H1N1 virus: How to keep safe 

During the week, two persons infected by the H1N1 virus died from complications. Word of those deaths spread out like wildfire and as expected, gave way to mass panic. Dr Yasheel Aukhojee, director of “Médecin à Domicile”, provides us with an insight of the disease and elaborates on the preventive measures.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, 6,356 cases of influenza were recorded in various hospitals at mid-day on Wednesday 31 May. Some 800 new cases are registered every day. As at 20 May, there were 6,010 cases. Dr Aukhojee explains that most flu infections result in mild illness. Most persons do not need medical care or antiviral drugs, and will recover in couple of weeks. 

Some people, however, can develop complications following a flu infection and will have to be hospitalized. In cases where people have complications or existing health conditions, flu can be deadly. “Pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections and ear infections are examples of flu-related complications. Influenza can worsen existing chronic health problems. For example, people with asthma may experience asthma attacks while they have flu, and the condition of people with chronic congestive heart failure may worsen with the infection.”

Who are most the vulnerable? 

Dr Aukhojee reveals that children aged below five, especially those aged below two, adults 65 years of age and older and pregnant women are the most vulnerable. Also, people with the following medical conditions are more at risk: 

• Asthma
• Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis)
• Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
• Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
• Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus)
• Kidney disorders
• Liver disorders
• Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
• Weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or cancer, or those on chronic steroids) 

Symptoms 

Dr Aukhojee avers that H1N1 flu signs and symptoms in humans are similar to those of other flu strains. He adds that H1N1 flu symptoms develop about one to three days after you are exposed to the virus. Common symptoms are: 

• Fever (but not always)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Watery, red eyes
• Body aches
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Diarrhoea
• Nausea and vomiting 

Preventive measures

The medical practitioner encourages all people older than six months of age to go for flu vaccination. “An H1N1 virus is one component of the seasonal flu vaccine. The flu shot also protects against two or three other influenza viruses that are expected to be the most common during the flu season. Vaccine should be done by a doctor or in supervision of a doctor to do a revaccination assessment and advise the patient about the pro and cons of the vaccine.”

Other preventive measures are:  

• Stay home if you're sick. If you have H1N1 flu, you can contaminate others. Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone.
• Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. Use soap and water, or if they're unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Contain your coughs and sneezes. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. To avoid contaminating your hands, cough or sneeze into a tissue or the inner crook of your elbow.
• Avoid contact. Stay away from crowds if possible. And if you're at elevated risk of complications — for example, you're younger than five or you're 65 or older, you're pregnant, or you have a chronic medical condition such as asthma — consider avoiding swine barns.
• Reduce exposure within your household. If a member of your household has swine flu, designate only one household member to be responsible for the ill person's personal care. 

Dangers associated 

Commenting on the dangers of this illness, he says as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have emphasized repeatedly nearly all infections worldwide have been fairly mild, with few patients needing hospitalisation. “The small percentages that have had serious disease or unfortunately died have also often had pre-existing health problems that may have complicated the infection. A survey in US showed that patient who were hospitalized with H1N1, two-thirds of the patients had at least one underlying health condition, including chronic lung or heart disease, diabetes and obesity — a condition that by itself can hinder breathing and complicate flu infections. The ministry also reassured the population that there is no reason for people to give in to any panic because the influenza virus A (H1N1) is treated as an integral part of the seasonal flu.”