Swine Flu- Pandemic or Media Hype?

Influenza - or Flu - Epidemics Have Been Around Since Ancient Times

Oct 17, 2009

Increasing mobility of people and the ready availability of airline travel allow influenza viruses originating in one part of the world to easily spread around the globe

The epidemics caused by flu viruses as we now know them have been occurring since the 20th century - which witnessed three major flu epidemics that went on to become pandemics and were responsible for tens of millions of deaths.

Epidemics and Pandemics

The word Epidemic comes from the Greek words επνω epi (meaning "upon") and δημος demos (meaning "the people") - and refers to an illness that affects a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community, or region at the same time . The situation occurs when new cases of a certain disease occurring in a particular population and during a particular period in time, substantially exceed the number of cases anticipated to occur.

A pandemic on the other hand (from Greek π?ν pan (meaning "all") and δημος demos (meaning "the people") is an epidemic of infectious disease that spreads through human populations across a large region such as an entire continent or even the whole world.

Influenza Pandemics

In 1957 the Asian flu (due to the H2N2 virus) and in 1968 the Hong Kong flu (caused by the H3N2 virus) struck - and these were preceded by the 1918 Spanish flu (believed to be due to a type of H1N1 virus) that killed more people in its 18 months of existence than World War I claimed during the previous four years.

Each of these commenced in the northern hemisphere during spring. This first wave of moderate impact was followed by a devastating second wave in the fall and a smaller third peak in the winter.

Emergence of Swine Flu

Influenza viruses are capable of considerable genetic variability, which allows them to mutate easily and frequently. This makes it difficult for the body's immune system to recognise each new mutation - and so the human body is not prepared with pre-programmed defences to react efficaciously when it meets these new mutant viruses.

The current swine flu virus (whose scientific name is H1N1 virus) includes genetic material from viruses that have infected pigs, birds and humans in the past. This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes it contained were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs in North America.

It was a catchy name and caught on well with the media - "swine flu" (with all its pig-like connotations) sounds much more interesting and reader-attracting than a boring term like "H1N1Virus"!

Symptoms and effects of Swine Flu

The symptoms of swine flu are very similar to the symptoms of regular human influenza - fatigue, malaise, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion,body aches, headache, fever and chills.

In the United States, those who have contracted swine flu have suffered illness ranging from mild to severe. Most of those who contracted the virus recovered without needing medical treatment; however, some have needed hospitalisations and some have actually died from the infection.

Nearly three fourths of those who had to be hospitalised with swine flu have had one or more high risk medical conditions (such as pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease, asthma or kidney disease) that placed them in danger of complications.

Just as modern technology has given us rapid transport systems like high speed trains and airplanes, that allow viruses like swine flu to spread far and wide, so too our 21st century technology in the form of the Internet has proved invaluable for disseminating information and co-ordinating the worldwide response to swine flu.

The copyright of the article Swine Flu- Pandemic or Media Hype? in Men’s Health is owned by Sanjiva Wijesinha. Permission to republish Swine Flu- Pandemic or Media Hype? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.