Pandemic threatens to infect millions
Originating in Mexico, the swine flu is rapidly spreading across countries
Erin Mustain
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: News
With the recent outbreak of the swine flu threatening to grow into a pandemic, Southeast Missouri hospitals are actively working with public health officials to monitor the situation.
On April 27, Gov. Jay Nixon announced that Missouri health officials are taking significant steps to deal with the swine flu outbreak. These steps include being on high alert since April 24, and stockpiling enough anti-viral medications to treat more than 600,000 cases of swine flu.
According to a press release from Southeast Missouri Hospital published April 27, there are currently no cases of swine flu that have been reported in Missouri.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 64 reported cases of swine flu in the United States as of April 28. Cases were reported in California, Kansas, New York, Ohio and Texas. New York City had 45 reported cases.
The virus originated in Mexico and is suspected to have caused 152 deaths in the country as of April 28, according to James Osborne, Foxnews.com. Mexican hospitals saw a rise in patients complaining of respiratory distress during the middle of March.
The first case of swine flu in the United States was reported in Southern California.
Swine flu is a respiratory disease in pigs, caused by type A influenza viruses, according to Southeast Missouri Hospital's Web site. Outbreaks of the swine flu happen regularly in pigs, and human cases most commonly happen in people who are around pigs.
The virus can spread through contact with infected pigs or contact with a person with swine flu. It is thought to spread from human to human through coughing or sneezing. Infected people are considered contagious for up to seven days following the illness' onset. It cannot be spread by food, such as eating pork products.
Symptoms of swine flu include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Diarrhea and vomiting have also been reported in some cases. Severe illness, such as pneumonia and respiratory failure, can also occur as well as death.
Although there is no vaccine available to protect against swine flu, the virus is susceptible to two antiviral medications, oseltamivir and zanamivir.
For more information about swine flu, visit www.cdc.gov/swineflu or www.southeastmissourihospital.com.
On April 27, Gov. Jay Nixon announced that Missouri health officials are taking significant steps to deal with the swine flu outbreak. These steps include being on high alert since April 24, and stockpiling enough anti-viral medications to treat more than 600,000 cases of swine flu.
According to a press release from Southeast Missouri Hospital published April 27, there are currently no cases of swine flu that have been reported in Missouri.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 64 reported cases of swine flu in the United States as of April 28. Cases were reported in California, Kansas, New York, Ohio and Texas. New York City had 45 reported cases.
The virus originated in Mexico and is suspected to have caused 152 deaths in the country as of April 28, according to James Osborne, Foxnews.com. Mexican hospitals saw a rise in patients complaining of respiratory distress during the middle of March.
The first case of swine flu in the United States was reported in Southern California.
Swine flu is a respiratory disease in pigs, caused by type A influenza viruses, according to Southeast Missouri Hospital's Web site. Outbreaks of the swine flu happen regularly in pigs, and human cases most commonly happen in people who are around pigs.
The virus can spread through contact with infected pigs or contact with a person with swine flu. It is thought to spread from human to human through coughing or sneezing. Infected people are considered contagious for up to seven days following the illness' onset. It cannot be spread by food, such as eating pork products.
Symptoms of swine flu include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Diarrhea and vomiting have also been reported in some cases. Severe illness, such as pneumonia and respiratory failure, can also occur as well as death.
Although there is no vaccine available to protect against swine flu, the virus is susceptible to two antiviral medications, oseltamivir and zanamivir.
For more information about swine flu, visit www.cdc.gov/swineflu or www.southeastmissourihospital.com.
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