Swine Flu

The swine flu (H1N1) is transmitted from person to person like this. 

I'm late to post on the swine flu because I've spent much of my time trying to figure out how serious it is and what the average person can do about it aside from washing their hands a lot and postponing any vacation to Mexico.    Apart from the baby who died in Texas, swine flu in the U.S. seems to be quite mild.    In Mexico, the crisis is severe with 149 deaths; the government is going all out to stem the spread canceling public events, closing schools and restaurants in Mexico City.

One of the most alarming bits of new was that Obama in Mexico earlier this month was showed around the city's anthropology museum by Dr. Felipe Solis who died the next day from "flu-like" symptoms, making the President coming closer to almost anyone in the country to contracting the virus.  We did learn later that the President was fine and that Dr. Solis has died of pneumonia.

There's no question that one of the consequences of a flat world, interconnected in ways unimaginable, that fears of a global pandemic will characterize our future.   

Contagion on a Small Planet
An urbanizing planet  knitted by transportation is an extraordinarily welcoming world for infectious disease, particularly easily transmitted viruses like the flu. That’s why it wasn’t surprising Saturday when the World Health Organization concluded that the outbreaks of swine flu focused in central Mexico as well as a school in New York City and several other places around the United States officially constituted “a public health emergency of international concern".

My brother works for the WHO in Geneva and yesterday sent me this graph after WHO raised the global alert level to phase 4.  Click for larger image.

The good news is that the U.S. government is far better prepared to deal with a pandemic than it was a few years ago.  After the avian flu scare, President George Bush issued a pandemic flu preparedness plan.  Since 2006, $6.2 billion has been appropriated to stockpile antivirals, step up surveillance and improve vaccine-making and technology.

How Not to Battle Flu - Lessons from the Spanish flu epidemic in 1918
CDC tips for individuals

What should you do?

1. Don't panic.  Eat pork if you want.
2. Wash your hands often with soap and water.
3. Have antibacterial handwash in your car so you can use it wherever you are.
4. If you are sick, stay home.  If you have flu symptoms, stay home unless you have difficulty in breathing, dizziness, pain in the chest or vomiting.  Then see a doctor.  The anti-viral drugs Tamiflu and Reflenza are only available with a doctor's prescription.
5. You might want a mask if you come into close contact with flu-infected people, either a disposable surgical mask or a painter's mask.  The most effective are N95 respirators but make sure they are approved by the CDC.
5. Check your own state of preparedness.

Do you have two weeks worth of food and water and necessary medications?