 |
|
|
|
|
April 27th, 2009
04:40 PM ET
CNN answers your FAQs on swine fluCNN wants to help its viewers and online users get answers surrounding the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico. We've had an outpouring of questions come in. The following are among the most frequently asked questions. Q: Why is it more deadly in Mexico than anywhere else it’s surfaced? CNN: The short answer is investigators don’t know. The deaths have occurred in healthy people, as opposed to those usually most at risk from the flu: the young, the old and those with compromised immune systems. The same thing happened in recent years with the SARS and avian flu outbreaks. The spreading virus starts a cascade within the body as the immune system overreacts. Fluid builds up in the lungs and inflammatory cells throughout the body react to the infection. Q: Does the normal influenza vaccine offer protection against swine flu virus? CNN: It may offer some. This particular virus seems to be a combination of several different strains: two strains of swine flu, one strain of bird flu and one strain of human flu. It's the human flu portion of the virus that that the flu vaccine may offer some protection against. Q: Can animals, such as dogs or cats, contract the swine flu? If so, can they transfer it to humans? CNN: There is no evidence that dogs and cats can contract swine flu. Still, this is a new strain of swine flu virus, and investigators can’t rule it out until more tests are done. In the past, the avian H5N1 flu has infected domestic cats and at least one dog in Thailand, according to the scientific literature. In 2004, the equine H3 virus appeared to infect dogs. There have been no reports of dogs or cats spreading the flu to people. Q: How long will it take if a person has the flu before they show symptoms? CNN: The typical incubation period for influenza is 1-4 days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The symptoms are similar to the common flu. They include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Q: How does a person contract swine flu? Does it come from pigs? CNN: Swine flu may have come from pigs originally, but it is now being spread from among people. The virus spreads the same way the seasonal flu does. When an infected person coughs or sneezes around another person, the latter is put at risk. People can become infected by touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes. An infected person can pass the virus to another before any symptoms even develop Q: Should I avoid traveling to Mexico because of the swine flu? CNN: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that Americans avoid all "non-essential" travel to Mexico. Q: The swine flu has been labeled as H1N1. The strain that killed millions of people in 1918 was also labeled H1N1; is it the same virus? CNN: It is not the same virus. The current strain is a new variation of an H1N1 virus, which is a mix of human and animal versions. H1 refers to type of hemagglutinin, which is involved in the virus gaining entry into a target cell. N1 refers to neuraminidase, an enzyme that allows the release of copies of the virus from infected cells. A new variation can be created when an animal is infected with two or more different viruses at the same time. The viruses can exchange genes. This can be particularly dangerous because people may not have any immune defense against it. You may have heard to this swine flu virus refered to as "Type A." There are three general types of influenza, Type A, Type B and Type C. Type A occurs in many species and historically has been the sole cause of pandemics. Q: Where did this swine flu come from? How did the outbreak occur in Mexico? CNN: Researchers do not know yet know. People usually get swine flu from infected pigs. For example, farmers handling infected pigs can contract the virus. However, some human cases have occurred without contact with pigs or places they inhabited. CNN will continue to answer your questions as the story progresses. |
  About this blog
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love.
 |
|
|
|
when is the best time to take cialis cialis south africa online how long does 10mg cialis last
cialis 200 mg what is it best ed cialis pills cialis no prescriotion
when does the patent on cialis expire natural alternative to cialis generic daily cialis
online pharmacy courses canada how to dispose of prescription drugs vicodin canadian pharmacy
no 1 canadian pharcharmy online canadian drugs pharmacies online pharmacy symbol rx
real online canadian pharmacy best pet pharmacy online jobs at cvs pharmacy store
200 mg cialis deals online viagra levitra cialis offers \'generic cialis\'
cialis 5mg coupon but cialis overnight delivery alcohol and cialis
pharmacy cheap no prescription canadian pharmacy price checker online pharmacy no prior prescription
cialis kidney function selling cialis in us buy cialis black
how much does cialis cost in mexico how to dose cialis prolonged effects of cialis
mixing cialis with viagra how long does cialis keep you hard cialis viagra combo
is it legal to purchase prescription drugs from canada french pharmacy online online pharmacy tech classes
is chloroquine an antibiotic didier raoult coronavirus malaria drugs list
how long does tadalafil last tadalafil warnings tadalafil warnings
contact your pharmacy to fill this rx is canadian pharmacy safe royal canadian pharmacy
tadalafil effects cialis without a prescription tadalfil
cialis prescription online buy cialis online using paypal cialis generic no prescription
generic cialis canada cialis yellow pill viagra/cialis
cialis lilly australia cialis cialis for sale usa
canadian pharmacy checker Sporanox shoppers pharmacy
cialis and dapoxetine canada cialis 36 hour cialis singapore buy
online medicine shopping dollar store drug test retin a canada pharmacy
Dipyridamole canadian mail pharmacy canadia online pharmacy
best place to buy generic cialis online best canadian pharmacy for cialis best online pharmacy for cialis
cialis brand original cialis uk cialis price
Atacand rx pro pharmacy & compounding inc doxycycline canadian pharmacy
reputable canadian pharmacies online how to get rid of prescription drugs top canadian online pharmacies
redtube cialis cialisgeneric cialis over night
online cialis buy cialis without prescription windsor, ontario, canada pharmacy cialis
erectile enhancement supplements https://www.pharmaceptica.com/
erectile supplements for men https://www.pharmaceptica.com/
chloroquin side effects https://www.pharmaceptica.com/
top erectile dysfunction drugs https://www.pharmaceptica.com/
tadalafil from india reviews https://www.pharmaceptica.com/
buy cheap sildenafil online uk https://www.pharmaceptica.com/
sildenafil 20 mg online no prescription https://www.pharmaceptica.com/
where to buy sildenafil uk https://www.pharmaceptica.com/
how to order sildenafil from canada https://www.pharmaceptica.com/
tadalafil vs vardenafil https://pharmaceptica.com/
hydroxychlor 200 mg https://pharmaceptica.com/
chloroquine phosphate tablet https://pharmaceptica.com/