processes include: Being informed – People who are travelling should be informed of the virus because mutation within seconds. Accessing updated information provides means in which precautions can be championed and hence reduces the effect o pandemic nature the disease (Moreno 2005). Keeping the hands clean – all hands should be wash with water and soap immediately after either sneezing or coughing. Moreover, it is appropriate to was hands after touching anyone suspect or anything that is suspect. In those circumstances that there is absence of water and soap, sanitizers should be used to ensure that most of the times the hands are disinfected. Sanitisation of the surroundings – since it is difficult to control the environment and surroundings, it is important to sanitise most of the things that are used (CDC, 2010). It is important to wipe and clean any equipment or object that has been used. For example, wiping down phones and other equipments (Jain et al., 1937). Appropriate diets and rest – it is important to ensure that the immune system is strong through getting enough exercise, sleep, water and vitamins. It is prudent that enough rest is taken before travelling, and thus reduces chances of infections. For sick people It is appropriate to help oneself to be safe and get better, and also to prevent the spread of the virus. Some of the strategies that can be used include: It is important to stay at home; an infected person should not go to school or work An infected person should stay a meter from people It is appropriate to drink plenty of fluids and also to take enough rest Before sneezing or coughing, it is important to cover the nose and mouth with the use of a tissue. Else, someone can use a sleeve or hand followed by thorough cleaning. Champion high standards of cleanliness Conclusion H1N1 and swine influenza are common across the pig populations across the world. However, the transmission of the virus from pigs to humans is not common and usually does not contribute to human influenza but contributes into the production of antibodies in the blood. Transmission of this influenza cause human influenza that is commonly referred to as zoonotic swine flu. Those people who are exposed to pigs have increased chances of infection compared to other population while properly good cooked does not cause infection. H1N1 has a long history that can be traced to 1918 during the pandemic in which millions of people died, and minor incidents have been reported across the world. Some of the symptoms associated to the H1N1 include general discomfort, weakness, severe headache, muscle pains, sore throat, fever, coughing, and chills. Some of the cause of the infection includes travelling, hygiene, lack of enough rest, and lack of enough fluids. Strategies that can be use to prevent the infection includes not travelling, high standards of hygiene, drinking plenty fluids while means of treatment includes vaccination and use of antiviral agents References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The 2009 H1N1 Pandemic: Summary Highlights, April 2009-April 2010. 16 June 2010. 27 Dec. 2010. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/cdcresponse.htm Jain, S., Kamimoto, L., Bramley, AM., et al. Hospitalized patients with 2009 H1N1 influenza in the United States, April–June 2009. New England Journal of Medicine 361.20 (2009): 1935–44. Moreno, Rui, Rhodes Andrew, and Chiche Jean-Daniel. The ongoing H1N1 flu pandemic and the intensive care community: challenges, opportunities, and the duties of scientific societies and intensivists. Intensive Care Medicine, 35.12 (2009): 2005-2008 Smith, G., Vijaykrishna, D., Bahl, J., Lycett, SJ., Worobey, M., Pybus, OG., Ma, SK., Cheung, CL et al. Origins and evolutionary genomics of the 2009 swine-origin H1N1 influenza A epidemic. Nature 459 (2009): 1122–1125 Trifonov, Vladimir, Khiabanian, Hossein, and Rabadan, Raul. Geographic Dependence, Surveillance, and Origins of the 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) Virus. New England Journal of Medicine 61.2 (2009): 115–119. 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