SWINE FLU - Bookletramanweil.com/pdf/knowledge bank/SWINE FLU - Booklet.pdf · 2018-01-12 ·...

S wine � u had the world on tenter-

hooks in 2009. It was triggered

by the in� uenza A virus H1N1:

in� uenza viruses from birds, pigs,

and humans that blended together

to form a new kind of virus. How did

the pandemic progress, and how did the

international community react? What

follows is a timeline of the events.

MID-APRIL 2009

Mexican doctors begin to notice un-

usual cases of � u, with young people in

particular being severely affected. Some

of the patients have to be put on arti-

! cial respiration in intensive care. The

cases occur across the federal district

of Mexico City, as well as throughout

the states of Baja California, San Luis

Potosí, and Oaxaca.

APRIL 21

The ! rst two cases in the USA are re-

ported. The patients are two children in

California, near the Mexican border.

APRIL 23

American and Canadian laboratories

con! rm that a new virus called H1N1

is responsible for the recent in� uenza

epidemic.

APRIL 24

Mexico is in shock: the ! rst deaths

occur as a result of severe lung damage.

The government orders the closure of

all schools. A day later, the USA reports

eight patients with the virus, six of

whom are in southern California and

two in Texas. The Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC) equip

the US states with antiviral medication.

APRIL 25

The WHO in Geneva releases an of! -

cial statement warning of an in� uenza

pandemic. It divides pandemics of this

nature into six phases and determines

which measures individual countries

should implement to combat the

disease. This might include the pro-

duction of vaccines, the distribution of

protective masks, the closure of public

buildings, and the development of

national emergency plans. The world is

currently in Phase 4, which means there

is a growing risk of a pandemic.

APRIL 27

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger de-

clares a state of emergency in California.

The US President Barack Obama re-

quests that the Congress allocate 1.5 bil-

lion dollars to combating the pandemic.

Meanwhile, swine � u has reached

Europe. In Spain and the UK, doctors

detect the virus in three people who

have recently returned from trips to

Mexico. The British authorities require

all travelers entering the country from

Mexico to be tested for swine � u symp-

toms before they exit the airplane.

APRIL 28

The virus reaches further regions of the

world: in New Zealand, for instance, it

is detected in fourteen people, in Israel

in two. All of the patients had previ-

ously traveled to Mexico. Russia, Hong

Kong, and Taiwan impose a quarantine

on travelers in transit who demonstrate

symptoms of swine � u. Cuba discon-

tinues air travel to and from Mexico

for 48 hours. In Mexico City, factories,

cinemas, theaters, and universities are

now closed, too.

APRIL 29

The ! rst three cases are identi! ed in

Germany. The patients caught the virus

during a visit to Mexico. In the US state

of Texas, a young child from Mexico

dies of the virus. On the same day, the

German tabloid newspaper “BILD”

runs with the headline: “Swine Flu

Virus Can’t Be Stopped.”

APRIL 30

The WHO raises the pandemic risk to

Phase 5, the second-highest level. “All

of humanity is under threat during a

pandemic,” warns the Director-Gener-

al, Dr. Margaret Chan. According to

the WHO, there are now 236 con! rmed

cases around the world, 27 of which are

in the EU.

The Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak

orders all pigs in the country to be

slaughtered. The WHO emphasizes that

this move is unnecessary. The planned

cull causes riots in Egypt.

There are now approximately 1,100

identi! ed cases of the illness in 21 coun-

tries, eight of which are in Germany.

In New Zealand, patients with swine

� u symptoms arriving at a hospital by

car are expected to honk their horn

three times to warn hospital staff of

their arrival. In Bangkok und Tokyo,

travelers are required to pass through a

thermal scanner. At the airport in Paris,

the baggage handlers refuse to unload

luggage from planes arriving from

Mexico or Spain.

Mexico slowly returns to normality.

The authorities reopen tourist attrac-

tions after days of being kept closed.

Supervisory staff in public buildings are

nonetheless instructed to continue to

wear protective masks and to prevent

large gatherings from taking place.

For the ! rst time, a German traveler is

infected during a trip to the USA. There

are now approximately 3,200 cases of

“All of humanity is under threat during a pandemic.”— Margaret Chan,

Director-General of the WHO

the disease around the world, and 44

people have died.

MAY 16

Swine � u reaches Japan. After just a

few days, the authorities report more

than 120 cases. Hundreds of schools

are closed. Marie-Paule Kieny, Director

of the WHO’s Initiative for Vaccine Re-

search, fears a vaccine shortage: “Even

if the production of the vaccine against

this new virus gets off the ground

quickly, we would still have a shortage

of billions of dosages if a severe pan-

demic were to occur. There would be

nothing left over for poor countries.”

JUNE 7

The Chinese authorities implement

strict safety precautions for the univer-

sity admission exams currently being

held across China: every exam room

has to be disinfected twice a day and

each of the ten million students taking

the exams must have their temperature

taken before the exam.

JUNE 11

The WHO categorizes swine � u as a

pandemic and raises its warning level

to Phase 6, the highest possible level.

Nearly 30,000 infections in a total of 74

countries have been reported. The epi-

center of the virus is in North America,

with more than 21,000 cases. In total,

over 140 patients have already died.

JUNE 16

The ! rst vaccine speci! cally developed

to protect people from swine � u is

about to hit the market. A US pharma-

ceutical company plans to begin selling

the medication in July.

AUGUST 19

The German government announces that

up to 35 million of its citizens are to be

vaccinated beginning in the fall – the ! rst

people to receive the vaccine will be the

chronically ill, pregnant women, medical

personnel, police, and ! remen. The in-

surance companies will cover the costs.

AUGUST 28

According to the WHO, the number of

swine � u infections is on the decline in

the southern hemisphere. The northern

hemisphere, on the other hand, should

brace itself for a second wave of the

disease.

SEPTEMBER 15

The US government gives the green

light for the use of vaccines to combat

swine � u and orders 250 million doses.

The vaccines are to be provided to

people free of charge.

OCTOBER 24

The American President Barack

Obama speaks of a national state of

emergency. “Our response to the H1N1

� u virus is to be prepared at all levels –

individually, in companies, and in the

government,” says the White House.

Meanwhile, there are signi! cant bottle-

necks in the delivery of the vaccine.

The media describe a state of chaos as

people attempt to get vaccinated.

OCTOBER 26

Mass vaccinations begin in Germany. It is

to be the largest vaccination campaign in

the country’s history. However, people are

skeptical: a survey conducted by the health

insurance companies indicates that 60 per-

cent of those surveyed do not intend to get

vaccinated. One of the reasons for this is a

debate about the side effects of the vaccine.

Meanwhile, a second wave of swine � u hits

Germany at the beginning of November.

Total number of deaths

Influenza A viruses

Mutation of the virus

Mutationof the virus

H1N1 virus

1 – 10

11 – 50

51 – 100

101 or more

Countries affected Sources: WHO, Robert Koch Institute

SPREAD OF SWINE FLU UP TO AUGUST 2010Transmission from animals to humans

The origins of H1N1

DISCOVERY + RESEARCHDISCOVERY + RESEARCH WHAT WE CARE ABOUT. The Magazine of the HARTMANN GROUP WHAT WE CARE ABOUT. The Magazine of the HARTMANN GROUP

S wine � u had the world on tenter-

hooks in 2009. It was triggered

by the in� uenza A virus H1N1:

in� uenza viruses from birds, pigs,

and humans that blended together

to form a new kind of virus. How did

the pandemic progress, and how did the

international community react? What

follows is a timeline of the events.

MID-APRIL 2009

Mexican doctors begin to notice un-

usual cases of � u, with young people in

particular being severely affected. Some

of the patients have to be put on arti-

! cial respiration in intensive care. The

cases occur across the federal district

of Mexico City, as well as throughout

the states of Baja California, San Luis

Potosí, and Oaxaca.

APRIL 21

The ! rst two cases in the USA are re-

ported. The patients are two children in

California, near the Mexican border.

APRIL 23

American and Canadian laboratories

con! rm that a new virus called H1N1

is responsible for the recent in� uenza

epidemic.

APRIL 24

Mexico is in shock: the ! rst deaths

occur as a result of severe lung damage.

The government orders the closure of

all schools. A day later, the USA reports

eight patients with the virus, six of

whom are in southern California and

two in Texas. The Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC) equip

the US states with antiviral medication.

APRIL 25

The WHO in Geneva releases an of! -

cial statement warning of an in� uenza

pandemic. It divides pandemics of this

nature into six phases and determines

which measures individual countries

should implement to combat the

disease. This might include the pro-

duction of vaccines, the distribution of

protective masks, the closure of public

buildings, and the development of

national emergency plans. The world is

currently in Phase 4, which means there

is a growing risk of a pandemic.

APRIL 27

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger de-

clares a state of emergency in California.

The US President Barack Obama re-

quests that the Congress allocate 1.5 bil-

lion dollars to combating the pandemic.

Meanwhile, swine � u has reached

Europe. In Spain and the UK, doctors

detect the virus in three people who

have recently returned from trips to

Mexico. The British authorities require

all travelers entering the country from

Mexico to be tested for swine � u symp-

toms before they exit the airplane.

APRIL 28

The virus reaches further regions of the

world: in New Zealand, for instance, it

is detected in fourteen people, in Israel

in two. All of the patients had previ-

ously traveled to Mexico. Russia, Hong

Kong, and Taiwan impose a quarantine

on travelers in transit who demonstrate

symptoms of swine � u. Cuba discon-

tinues air travel to and from Mexico

for 48 hours. In Mexico City, factories,

cinemas, theaters, and universities are

now closed, too.

APRIL 29

The ! rst three cases are identi! ed in

Germany. The patients caught the virus

during a visit to Mexico. In the US state

of Texas, a young child from Mexico

dies of the virus. On the same day, the

German tabloid newspaper “BILD”

runs with the headline: “Swine Flu

Virus Can’t Be Stopped.”

APRIL 30

The WHO raises the pandemic risk to

Phase 5, the second-highest level. “All

of humanity is under threat during a

pandemic,” warns the Director-Gener-

al, Dr. Margaret Chan. According to

the WHO, there are now 236 con! rmed

cases around the world, 27 of which are

in the EU.

The Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak

orders all pigs in the country to be

slaughtered. The WHO emphasizes that

this move is unnecessary. The planned

cull causes riots in Egypt.

There are now approximately 1,100

identi! ed cases of the illness in 21 coun-

tries, eight of which are in Germany.

In New Zealand, patients with swine

� u symptoms arriving at a hospital by

car are expected to honk their horn

three times to warn hospital staff of

their arrival. In Bangkok und Tokyo,

travelers are required to pass through a

thermal scanner. At the airport in Paris,

the baggage handlers refuse to unload

luggage from planes arriving from

Mexico or Spain.

Mexico slowly returns to normality.

The authorities reopen tourist attrac-

tions after days of being kept closed.

Supervisory staff in public buildings are

nonetheless instructed to continue to

wear protective masks and to prevent

large gatherings from taking place.

For the ! rst time, a German traveler is

infected during a trip to the USA. There

are now approximately 3,200 cases of

“All of humanity is under threat during a pandemic.”— Margaret Chan,

Director-General of the WHO

the disease around the world, and 44

people have died.

MAY 16

Swine � u reaches Japan. After just a

few days, the authorities report more

than 120 cases. Hundreds of schools

are closed. Marie-Paule Kieny, Director

of the WHO’s Initiative for Vaccine Re-

search, fears a vaccine shortage: “Even

if the production of the vaccine against

this new virus gets off the ground

quickly, we would still have a shortage

of billions of dosages if a severe pan-

demic were to occur. There would be

nothing left over for poor countries.”

JUNE 7

The Chinese authorities implement

strict safety precautions for the univer-

sity admission exams currently being

held across China: every exam room

has to be disinfected twice a day and

each of the ten million students taking

the exams must have their temperature

taken before the exam.

JUNE 11

The WHO categorizes swine � u as a

pandemic and raises its warning level

to Phase 6, the highest possible level.

Nearly 30,000 infections in a total of 74

countries have been reported. The epi-

center of the virus is in North America,

with more than 21,000 cases. In total,

over 140 patients have already died.

JUNE 16

The ! rst vaccine speci! cally developed

to protect people from swine � u is

about to hit the market. A US pharma-

ceutical company plans to begin selling

the medication in July.

AUGUST 19

The German government announces that

up to 35 million of its citizens are to be

vaccinated beginning in the fall – the ! rst

people to receive the vaccine will be the

chronically ill, pregnant women, medical

personnel, police, and ! remen. The in-

surance companies will cover the costs.

AUGUST 28

According to the WHO, the number of

swine � u infections is on the decline in

the southern hemisphere. The northern

hemisphere, on the other hand, should

brace itself for a second wave of the

disease.

SEPTEMBER 15

The US government gives the green

light for the use of vaccines to combat

swine � u and orders 250 million doses.

The vaccines are to be provided to

people free of charge.

OCTOBER 24

The American President Barack

Obama speaks of a national state of

emergency. “Our response to the H1N1

� u virus is to be prepared at all levels –

individually, in companies, and in the

government,” says the White House.

Meanwhile, there are signi! cant bottle-

necks in the delivery of the vaccine.

The media describe a state of chaos as

people attempt to get vaccinated.

OCTOBER 26

Mass vaccinations begin in Germany. It is

to be the largest vaccination campaign in

the country’s history. However, people are

skeptical: a survey conducted by the health

insurance companies indicates that 60 per-

cent of those surveyed do not intend to get

vaccinated. One of the reasons for this is a

debate about the side effects of the vaccine.

Meanwhile, a second wave of swine � u hits

Germany at the beginning of November.

Total number of deaths

Influenza A viruses

Mutation of the virus

Mutationof the virus

H1N1 virus

1 – 10

11 – 50

51 – 100

101 or more

Countries affected Sources: WHO, Robert Koch Institute

SPREAD OF SWINE FLU UP TO AUGUST 2010Transmission from animals to humans

The origins of H1N1

The shape of the H1N1 virus

under the microscope varies

from image to image.

NOVEMBER 25

The hajj – the pilgrimage of Muslims

to Mecca – begins in Saudi Arabia.

Three million pilgrims from 160 coun-

tries are expected. This time, when

they arrive, they are given surgical

masks and disinfectant. As a precau-

tion, however, the Tunisian government

prohibits its citizens from traveling

to Mecca.

DECEMBER 6

Panic breaks out in the Russian city of

Saratov, where 30 people have died of

swine � u. A student spreads the rumor

that they actually died of pneumonic

plague. It takes the authorities days to

reassure the terri! ed citizens.

DECEMBER 30

The Robert Koch Institute reports that

the number of infections in Germany

has been steadily decreasing since

mid-November. A study conducted by

researchers in the UK likewise provides

grounds for cautious optimism, stating

that only 0.02 percent of swine � u

infections thus far have resulted in

fatalities.

MARCH 5, 2010

The number of swine � u cases around

the world has decreased sharply. The

German government consequently

decides to sell the millions of leftover

doses of the swine � u vaccine Pandem-

rix to other countries. The negotiations

come to nothing, however, and in 2011,

16 million expired doses of the vaccine

are incinerated in Germany.

AUGUST 10

The WHO of! cially declares an end to

the pandemic. In total, 18,400 people

died of swine � u around the world, 258

of them in Germany – it was originally

predicted that at least two million

people would die. Even so, the swine � u

virus has not been eradicated, and ex-

perts warn that resistant versions of the

pathogen could spark new epidemics

anywhere in the world. •

SPANISH FLU

Soldiers as carriers

Spanish fl u ravaged every

continent in the world from 1918

to 1920. It cost 50 million people

their lives and is still the worst

pandemic in modern history.

The patients presented typical fl u

symptoms; in the worst cases,

they also had pneumonia. After

the pandemic, doctors observed

an increased number of cases of

Encephalitis lethargica, a kind

of meningitis that can cause

paralysis, involuntary twitching,

and psychosis. Doctors assumed

that these symptoms were after-

effects of the fl u virus. Modern

analyses indicate that the

pathogen that caused Spanish

fl u is closely related to the swine

fl u virus.

Although the name suggests

otherwise, the roots of Spanish

fl u were in the USA. During the

First World War, infected soldiers

spread the virus throughout

Europe. The disease was known

as Spanish fl u because it was

primarily the media in Spain that

reported on it, while censorship

prevented more extensive report-

ing in other countries: the fear

was that headlines of a pandemic

would lower the morale of the

soldiers at the front.

THE PLAGUE

The Black Death

The plague fi rst appeared in

Egypt in the sixth century. From

there, it reached Constantinople

and eventually spread across the

entire Mediterranean region. In

the Middle Ages, another wave

of the plague – then known as

the Black Death – carried off

a third of Europe’s population.

Between 1347 and 1352 alone,

approximately 25 million people

fell victim to the disease. The most

recent plague pandemic broke

out in southern China in the late

19th century and had cost approx-

imately 12 million people their

lives by the end of the Second

World War.

The pathogen that causes the

bubonic plague is a bacterium

known as Yersinia pestis, named

after its discoverer, Alexandre Yer-

sin. Originally, the plague was a

disease found in rodents that was

generally transmitted to humans

by the rat fl ea. Person-to-person

transmission occurs by way of

droplet infection. If the plague

goes untreated, the concentration

of bacteria in the blood increases

to such a degree that the body’s

immune system fails. The result is

septic shock. Today, the illness,

which still occurs in isolated

outbreaks in the USA and Africa,

can be treated with antibiotics.

If caught early, the chances of

recovery are good.

SMALLPOX

Danger now eradicated

Smallpox, or variola, is believed

to have come to Europe in 165

CE when Roman legionnaires

returned from a campaign in Mes-

opotamia. The disease then spread

from the Danube to the Rhine, and

the result was widespread death

over the course of 24 years.

Beginning in the 15th century,

European conquerors carried the

smallpox virus to America, where

it triggered devastating epidemics

among the indigenous popula-

tion, killing millions. Right up to

the 1950s, smallpox epidemics

still occurred in Europe, such as in

Heidelberg in 1958.

The symptoms of those in-

fected were pustules and blisters

that broke out all over the body.

In severe cases, patients would

go blind, deaf, or suffer brain

damage. 30 percent of those

infected died.

In 1967, the WHO made

vaccination against smallpox

mandatory. The last known

smallpox outbreak occurred in

Somalia in 1977.

CHOLERA

The longest pandemic

Strictly speaking, the cases of

cholera that occurred in the 19th

century weren’t a pandemic, but

a series of localized epidemics.

These epidemics occurred

throughout Europe over the

course of the century and cost

many thousands of lives. The

disease originally came to Europe

from India in the late 18th century.

Then in 1830, Russian troops car-

ried cholera from Asia to Europe,

where it repeatedly devastated

entire regions.

The Greek word choléra means

biliary vomiting and diarrhea.

illness is the Vibrio cholerae

bacterium. Infection generally

occurs as a result of contaminated

food or drinking water. People

infected with cholera have severe

diarrhea and vomiting, which can

lead to dehydration. It is therefore

particularly important to provide

patients with suf cient fl uids,

sugar, and salts – usually intrave-

nously. In severe cases, patients

may also need antibiotics.

The disease is still prevalent

in Latin America and Africa. It

caused particular devastation in

2010, after the earthquake in Haiti.

SCOURGES OF HUMANITYThe fear of pandemics is thousands of years old. Before scientists tracked down the causes of

these diseases and discovered cures, people had few options besides prayer. Here’s an overview

of the most devastating pandemics.

Pathogens that cause dangerous

diseases are now stored in protected

laboratories.

The shape of the H1N1 virus

under the microscope varies

from image to image.

NOVEMBER 25

The hajj – the pilgrimage of Muslims

to Mecca – begins in Saudi Arabia.

Three million pilgrims from 160 coun-

tries are expected. This time, when

they arrive, they are given surgical

masks and disinfectant. As a precau-

tion, however, the Tunisian government

prohibits its citizens from traveling

to Mecca.

DECEMBER 6

Panic breaks out in the Russian city of

Saratov, where 30 people have died of

swine � u. A student spreads the rumor

that they actually died of pneumonic

plague. It takes the authorities days to

reassure the terri! ed citizens.

DECEMBER 30

The Robert Koch Institute reports that

the number of infections in Germany

has been steadily decreasing since

mid-November. A study conducted by

researchers in the UK likewise provides

grounds for cautious optimism, stating

that only 0.02 percent of swine � u

infections thus far have resulted in

fatalities.

MARCH 5, 2010

The number of swine � u cases around

the world has decreased sharply. The

German government consequently

decides to sell the millions of leftover

doses of the swine � u vaccine Pandem-

rix to other countries. The negotiations

come to nothing, however, and in 2011,

16 million expired doses of the vaccine

are incinerated in Germany.

AUGUST 10

The WHO of! cially declares an end to

the pandemic. In total, 18,400 people

died of swine � u around the world, 258

of them in Germany – it was originally

predicted that at least two million

people would die. Even so, the swine � u

virus has not been eradicated, and ex-

perts warn that resistant versions of the

pathogen could spark new epidemics

anywhere in the world. •

SPANISH FLU

Soldiers as carriers

Spanish fl u ravaged every

continent in the world from 1918

to 1920. It cost 50 million people

their lives and is still the worst

pandemic in modern history.

The patients presented typical fl u

symptoms; in the worst cases,

they also had pneumonia. After

the pandemic, doctors observed

an increased number of cases of

Encephalitis lethargica, a kind

of meningitis that can cause

paralysis, involuntary twitching,

and psychosis. Doctors assumed

that these symptoms were after-

effects of the fl u virus. Modern

analyses indicate that the

pathogen that caused Spanish

fl u is closely related to the swine

fl u virus.

Although the name suggests

otherwise, the roots of Spanish

fl u were in the USA. During the

First World War, infected soldiers

spread the virus throughout

Europe. The disease was known

as Spanish fl u because it was

primarily the media in Spain that

reported on it, while censorship

prevented more extensive report-

ing in other countries: the fear

was that headlines of a pandemic

would lower the morale of the

soldiers at the front.

THE PLAGUE

The Black Death

The plague fi rst appeared in

Egypt in the sixth century. From

there, it reached Constantinople

and eventually spread across the

entire Mediterranean region. In

the Middle Ages, another wave

of the plague – then known as

the Black Death – carried off

a third of Europe’s population.

Between 1347 and 1352 alone,

approximately 25 million people

fell victim to the disease. The most

recent plague pandemic broke

out in southern China in the late

19th century and had cost approx-

imately 12 million people their

lives by the end of the Second

World War.

bubonic plague is a bacterium

known as Yersinia pestis, named

after its discoverer, Alexandre Yer-

sin. Originally, the plague was a

disease found in rodents that was

generally transmitted to humans

by the rat fl ea. Person-to-person

transmission occurs by way of

droplet infection. If the plague

goes untreated, the concentration

of bacteria in the blood increases

to such a degree that the body’s

immune system fails. The result is

septic shock. Today, the illness,

which still occurs in isolated

outbreaks in the USA and Africa,

can be treated with antibiotics.

If caught early, the chances of

recovery are good.

SMALLPOX

Danger now eradicated

Smallpox, or variola, is believed

to have come to Europe in 165

CE when Roman legionnaires

returned from a campaign in Mes-

opotamia. The disease then spread

from the Danube to the Rhine, and

the result was widespread death

over the course of 24 years.

Beginning in the 15th century,

European conquerors carried the

smallpox virus to America, where

it triggered devastating epidemics

among the indigenous popula-

tion, killing millions. Right up to

the 1950s, smallpox epidemics

still occurred in Europe, such as in

Heidelberg in 1958.

The symptoms of those in-

fected were pustules and blisters

that broke out all over the body.

In severe cases, patients would

go blind, deaf, or suffer brain

damage. 30 percent of those

infected died.

In 1967, the WHO made

vaccination against smallpox

mandatory. The last known

smallpox outbreak occurred in

Somalia in 1977.

CHOLERA

The longest pandemic

Strictly speaking, the cases of

cholera that occurred in the 19th

century weren’t a pandemic, but

a series of localized epidemics.

These epidemics occurred

throughout Europe over the

course of the century and cost

many thousands of lives. The

disease originally came to Europe

from India in the late 18th century.

Then in 1830, Russian troops car-

ried cholera from Asia to Europe,

where it repeatedly devastated

entire regions.

The Greek word choléra means

biliary vomiting and diarrhea.

illness is the Vibrio cholerae

bacterium. Infection generally

occurs as a result of contaminated

food or drinking water. People

infected with cholera have severe

diarrhea and vomiting, which can

lead to dehydration. It is therefore

particularly important to provide

patients with suf cient fl uids,

sugar, and salts – usually intrave-

nously. In severe cases, patients

may also need antibiotics.

The disease is still prevalent

in Latin America and Africa. It

caused particular devastation in

2010, after the earthquake in Haiti.

SCOURGES OF HUMANITYThe fear of pandemics is thousands of years old. Before scientists tracked down the causes of

these diseases and discovered cures, people had few options besides prayer. Here’s an overview

of the most devastating pandemics.

Pathogens that cause dangerous

diseases are now stored in protected

laboratories.

BODE PRODUCTS: BEST AMMUNITION AGAINST ‘SWINE FLU’

As you know, Swine flu virus is a new Influenza Virus, which for the first time, has been detected in pigs and has been confirmed that it transmits from human to human. Infective time is primarily 5 days. Effective vaccine against this virus has not been derived. In the meanwhile, the WHO has raised an alert to “phase 5” and preventively called on all countries to make provisions for an influenza pandemic. Influenza A virus is the most frequent causing agent of influenza epidemics

Influenza A virus:

Orthomyxovirus of type A; is the most common pathogen of influenza epidemics.

Influenza A viruses damages the mucous membrane, thus facilitating bacteria to enter the body. They have a spike-like surface structure formed by the glycoproteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). So far, there have been 16 hemagglutinin and 9 neuraminidase subtypes identified, which may occur in any combination. Influenza A viruses are able to remain infectious on inanimate surfaces for 24 hours. From there, they may be transferred and spread via the hands. Influenza virus: (incl. A(H1N1), A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), A(H5N1), A(H5N5), A(H5N6), A(H5N8), A(H7N9), A(H10N8)) (enveloped virus). These viruses have glycoproteins on their envelope, which are potential targets for external influences. Influenza virus is classified in three genera (A, B, C) and belongs to the family of Orthomyxoviridae. It is enveloped and has a spherical shape. Influenza viruses trigger influenza and respiratory infections respectively. The symptoms depend on the virus genus (A and B severe courses, C less severe courses). Severe influenza can cause primary viral pneumonia. Infections can be triggered by seasonal and zoonotic influenza viruses. Influenza viruses of the A and B genera may elicit epidemics and pandemics periodically. Zoonotic infections, for example avian or swine flu, are caused by influenza A viruses. So far, the avian and porcine subtypes of the influenza A viruses have not well adapted to humans. However, they may be transmitted to humans when having close contact with infected, ill or dead animals.

Transmission mainly occurs via droplets or particles in the air. Hygiene Recommendations: German Robert Koch-Institute recommends that separate rooms should be provided in hospitals, persons having direct contact to the patients should protect themselves with a protective gown, disposable gloves, and a tight multilayer mouth / nose protection. The Influenza A / H1N1 is an enveloped virus. Disinfectants with proven virucidal activity against enveloped virus can be used here. Hand Disinfection:

1) Hand disinfection products recommended are Sterillium, and Sterillium Gel. 2) Disinfection of hands after direct contact with patients, contact with pathogenic

material, or contaminated objects before and after removing gloves, prior to leaving the air lock.

Surface Disinfection:

1) Daily wipe disinfection of the hand surfaces near the patients. (e.g. Bedside tables, wet areas, door knobs, etc.).

2) Other surfaces also have to be decontaminated. Medical devices that are used in patients directly should be disposable type or must be disinfected after use. Products recommended are Kohrsolin Extra (Bacillocid Extra), Mikrobac Forte, Bacillol 25, Korsolex Plus (Fogg), Bacillocid Special, etc.

Instrument Disinfection: 1) Instruments to be rinsed and then dipped in prepared solution, of Korsolex Rapid, or Korsolex Plus, as per the directions given in the literature. 2) Then re-rinse with potable drinking water, before use.

SWINE FLU - Bookletramanweil.com/pdf/knowledge bank/SWINE FLU - Booklet.pdf · 2018-01-12 ·...

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