With significantly more cases confirmed in the United States confirmed, the World Health Organization and the United States government have raised warning levels for the issue of the Swine Flu. Of note, the levels are NOT at the level of a pandemic. The characteristics of "person-to-person" transmission and the transmission across a number of nations are concerning. So, what to do?
Here is a link to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention website (www.cdc.gov/swineflu). This website provides basic information and explanation of the current concerns.
Showing posts with label Swine Flu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Swine Flu. Show all posts
4.30.2009
4.27.2009
Swine Flu
The Swine Flu has hit a number of places in North America, including Mexico and New York. Eight cases have been identified, as of Sunday, in New York. With a number of USM students traveling to Mexico for spring break, the flu is a legitimate threat in Maryland. The USM has an Emergency Preparedness Policy that delegates the coordination and planning in such emergencies to institutions.
Institutions have been asked to meet and discuss plans in the case that the Swine Flu shoes up in Maryland. Will post on more updates...
In the meantime, here is some advice from Dr. Frank Calia, Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine, and Acting Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs of the UM School of Medicine. Dr. Calia, who is an expert in infectious diseases, offers the following:
************
1) Do not panic.
2) Although swine flu has not yet been discovered in Maryland, it may hit here, however, to date the strain that has been discovered in the US is relatively mild and so far is responding well to two anti-virals
3)The anti-virals are plentiful and readily available.
4) They should NOT be given in advance of disease symptoms, since doing so widely may result in a flu strain developing for which the anti-virals will not work.
5) The good news is that all swine flu, like all flu, prefers cold weather. While we may see an outbreak, the chances will diminish as the weather gets warmer.
Institutions have been asked to meet and discuss plans in the case that the Swine Flu shoes up in Maryland. Will post on more updates...
In the meantime, here is some advice from Dr. Frank Calia, Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine, and Acting Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs of the UM School of Medicine. Dr. Calia, who is an expert in infectious diseases, offers the following:
************
1) Do not panic.
2) Although swine flu has not yet been discovered in Maryland, it may hit here, however, to date the strain that has been discovered in the US is relatively mild and so far is responding well to two anti-virals
3)The anti-virals are plentiful and readily available.
4) They should NOT be given in advance of disease symptoms, since doing so widely may result in a flu strain developing for which the anti-virals will not work.
5) The good news is that all swine flu, like all flu, prefers cold weather. While we may see an outbreak, the chances will diminish as the weather gets warmer.
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