Swine Flu H1N1, facts, stats, and updates

By Carolyn Cooper

You can get your Swine Flu and other Influenza vaccinations at any local Walgreens, Walmart, Health Clinic or Hospital

08/2010 - Swine Influenza/H1N1 is in post - pandemic stage, World Health Organization (WHO)

12/2009 – An estimated 50 million Americans are believed to have contracted Swine Flu H1N1 and over 10,000 people died from the virus

08/18/09 - Swine Flu H1N1 vaccination trials began last week at eight trial sites across the country. The vaccine comes in two forms, a shot or nasal spray.

Statistics (Ref. World Health Organization)
- The H1N1 virus was first diagnosed in April 2009, as a combination of rare influenza virus genes
- By April 26, two weeks later, Swine Influenza was deemed a public health emergency and classified as a pandemic (the 1st pandemic in 40 years) 
- As of 08/13/2009, 7,511 people have been diagnosed and/or treated for Swine Flu; 477 people died of Swine Flu in the US; 177,457 have been diagnosed and treated internationally and 1,462 deaths have been confirmed

07/31/09 – CDC is urging everyone to visit their doctor to be vaccinated for seasonal influenza this flu season. The flu vaccination is not expected to help against the recent H1N1 viral strain but will help prevent an onset of sever flu symptoms in what may be a hectic flu season. A H1N1 vaccine is in production and expected to be available by October. Dependent on demand, everyone between ages 25 and 64 can begin getting vaccinated when the vaccine becomes available.

07/29/09 – Swine Influenza H1N1 activity dropped for the first time since threatening to become an epidemic but influenza cases are up compared to the number of cases reported for the same time last year.

To date , 5,514 people have been hospitalized and treated for Swine Influenza H1N1 and 353 deaths resulted from Swineflu contamination

June 10, 2009
Swine Flu hits New York City! Conde Nast reported its second case of Swine Flu, this time a Glamour employee. On June 1^st a “Flu Advisory,” memo was sent out to all employees at 4 Times Square informing them that an employee on the 12^th floor --Vogue magazine, tested positive for a subtype of Swine Influenza. Yesterday a second case was confirmed. The company has advised any employee who thinks they may have contracted the virus to contact their doctor.

06/03/09 - World Health Organization (WHO) prepares to declare Swine Flu/Influenza H1N1 a pandemic

- 74 Countries have been effected by Swine Flu, including all 50 states in the U.S.

- 27, 737 cases have been reported around the world

- 141 people died of Swine Flu contamination

06/01/09 – Swine Flu hits New York City

Update: 05/22/09
The government has secured one billion dollars to produce a vaccination for the Swine Influenza, H1N1 virus. CDC is working with scientist to produce a vaccine. Distribution for testing is expecting to begin next week. Everyone is expected to be vaccinated by fall 2010.
- Pigs are being tested as the possible source of the virus

- Within a month Swine Flu has spread around the globe; 11,000 people have tested positive, 85 infections have led to death, 8 of the fatalies were in the U.S.

- 60 schools have closed from possible contamination (12 in Levitttown, Queens, 2 in Bayside Queens)
- One reported fatality and one questionable infant death has struck New York since the Swine Influenza - H1N1, outbreak hit the area.

Swine Influenza/Flu(H1N1)

A State Of Emergency alert was put into effect after a strain of Swine Influenza/Flu, swept through parts of Queens, New York, in the U.S. and Mexico. More than 100 people died from the virus in Mexico and 160 cases were reported in the U.S. A three year old Texan resident reportedly died after being infected with the virus.
Swine Flu, which originated in Mexico, was transported to the US after a group of teens from St. Francis Preparatory School visited the country on a school trip. Their were no fatalities from St. Francis and everyone infected has reported successful and speedy recoveries after antiviral treatment. St. Francis was closed for 2 days following the outbreak. As a safety protocol the school was inspected and decontaminated. Two other schools have since closed after outbreak scares forced inspection and decontamination.
Controlling Swine Flu
The virus is not considered fatal but is highly contagious, most family members in close proximity of the victims infected at St. Francis have reported contracting the virus. At present, Swine Flu is considered an air-borne disease that can be contracted through the air and by coming in contact with body fluids of an infected person. You will not get Swine Flu by eating pork unless the cook or area is infected.
While the CDC works on a vaccine to treat the virus, antiviral medications are being used to treat those already infected. The treatment has been effective in victims who received the treatment within 48 hours of contracting or being exposed to the virus. The best treatment however, is to avoid contracting the virus at all
To avoid contracting Swine Flu, wash your hands often, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, keep your hands away from your face, especially in areas where becoming infected is a possibility, and avoid contact with someone who may have become infected or is showing flu like symptoms.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Swine Flu include, flu, fever, chills, fatigue, coughing, sore throat, body aches, head aches, and in some cases diarrhea and vomiting. If you or someone you know is showing signs of Swine Flu, contact your doctor or local hospital immediately.

For more information on Swine Flu visit New York City Department Of Health www.nyc.gov/health